The Sleep Clinic Advantage

Can’t seem to get enough sleep? Myriads of information on how to achieve sleep are found in self-help books, magazines, and the World Wide Web. But how will you know which one is most effective for you? The wiser of us would consult the doctor to find out.

More often than not, after a visit to the doctor, you will be recommended to go to a sleep clinic. This will help your doctor further diagnose your condition, confirm if you do have a sleep disorder, and provide you with treatment.

A sleep clinic is a center with medical facilities that administer procedures to study sleep patterns and therefore diagnose sleep disorders. A sleep clinic may fall under any of three categories- hospital-based, university-based, or privately owned.

Why go to a sleep clinic? Why not simply rely on self-help books to help you diagnose and remedy your sleeping problem? Here are the advantages of availing of medical services in an accredited sleep clinic.

Needs Assessment

When you express desire to sign up at a sleep clinic, a preliminary step is required before any procedure is done. The patient is made to fill out a form detailing his history of sleep patterns and problems. Information on current medications and intake of alcohol, caffeine, and use of tobacco are also found. Some may find this unnecessary, as they have already gone over this procedure with their physician. It is a vital and beneficial step in the sleep clinic, however, because it allows the patient to be aware of his condition and discover other things about his habit in relation to his sleeping problem. Meticulous screening and pre-determination of an existing sleep order can only be done in a sleep clinic.

Medical facilities and equipment

State of the art equipment in sleep medicine are among the facilities that a sleep clinic can offer. At the very least, a sleep center has equipment for studying the biophysiological changes that happens to a patient during sleep. Recently, sleep clinics are known to house facilities utilized to study other sleep disorders other than insomnia. Some offer multi-specialty comprehensive programs that range from therapy to even surgery. The importance of correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment cannot be further highlighted when one goes to a sleep clinic.

Trained specialists

A sleep clinic employs licensed and qualified physicians, therapists, and technicians who are trained to assist a patient every step of the way. Many sleep clinics boast of offering expert care from specialists in sleep medicine working together with experts in the various fields of neurology, psychiatry, psychology, pulmonary medicine, otorhinolaryngology, and dentistry. On top of expert medical care, quality service is also obtained from sleep clinics.

Comfort away from home

Many of today’s sleep clinics simulate our very own bedroom at home. Others have a hotel-like ambiance, while some even have an adjacent hotel complete with swimming pool and workout facilities. Breakfast service is also offered. These and many other amenities are accessible to patients in order for them to feel more relaxed before, in-between, and after procedures.

Sleep clinics help patients and doctors alike in the thorough assessment and diagnosis of sleep disorders. When given an accurate diagnosis, appropriate treatments follow and patients are likely to get the desired results, and literally, be able to sleep at night.

Source: Gerrard Mackenzie