Sleep Study in Westwood, New Jersey
Approximately 70 million Americans suffer from some sort of sleep disorder, but many have no idea their snoring and other sleep issues can be life-threatening. At Pascack Valley Medical Center, we provide comprehensive sleep studies to those in need of help. Our nationally certified staff understands the importance of sleep to your overall physical health and is committed to finding the best treatment for your sleep disorder. Our goal is to provide sleep disorders treatment so you can stay healthy and get a great night’s sleep.
Should You See a Sleep Doctor?
The average adult needs 7-8 hours of sleep every night to maintain peak performance. Although everyone’s sleep needs are different, studies show that regularly sleeping fewer than 7 hours per night can lead to serious health risks, including cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, and weight gain.
To determine whether you might need to see a sleep specialist, consider the following questions:
- Do you fall asleep or feel sleepy during dinner, while entertaining friends, at work, or driving?
- Do you snore?
- Do you gasp for air in the middle of the night?
- Do you have morning headaches?
- Do you have trouble concentrating?
- Do you have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep?
- Do you feel tingling or burning sensations in your legs at night?
- Do you wake up in the middle of the night with heartburn?
- Do you feel anxious or depressed at times?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, speak to your physician about seeing a sleep doctor. We offer comprehensive insomnia treatment, sleep apnea treatment, and other sleep disorder treatment.
Sleep Apnea Treatment
Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder caused by blockage in the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses during sleep. Sleep apnea affects between 18-30 million adults in the U.S. with approximately 90% of them undiagnosed. This condition has been linked to hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
Symptoms of sleep apnea include:
- Daytime sleepiness
- Depression
- Hypertension
- Morning headaches
- Snoring
- Weight gain
If left untreated, sleep apnea can cause serious health effects, including high blood pressure, stroke, heart problems, depression, and Type 2 diabetes. Fortunately, effective treatment can help restore regular breathing rhythm and help you get a good night’s rest.
If you suspect you have sleep apnea, seeing your physician is the first step. He or she may recommend a sleep study. Once a sleep apnea diagnosis is confirmed, a course of treatment can be defined and discussed. Depending on the results of sleep lab tests, your treatment options may include:
- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP): Gently pressurized air is delivered through a mask over or under the nose, keeping the airway open during sleep.
- Oral appliance therapy: A customized mouthpiece made by a dentist moves the lower jaw slightly forward. This opens space in the airway, allowing you to breathe properly during sleep.
- Surgery: Surgical procedures permanently open airway space to permit free breathing.
Other treatments may include medications or simple behavioral modification, such as weight loss or relaxation techniques.
To learn more about The Sleep Center at Pascack Valley Medical Center, please call 201-383-1035.