Have you ever woken up feeling just as tired as when you went to bed? Do you find yourself dozing off during the day, even after what seemed like a full night’s sleep? If so, your body may not be getting the deep, restful sleep it needs. Many people brush off snoring or occasional sleep troubles, but these issues can be signs of something more serious.
Sleep apnea and other sleep disorders can have a major impact on your overall health. From heart disease to memory problems, poor sleep affects more than just your energy levels. A sleep study can help uncover hidden sleep disorders and guide you toward the right treatment.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that causes breathing to stop and start throughout the night. This happens when the airway becomes blocked or the brain fails to send signals to breathe. Many people with sleep apnea snore loudly or wake up gasping for air. However, some may not realize they have it until they experience extreme daytime fatigue, headaches, or difficulty concentrating.
If left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to serious health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes. The good news is that treatment options like CPAP therapy and lifestyle changes can help manage symptoms and improve sleep quality. At Northwest Regional Health, our on-campus Sleep Center specializes in diagnosing and treating sleep apnea to help patients get the rest they need.
How Sleep Disorders Affect Your Health
Sleep disorders do more than just cause fatigue. Poor sleep can affect nearly every system in the body. When you don’t get enough quality sleep, your immune system weakens, making you more vulnerable to illness. Sleep disorders can also increase the risk of obesity by affecting hormones that control hunger.
Lack of sleep can have serious effects on mental health as well. People with untreated sleep disorders are more likely to experience anxiety and depression. This is because sleep plays a key role in regulating mood and stress levels. When sleep is disrupted, it becomes harder to cope with daily challenges and emotions.
The Link Between Sleep Apnea and Heart Health
Many people don’t realize that sleep apnea and heart disease are closely connected. When breathing repeatedly stops during sleep, oxygen levels drop, causing the heart to work harder. Over time, this can lead to high blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, and a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes.
A study published by the American Heart Association found that people with untreated sleep apnea are more likely to develop heart problems. Fortunately, treating sleep apnea can reduce these risks and improve overall heart health. If you have high blood pressure that doesn’t respond well to medication, a sleep study at Northwest Regional Health may help uncover an underlying sleep disorder.
Insomnia: More Than Just Trouble Sleeping
Insomnia is another common sleep disorder that can take a toll on health. People with insomnia have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or both. This can lead to chronic fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and mood swings. Long-term sleep deprivation increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and weakened immune function.
Stress, anxiety, and poor sleep habits are common causes of insomnia. Simple changes, such as creating a relaxing bedtime routine, avoiding caffeine in the evening, and limiting screen time before bed, can help improve sleep. However, if insomnia lasts for weeks or months, a sleep study can help determine if an underlying condition is causing the problem.
When to Consider a Sleep Study
If you suspect you have sleep apnea or another sleep disorder, a sleep study can provide answers. At Northwest Regional Health’s Sleep Center, we use advanced sleep testing to diagnose a range of sleep disorders. These include:
- Sleep Study (Polysomnography) – A test that monitors breathing, oxygen levels, brain activity, and movement during sleep.
- CPAP Titration Studies – A study that helps determine the ideal pressure settings for CPAP therapy.
- Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) – A test that measures how quickly you fall asleep during the day, often used to diagnose narcolepsy.
- Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT) – A test that evaluates how well you can stay awake in quiet, restful situations.
If you experience loud snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, or difficulty staying awake, a sleep study at our Sleep Center can help diagnose the cause and guide the best treatment options for you.
For more information on how sleep disorders affect health, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Take the Next Step Toward Better Sleep
Sleep apnea and other sleep disorders can have serious health consequences, but effective treatment is available. At Northwest Regional Health, our Sleep Center offers comprehensive sleep studies to diagnose and treat a variety of sleep conditions.
During an overnight sleep study, patients arrive at our Sleep Center in the evening, where specialists monitor breathing, brain activity, and movement throughout the night to diagnose sleep disorders. This comfortable, controlled environment helps provide accurate results that can guide treatment.
