AASM Accredited Sleep Center

Accredited by American Academy of Sleep Medicine

A sleep study is a painless procedure done on an outpatient basis. It usually consists of two nights of study; the first for diagnosis and the second for treatment. We place various monitors that record your brain waves, eye movements, muscle tension, leg movements, heart rate, oxygen level, and breathing. These things are recorded all night while you sleep by a technician who can hear and see you even though your room is completely dark and private. Our rooms are furnished like a bedroom in your home and a television is available in each room. While we can sometimes give you preliminary results very quickly, we much score the test completely before calling with your results. This may take 10-15 working days.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

People with obstructive sleep apnea do not breathe normally at night because their airway collapses during sleep causing them to stop breathing. Sleep apnea is serious and can trigger high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack and heart failure.

Signs & Symptoms

Primary complaint is usually excessive daytime sleepiness.
Snoring.
Mood swings, irritability, and/or depression,.
Morning headaches due to falling oxygen levels during apneas.
Patients experience memory and conception challenges.
Erectile dysfunction/impotence in males.
Walking, gasping for air, sometimes with the heart "racing".
Patients remember dreaming often. This is a sign that dream sleep is being interrupted by breathing disturbances.
The wife or husband of a sleep apneic will usually report that the person seems to kick or thrash around during sleep.
Awakening with a dry mouth or sore throat.

Risk Groups:

People who are overweight. (Body mass index of 25 to 29.9) and obese (BMI of 30 and above)
Men and women with large neck sizes: 17 inches or more for men and 16 inches or more for women.
Middle-aged and older men, and post-menopausal women
Ethnic minorities
People with abnormalities of the bony and soft tissue structure of the head and neck.
Adults and children with Down Syndrome.
Children with large tonsils and adenoids.
Anyone who has a family member with Obstructive Sleep Disorder.

By simply scoring each of the following situations listed in the Epworth Sleepiness Scale from 0 (No chance) to 3 (High Chance), you can identify your own level of daytime sleepiness, which is a symptom of many sleep disorders.

Your chance of Dozing (0-3)
0 No Chance of Daytime Sleepiness
1 Slight Chance
2 Moderate Chance
3 High Chance

Situation
Sitting and reading
Watching Television
Sitting inactive in a public place (theatre or meeting)
As a passenger in a car for about an hour without a break
Lying down to rest in the afternoon when circumstances permit
Sitting and talking to someone
Sitting quietly after lunch (Without alcohol at the meal)
In a car, while stopped for a few moments in traffic

If you scored…

1 - 6
You are getting enough sleep.

7 - 9
You are about average and probably not suffering from excessive daytime sleepiness.

10 or greater
You may need further evaluation by a physician to determine the cause of your daytime sleepiness, and whether or not you have an underlying sleep disorder.