Benefits of sleep studies

Branford (WTNH) - It's estimated 90 percent of people who have a tough time sleeping have some sort of sleep disorder.

A sleep study is exactly what Larry Buono had to go through to find out
he has mild sleep apnea and insomnia.

For ten years, Larry has had trouble sleeping.

He says, "I didn't realize I had a problem, I just thought I couldn't sleep."

But when he realized it was affecting his life, he wasn't concentrating and didn't have energy, he underwent a study at Sleep Disorders Center of Connecticut in Branford .

But common fears keep some people from going through it.

Medical Director Dr. Nina Konstantinova has heard it all.

"They say 'I have insomnia at home, so if I come to sleep at your center I basically will be watching the ceiling the entire night,'" Dr. Konstantinova said.

Solutions like having a family member in the room,  to bringing something familiar from home can help ease anxieties.  Another concern is trying to sleep with electrodes.

Mario Cardone, the polysomnograph technologist says, "Basically if they don't think about the wires, they're really not that heavy, so you really don't feel them."

Larry says, "Actually it was comfortable, I slept pretty well here in the first night."

Cardone monitors what goes on from the control room and says, "Basically we want two hours of diagnostic at least, but three hours would be better and three hours to treat them if we see necessary."

Dr. Konstantinova says, "If you have a sleep problem, it's helping us to figure out what kinds of sleep problem you have."

Treatment is prescribed after a diagnosis is made.

Dr. Konstantinova says, "It might be medication, it might be cognitive behavior therapy, it might be a machine, a C-Pap machine, some patients require surgery."

Larry says, ""I do behavior treatment similar to hypnosis and its done a world of good."

All from a good night sleep.