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Those of you who have trouble sleeping will want to know about our new Sleep Disorders Center, developed in partnership with the Sleep Services of America, a leading sleep diagnostic service that has conducted over 26,000 studies in more than 70 labs throughout the country.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Some 18 million Americans have sleep apnea, a serious breathing disorder that causes interruptions in breathing during sleep. These pauses result in lower levels of oxygen in the blood. After a few seconds, the brain sends a signal to breathe and that breath often awakens the individual and prevents deep, sound sleep. This process can be repeated hundreds of times during the night.
Symptoms and Complications of Sleep Apnea
Symptoms include snoring, depression, irritability and falling asleep at work or school. Overweight and obese individuals are more prone to sleep apnea. If left untreated, people with sleep apnea are three times more likely to have automobile accidents than those without it, and it can contribute to high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke.
Testing and Treatment
If you believe you have a sleep disorder, please discuss your symptoms with your physician as you will require a referral to be evaluated at our center. We will then schedule you for an overnight stay in a comfortable room where our technician will monitor your heart rhythm, brainwaves and airflow. We will then send a full report, with our physician's interpretation, to your referring or primary care physician within 48-72 hours.
If you receive a positive diagnosis, you will be asked to return for a second exam -- a titration study that helps determine the type of treatment needed. The most common treatment, known as CPAP or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, involves wearing a mask over the nose during sleep. It prevents the airway from collapsing during sleep and cutting off breathing.
Our staff will handle all paperwork before testing, including pre-certification with most medical insurance carriers. For more information on our Sleep Disorder Center, please call l-800-540-4485.
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