Sleep Tight

Sleep study may provide the answers you need

Having trouble getting the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep per night? If your answer is yes, you may be one of millions of Americans with a sleep disorder.

By not getting enough restorative sleep, you may not focus well or be as sharp in your decision-making or critical-thinking skills. You may also be at a high risk for serious health conditions.

“Sleep apnea is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease; everyone who has had a heart attack or stroke should have a sleep test,” says Lewis Eberly, MD, Co-Medical Director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Inova Alexandria Hospital. “It is also strongly associated with atrial fibrillation.”

“People don’t realize how important sleep is,” adds John Vought, RRT, Director of the Sleep Center. “Studies have shown that having a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea, narcolepsy or restless leg syndrome can lead to severe medical problems such as stroke, heart attack, hypertension, depression and memory loss.”

Good Snooze

If you have had difficulty sleeping for more than a month, or if you feel drowsy during the day and you don’t know why, your doctor may recommend a sleep assessment. The specially trained physicians and technologists at Inova Alexandria Hospital can pinpoint the underlying cause of your sleep problems, helping you get the restorative rest you need.

During this simple, noninvasive study, you will stay overnight in a comfortable diagnostic suite at the Sleep Disorders Center. While you rest, electrodes will monitor your brain waves, breathing patterns, heart rhythm, muscle movement and oxygen in your blood. The results of your study will be reviewed by a physician registered and certified in sleep medicine.

To make your overnight stay at the center a relaxing, homelike experience, each room is equipped with a big-screen TV, and patients have access to a kitchenette. There’s even a shower with a full complement of hygiene products so you can go straight to work following your stay.

Peace of Mind

Learn more at www.inova.org/sleep.