The Institute of Medicine recently estimated in its report, Sleep Disorders and Sleep Deprivation: An Unmet Public Health Problem, that “hundreds of billions of dollars a year are spent on direct medical costs related to sleep disorders such as doctor visits, hospital services, prescriptions, and over-the-counter medications.” Sleep problems and lack of sleep can affect everything from personal and work productivity to behavioral and relationship problems. Sleep problems can have serious consequences. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drowsy driving claims more than 1,500 lives and causes at least 100,000 motor vehicle crashes each year.

Compounding the problem is the fact that most people know when to seek medical help for physical discomfort such as fever or pain—but sleep problems are often overlooked or ignored. In fact, the overwhelming majority of people with sleep disorders are undiagnosed and untreated.”  (BPRT, 2007. Patient’s Guide to Sleep Evaluations. Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists. Accessed January 22, 2008 from http://www.brpt.org/Consumer_info/consumer_pamphlet.htm.)

A sleep study can be conducted in either a hospital or in an independent facility.  After the sleep study has been conducted and reviewed, several conditions may be diagnosed, and various specific treatments may be recommended. There is a wide range of methods for treating sleep problems.  In addition to medications and behavioral measures, some sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea (in which breathing is briefly and repeatedly interrupted during sleep), may include the use of medical equipment during sleep, such as CPAP therapy. CPAP is an air pressure system that helps hold the air passages in the nose and throat open during sleep and eliminates snoring and pauses in breathing. (BPRT, 2007. Patient’s Guide to Sleep Evaluations. Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists. Accessed January 22, 2008 from http://www.brpt.org/Consumer_info/consumer_pamphlet.htm.)