The Knoxville Hospital and Clinics is helping residents get the best sleep possible. The hospital is reminding residents of the availability to have a sleep study done to help find out what could be causing their lack of a good night’s sleep as well as understanding the reason for some of their underlying health problems. Director of Respiratory Therapy at the hospital, Gary Woohouse tells KNIA/KRLS News some reasons why residents might consider having a sleep study done is if they constantly wake up feeling tired. He says a lot of the time a sleep study is conducted after the patient sees the doctor because their bed partner recommended they be seen. Woodhouse says a lot of patients are seen if they have a bad snoring problem or show the symptoms of sleep apnea. 

According to Woodhouse, if a person’s health care provider determines a sleep study is needed it could take a few weeks to have the study conducted. Woodhouse says if a sleep study is conducted it will either be at the person’s home or at the hospital. He says a belt is worn with stickers and other electronic devices made to monitor the patients sleep. He says if a patient shows they are suffering from sleep apnea and it is early enough in the night, they will be hooked up to a CPAP machine or continuous positive airway pressure machine. 

Woodhouse says some people underestimate the seriousness of what a lack of sleep can do to the body. He says a lack of sleep can affect a person’s overall health and make them prone to serious medical conditions, such as obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.