If you don’t get enough sleep, it can have an impact on your quality of life, your career and your relationships. Not only that, but it can also can affect your health. Sleep deprivation is linked to:

Heart disease
Stroke
High blood pressure
Type 2 diabetes
Depression

It may be time to consider a sleep study to determine if you have a sleep disorder if you:

Snore most or all nights.
Have been told you stop breathing during sleep.
Feel sleepy during the day.
Have ever fallen asleep while driving.
Struggle to stay awake when inactive – watching TV, reading, etc.
Have experienced performance problems at work or school.
Find it hard to pay attention or concentrate on a task.

You may not even be aware that you have a sleep disorder. Individuals with sleep disorders such as sleep apnea are rarely aware they are having difficulty breathing, even upon awakening.

Treatment for a sleep disorder may include:

Lifestyle changes, such as avoiding alcohol or muscle relaxants
Losing weight
Quitting smoking
Elevation of the upper body during sleep
Head gear to keep airways open during sleep

Do you know if you’re at risk for a sleep disorder? Find out if it’s time for you to consider a sleep study.

A sleep study is an overnight test that records body functions during sleep, including brain activity, eye movement, oxygen and carbon dioxide blood levels, heart rate and rhythm, and breathing rate and rhythm.

Do you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep? Do you feel tired during the day? Try these techniques for building better sleep habits. They can reset the biological triggers that help you get enough sleep.

During the day:

Try to wake up at the same time every day.
If your schedule allows it, wake up with the sun. An hour of morning sun can help set your internal clock.
Try not to nap or spend too much time in bed.
Be as active as possible.
Take a 30-minute walk or a 30-minute walk or bike ride five or six hours before bed.

In the evening:

Avoid smoking, using alcohol, and eating spicy or heavy meals before bedtime. Avoid drinking caffeine after 4 p.m.
Try eating a high-protein snack, such as warm milk or turkey, two hours before bed.
Try heading to bed at the same time each night, but only when you are sleepy.
Avoid watching TV, using the computer or working in bed. These activities stimulate brain activity.
Make your bedroom as dark, quiet, and comfortable as you can.
Wear loose clothing.
If you don’t fall asleep in 15 to 20 minutes, get out of bed and leave the room. The same is true if you wake up and can’t fall back asleep.
Practice relaxation techniques for 30 minutes prior to bedtime.

If you suspect you have a sleep disorder, try:

Lifestyle changes, such as avoiding alcohol or muscle relaxants
Losing weight
Quitting smoking
Elevation of the upper body during sleep

If you continue to have trouble sleeping or you just don’t feel rested, talk with your doctor or call Baptist Health Sleep Centers at 904.202.1632.

Three Questions to Ask Your Doctor about Sleep Disorders

Could my weight or other health problems be related to a sleeping problem?
Could any of my medications interfere with my sleep?
Am I a possible candidate for a sleep study?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is it important to get enough sleep? How much is “enough?”
A: The typical adult needs seven to eight hours of sleep. Children and teens need more.

Too little sleep can lead to sleep deprivation, which can have negative impacts on your entire body, including your brain and heart. Studies have shown a link between some sleep disorders and heart attack, congestive heart failure, stroke, high blood pressure, obesity and Type 2 diabetes, as well as depression.

Q: What is a sleep disorder?
A: Sleep disorders are conditions that disrupt the normal pattern of sleep needed for good health. They include a breathing disorder called sleep apnea, along with insomnia, restless legs syndrome, night terrors, sleepwalking and REM sleep behavior disorder.

Q: What are signs that I might have a sleep disorder?
A: You might have a sleep disorder if you snore, have ever fallen asleep while driving, or were told you stop breathing during sleep. Other signs include feeling sleepy during the day and struggling to stay awake while watching TV or reading.

Q: When should tell my doctor that I am having problems sleeping?
A: If you have had trouble sleeping for a few weeks, or if you regularly feel tired, moody or have memory problems, let your doctor know.

Q: Can my medications cause sleeping problems?
A: Some medications can interfere with normal sleep patterns, so it’s important to tell your doctor about all medications when discussing your sleep concerns.

Q: Why is it important to get treatment for a sleep disorder?
A: Treatment can improve your mood and your memory and make you feel better overall. It can also significantly lower blood pressure, relieve excess stress on the heart, and prevent or delay the progression of Type 2 diabetes and its complications. Obesity can be significantly improved with treatment for sleep disorder. Treatment also can reduce the need for some medications.

Q: What kind of doctor treats sleep problems?
A: Sleep specialists who work at sleep disorders centers are trained in diagnosing and treating sleep problems. It is important to find a sleep disorder center that is accredited through the American Academy of Sleep Medicine to ensure that proven sleep disorders therapies are used. Baptist Health Sleep Disorders Centers are accredited.

Q: How are sleep disorders diagnosed?
A: Sleep specialists monitor your body’s functions and activities during a sleep study. A sleep study is an overnight test that records body functions while you are asleep, including brain activity, eye movement, oxygen and carbon dioxide blood levels, heart rate and rhythm, and breathing rate and rhythm. This information is used to make a diagnosis.

Q: How are sleep disorders treated?
A: A range of treatment options are available, depending on the diagnosis. Options include sleep medications; elevation of the upper body during sleep; bright light therapy to help regulate your body’s internal clock; techniques that help your body and mind develop healthy sleeping habits; and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) to allow you to breathe without interruption while you sleep. You may also benefit from lifestyle changes, such as avoiding alcohol or muscle relaxants; losing weight; or quitting smoking. A sleep specialist can determine which treatment is best for your diagnosis.

Q: Are there other steps I can take to help improve my sleep?
A: Rising and going to bed at the same time every day, avoiding caffeine later in the day, and creating a quiet environment can help improve your sleep. A sleep specialist can provide specific suggestions based on your sleep habits.

Untreated sleep disorders can lead to memory problems, headaches and weight gain. In men, untreated sleep disorders can also lead to impotency.

More importantly, chronic, severe sleep disorders can lead to low blood oxygen, which sleep specialists believe may lead to some forms of heart disease.

When oxygen levels are low, your body releases inflammatory substances into the bloodstream that can increase blood pressure and eventually damage the lining of your blood vessels. It is this damage that might eventually cause or worsen high blood pressure and other forms of cardiovascular disease or heart problems, including:

Heart failure
Heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias)
Coronary artery disease
Stroke

Treating sleep disorders such as sleep apnea can significantly lower blood pressure, relieve excess stress on the heart and vascular system, prevent or delay the progression of type 2 diabetes and its complications, and reduce the need for some medications. It can also improve your memory and make you feel better overall, physically and mentally.

Contact us

Main Number – Baptist Sleep Center 904.202.1632

For your convenience, Baptist Health offers sleep studies at four locations:

Baptist Medical Center
7th Floor Pavilion
800 Prudential Drive
Suite 105
Jacksonville, FL 32207
Map and Directions

Baptist Medical Center Beaches
Wilson/Epstein Center
1320 Roberts Drive
Jacksonville, FL 32250
Map and Directions

Baptist Medical Center Nassau
1250 South 18th Street
Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
Map and Directions

Baptist Medical Center South
Interstate 95 Exit 335
14550 Old St. Augustine Road
Jacksonville, Florida 32258
Map and Directions