Sleep Apnea and snoring, which affect 4% of adult men and 2% of adult women, may lead to serious health problems.

Look for the warning signs of sleep apnea:

• Extremely loud snoring
• Repeating patterns of "snore, pause, gasp" revealing breathing stops and starts
• Waking up frequently
• Extreme sleepiness during the day
• Falling asleep while at work or while driving
• Workplace accidents or car crashes
• Concentration difficulties
• Lost productivity
• Forgetfulness
• Irritability
• Anxiousness
• Depression
• Mood or behavior changes
• More frequent illnesses
• Morning headaches
• Loss of interest in sex
• Male erectile failure

If you have many of the "warning signs" for sleep apnea and you do not seek medical care, you may be increasing your risk for:

• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Fatigue-related motor vehicle and work accidents

An overnight sleep study in a sleep disorder laboratory may be needed for your physician to properly diagnose and treat your sleep disorder.

Q&A

What is a sleep study?  A simple, painless overnight procedure where your brain waves, muscle activity, leg movements, heart rhythms and other body functions can be monitored by a highly-skilled sleep technologist while you sleep.  The sleep data will be scored by a sleep lab technologist.  After interpretation by one of our sleep specialist physicians, you will be given an appointment to return to see the physician who will provide you with your results and diagnosis.  The physician will recommend the most appropriate treatment plan for you.  Your results will also be sent to your referring physician.

Will I need to take time off work to have a sleep study?  Unless you work a night shift, this should not be necessary.  A patient's study usually begins in the evening and is completed before 7am - enabling him or her to go to work following the sleep study.

Will my insurance cover my sleep study?  Most major insurance companies, as well as Medicare, provide coverage for sleep studies, but it is always advised with any medical procedure to verify coverage with your insurance company before scheduling a sleep study appointment.

The most common treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure or CPAP.  CPAP provides a gentle flow of positive air pressure through a nasal mask to keep the airway open during sleep. 

With CPAP therapy:

• Breathing becomes regular
• Snoring stops
• Blood oxygen level becomes normal
• Restful sleep is restored
• Quality of life is improved
• Risks shown above are dramatically reduced

Other therapies include surgery, oral appliances, lifestyle modifications (sleep hygiene, weight loss, exercise, sufficient hours of sleep), and avoidance of alcohol, sedatives, hypnotics and tobacco.

PREPARING FOR A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP

• Check the environment
• Use bed for sleeping
• Follow a regular schedule
• Exercise 4-5 hours before bedtime
• Watch what/when you eat
• Don't smoke
• Refuse to worry
• Take a warm bath
• Listen to quiet music
• Try relaxation exercises

If you or someone you love has a sleep disorder, we can help.

If you've tried our tips for getting a good night's sleep and the self-test indicates that you may want to seek medical attention, please call our office for an appointment.

The physician will obtain a medical history and conduct a physical examination - you may wish to talk with your bed partner about your sleeping and waking behavior.

Based upon the physician's evaluation, you may be scheduled to spend one or two nights in the sleep laboratory where your brain waves, muscle activity, leg and arm movements, oxygen levels, breathing patterns, heart rhythms and other body functions can be monitored during sleep.  With this information, the physician can prescribe a treatment plan that's right for you.

Let us help you achieve a good night's sleep and have a positive impact on the "rest" of your life.