Sleep medicine

You may have a sleep disorder if you:

• Take more than 30 minutes to fall asleep each night (it should only take about 10 to 20 minutes)
• Wake up often during the night and having trouble falling back to sleep
• Feel sleepy during the day (heavy eyelids, slowed thinking, trouble paying attention and feeling cranky)
• Fall asleep at inappropriate times during the day
• Have creeping, tingling or crawling feelings in your legs, especially near bed time
• Snore, gasp or stop breathing during sleep
• Jerk your arms or legs during sleep
• Have vivid, dreamlike experiences while falling asleep or dozing
• Have episodes of sudden muscle weakness
• Feel you can’t move when you first wake up

A sleep study is a test that helps a sleep medicine doctor find out what type of sleep problem you have. It also tells us how well and how much you sleep.

The sleep test is called a Polysomnogram (PSG). The test is done with sensors that are placed on the skin. Sleep study tests are completely non-invasive and painless. A PSG test measures your:

• Brainwaves
• Breathing
• Heart rate and rhythm
• Muscle tension
• Oxygen levels at night 

A PSG test lasts one or two nights. The first part of the test tells us what type of sleep problem you have. The second part involves getting care for your sleep problem.

Your test results will be studied by a sleep medicine specialist. Then, we’ll talk to you about your treatment choices and what will work best for you.  

If you have symptoms of sleep problems, let your doctor know. Ask your doctor if talking to a sleep medicine specialist is right for you. 

Treatment for sleep disorders can include:

• Mindfulness meditation
• Medicine, such as sleeping pills
• Exercise, to help lessen stress and anxiety
• Changes to bedtime routine
• Breathing devices like CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machines 

Call the Sleep Center at 1-719-866-6627, TTY 711.

You can also fax us at 1-719-866-6629.