The Sleep Disorders Center at Physicians Regional Healthcare System takes a collaborative approach to the diagnosis and treatment of the full range of sleep disorders. A multi-disciplinary team of physicians works co-operatively, along with board-certified sleep medicine specialists and registered sleep technologists, to provide patients with a coordinated diagnosis and treatment plan in one convenient location.
As a patient of the Sleep Disorders Center, you will likely enjoy a stay in one of the six sleep study suites contained in our state-of-the-art sleep lab on the campus of Physicians Regional-Pine Ridge. The suites are attractive and comfortable as an upscale hotel room, and each is equipped with its own private bathroom and television. Once a diagnosis is made, the team takes advantage of the latest advances in sleep therapies and surgical techniques to develop a plan that’s right for you.
Most importantly, our team appreciates the psychological aspects of your sleep problem, and will work with you to make positive changes in your sleeping habits that will accord with your lifestyle, so that you can make the most of the treatment you receive. Since a good night’s sleep is actually an active state and is important for renewing mental and physical health each day, we are committed to finding the right treatment for you. With a good night’s sleep, you can enjoy a better quality of life and improved overall health.
Do you have a sleep disorder? More than 70 million Americans suffer from some kind of sleep disorder, including 50 percent of people aged 65 and over. If you have one or more of the following symptoms, you may have a sleep disorder...
- Chronic Insomnia (inability to sleep)
- Excessive snoring
- Choking sensation while sleeping
- Snorting and gasping while sleeping
- Early morning headaches
- Excessive daytime fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating during the day
- Falling asleep at inappropriate times
- Chronic nightmares
- Irregular heartbeat at night
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As anyone with a sleep disorder knows, sleep problems drastically affect your quality of life. Aside from fatigue and irritability, untreated sleep disorders can cause serious health problems such as depression, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, and even heart attack and stroke. With the help of our cutting-edge sleep lab, our physicians diagnose and treat the full range of sleep disorders, including:
- Sleep Apnea
- Chronic Snorting
- Narcolepsy
- Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)
- Night Terrors
Sleep apnea is one of the most common disorders. Although symptoms can vary, patients with sleep apnea may experience loud snoring, daytime sleepiness, restless sleep, frequent awakenings, decreased intellectual capacity, personality change, morning headaches and nausea, and sexual dysfunction. Obesity is an important risk factor.
Fortunately, sleep disorders are becoming ever more treatable, and numerous advances have been made in the last several years. The physicians at the Sleep Disorders Center stay abreast of all the latest developments in treatment, and perform some of the most innovative surgical procedures currently available.
Among the treatment options are surgery, medication, behavior modification, oral appliances and psychotherapy. Another highly effective and non-invasive treatment - often prescribed for sleep apnea - is continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP. The CPAP device works like a pump to push air into the throat, holding it open and preventing the sporadic closure that characterizes sleep apnea. A sleep study is needed to determine the optimum pressure for each patient.
In addition, several innovative surgical treatments have been developed including minimally invasive nasal and throat operations using radiofrequency to open the nasal and oral airways. The Pillar Procedure, another advanced treatment, involves placing tiny woven inserts in the soft palate to reduce vibrations, add structural support and prevent airway obstruction.
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A sleep study (also called a polysomnogram) is a test that records your physical state during various stages of sleep and wakefulness. It provides data that is essential in evaluating sleep and sleep-related complaints, such as identifying sleep stages, body position, blood oxygen levels, respiratory events, muscle tone, heart rate, amount of snoring and general sleep behavior.
If your physician feels you need a sleep study, you will make an appointment for a test that will take place at night in the sleep lab at the Sleep Disorders Center. After your arrival at the sleep lab, you will be asked to complete questionnaires on your sleep the night before and a brief sleep history. You will also watch a brief video.
After changing into nightclothes, someone called a polysomnographic technologist will connect you to the electrodes that will record your brain waves and muscle movements throughout the night. This will not hurt or break the skin. The electrodes are placed in specific areas and applied with water-soluble gel and tape. The electrodes record brain waves, muscle movement, rapid eye movement (REM), air intake, and periodic limb movement. A microphone attached to your neck records snoring, and two belt-like straps around the chest and lower abdomen monitor muscle movement during breathing. Despite all of the equipment, most people say it doesn't disrupt their sleep.
After settling into bed, your technician may go to a monitoring room and ask you over an intercom to perform certain tasks that will show the electrodes are recording properly. You will observed on a television monitor during the night, but that is to allow the technician to note your body movements during sleep.
You can expect to receive your results 10 days after testing. Your physician will review the results from your sleep study, and you may be given treatment for a specific sleep disorder.
On the day of your test:
1. Do not drink alcohol or caffeine after 4 p.m.
2. Bring comfortable nightclothes and any medications you are taking or will need to take
3. Do not take naps on the day of your sleep study
Please check in at the Emergency entrance of Physicians Regional-Pine Ridge at 8 p.m. You will be ready to leave by 7 a.m. the following morning. If you have any questions, please contact the Sleep Disorders Center at (239) 304-5097 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. We hope that your experience at the Sleep Disorders Center is a good one.
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