Sleep Diagnostic Services
Sleep Diagnostic Services is a state-of-the-art facility in a quiet setting off the hospital's main campus for the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders.
Breathing
disorders during sleep can be serious and lead to impaired rest and many
daytime
problems as well as some health care problems. Careful evaluation constitutes the first step toward
satisfactory relief.
When obstructive apnea is suspected, sleep breathing patterns can be evaluated at a sleep laboratory. The subject sleeps in a bedroom while attached to various skin sensors that monitor many variables. These include brain electrical activity, nose and mouth airflow, breathing patterns, heart rhythms, oxygen level and muscle activity. A trained technologist monitors these measurements and the patient's sleep habits continuously. The results of this procedure, called a polysomnogram or all-night sleep study, go to a physician trained in sleep disorders for evaluation.
Sleep ApneaTreatment
The treatment of sleep apnea depends upon the cause and severity revealed by the all-night sleep study. In mild sleep apnea, breathing during sleep can sometimes be improved by developing better sleep habits and avoiding alcohol and sedatives near bedtime. Weight loss can be helpful in obese individuals, and changing body position during sleep helps others.
In some severe cases of obstructive sleep apnea, a blower, called nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) is used to create continuous air pressure in the throat, which prevents the obstruction. The patient wears a small over the nose mask (attached to the CPAP blower by a flexible tube) while sleeping. Surgical therapies can also be a benefit in some cases.
For further information, please contact your doctor or Reid Sleep Diagnostic Services, (765) 983-3084
