The only Accredited Clinic based Sleep Center in the Region

Brain and body functions are active throughout sleep and wake. Good sleep promotes good wakefulness and good health. Disrupted sleep produces many problems, for example, daytime sleepiness, decreased job performance, unexplained fatigue, and auto accidents.

Sleep disorders that a Polysomnogram can help diagnose:

• Narcolepsy
• Sleep Apnea
• Restless Legs Syndrome
• Insomnia
• Circadian Rhythm Disorders

Sleep disorders are among the most common medical complaint in our society. About 35% of all adults report insomnia at some point during the previous year, and half of those perceive the problem as serious. Add to this about 5% of all adults who have treatable Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (O.S.A.S.), about 1% with Narcolepsy and other neurologic disorders of excessive somnolence, and many millions with parasomnias and circadian rhythm disorders, and it becomes clear that at least 40% of all adults struggle with a more or less serious sleep disorder.

Our society does not recognize sleepiness as a serious complaint. Most people feel that if you are excessively sleepy, you simply need to give yourself more time to sleep. Because of this common but often false perception, patients rarely complain to a physician about sleepiness.

One cause of sleepiness is failure to breathe properly during sleep. Breath-holds during sleep are called sleep apneas. People with sleep apnea usually have snoring, restless sleep, and dangerous decrease in blood oxygen. If uncorrected, sleep apnea may cause high blood pressure, heart attacks, and strokes.

Fortunately, sleep specialists are now able to detect and diagnose breathing disorders in their earlier, more treatable stages. Proper treatment can prevent or reverse the potentially life threatening consequences of sleep apnea.

What is a Polysomnogram?

A Polysomnogram is a test which measures different bodily functions during sleep and wake.

We look at:

• EEG to analyze brainwaves
• EOG to measure eye movements
• EMG to assess the electrical activity of muscle in the chin and legs
• ECG to measure the electrical activity of the heart
• Thermistors to record airflow in/out of nose and mouth
• Respiratory belts around the chest and abdomen to measure movements during breathing
• O2 saturation to assess oxygen shortages in the blood

Recording a night of sleep at The Sleep Health Center, LLC follows a standard protocol. About 3 hours before bedtime the patient arrives at W.R.S.D.C., fills out a questionnaire, has a consultation with a physician, and has the aforementioned electrodes and sensors applied.

Through the entire night a technician monitors the Polysomnogram. On the following morning a physician analyzes the results and discusses them with the patient and family. He also discusses possible treatment options.

Are There Treatments for Sleep Disorders?

Sleep is not merely a time out from daily life, but an active state which is essential for physical and mental restoration. Unfortunately, more than 100 million Americans of all ages regularly fail to get a good night's sleep. Sleep disorders are diagnosed and treated by a variety of health care providers including general practitioners and specialists in neurology, pulmonology medicine, psychiatry, psychology, pediatrics, and otolaryngology.

Treatments available for various sleep disorders include:

• Sleep Hygiene: Decrease stress, lose weight, stop smoking
• Oral Appliances: Maintain the airway open by holding the tongue or jaw forward thus increasing the airway space behind the tongue.
• Positive Airway Pressure: Eliminates blockage in the throat by using air to prop open the airway during sleep.
• Surgical Operations: Remove blockages in the nose and throat such as growths, tonsils, adenoids, uvula/soft palate, or a deviated septum.
• Medications: Provide limited benefit for the successful treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, and include nasal sprays, decongestants, respiratory stimulants, and oxygen.
  Make Us Your Sleep Disorder Center!