Sleep Studies

At United Hospital District, our providers guide you through a phased approach to better sleep. Through clinical study, we help patients uncover their specific barriers to sleep. Through follow-up care, we help patients manage sleep their disorders to receive restful sleep and regain control of their lives.

What Is a Sleep Study?

A sleep study is a painless, non-invasive, overnight exam that allows doctors to monitor and record your brain and body movements during a full night of sleep. Sleep studies can diagnose or rule out many common sleep disorders, including:

• Insomnia
• Sleep Apnea
• Restless Leg Syndrome
• Narcolepsy
• Sleepwalking
• Sleep Talking

Sleep disorders are conditions that impair sleep or prevent a person from getting consistent, quality sleep. People who are deprived of sleep experience difficulty making decisions, irritability, have problems with performance and slower reaction times, placing them at risk for automobile and work-related accidents. Sleep loss can also contribute to the development of obesity, diabetes and heart disease.1 It is believed that nearly 70 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) accounts for 80 percent of all sleep disorders. A person with OSA may stop breathing 20 to 60 or more times per hour on any given night. Due to these periods of non-breathing, people may experience snoring, gasping or choking sensations. Other symptoms can include excessive daytime sleepiness, impotence, mood swings, weight gain, frequent night time urination, excessive sweating during sleep, high blood pressure and early morning headaches.

Most people with sleep apnea may be unaware of the problem. Recognition and treatment of sleep apnea is important because it decreases the likelihood of other co-morbidities. A widely accepted treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea is positive airway pressure therapy, which includes using a bedside device to deliver pressurized air through a small mask or nasal pillow system. The device is called a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure system (CPAP). Regular use of CPAP therapy can dramatically improve your quality of sleep, but it doesn’t always happen overnight. CPAP therapy may not be appropriate for everyone.

Speak with your healthcare provider about your sleep concerns.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 507-526-7388.
^{1, 2} Cleveland Clinic. Common Sleep Disorders.  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11429-common-sleep-disorders  2022.

Inspire Therapy Sleep Apnea Treatment

Inspire therapy is a new treatment option for certain patients with obstructive sleep apnea who cannot tolerate CPAP. Inspire is a small device placed during a same-day, outpatient procedure.

United Hospital District is the only hospital in southwestern Minnesota to offer Inspire therapy to qualified patients.