Missing Out on Good Sleep? A Sleep Study Might Provide Clues to Help You Sleep Better
3/10/2025
KIRKSVILLE, MO - This week is Sleep Awareness Week, which emphasizes the connection between healthy sleep and overall health. Getting quality sleep in appropriate amounts is essential to warding off a host of health concerns.
“Quality sleep is so important to overall health," states Cade Mullins, sleep diagnostic lab manager at NRMC.
Sleep provides health benefits such as lowered risk of chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease, supporting a stronger immune system, helping to maintain a healthy weight, improved stress management, and improved heart health and metabolism. Adults are recommended to get 7 or more hours of sleep daily.
According to the CDC, in 2020 nearly 17% of adults had trouble sleeping. Northeast Regional Medical Center’s accredited sleep diagnostic lab offers sleep studies, which can help you and your primary care doctor determine if a sleep disorder is keeping you from a good night’s rest. Mullins shares that the most common signs of suffering from a sleep disorder include:
- Gasping or not breathing for short periods of time during sleep
- Snoring
- Sleepwalking
- Experiencing jerking movements in your legs during sleep
- Waking with a headache
- Trouble concentrating during the day
- Trouble falling asleep or waking frequently during the night
- Feeling sleepy during the day
Sleep studies are non-invasive and relatively easy to perform. Mullins explains that during a sleep study a patient is monitored by several adhesive sensors. Sleep lab technicians observe patients throughout their sleep, keeping notes which are then reviewed by a specialist. Results are then shared with your primary care provider.
“Most patients can complete sleep studies in one night,” adds Mullins.
The most commonly diagnosed sleep disorders include insomnia, sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and narcolepsy. If a sleep disorder is detected there are many treatment options ranging from lifestyle changes to medication.
If you have trouble falling and staying asleep talk to your healthcare provider about your symptoms and whether a sleep study might be right for you.
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