Sleep Lab
One out of three Americans has a sleep disorder, or a family member with a sleep disorder, which makes sleeping or waking hours miserable. Many people suffer needlessly because they are unaware that a problem exists. Once detected, however, most sleep disorders can be corrected.
Deaconess Sleep Lab offers diagnostic testing for specific sleep disorders, such as snoring, sleep apnea, bruxism, restless leg syndrome and many other sleep disorders. Symptoms of sleep disorders include:
- abnormal movements during sleep
- snoring, gasping, snorting and long pauses in breathing during sleep
- nocturnal sweating
- morning headache
- decreased sex drive
- memory loss
- personality changes/irritability
- difficulty in falling to or maintaining sleep
- difficulty in awakening or staying awake
- jaw pain or flattening of the lower teeth
- snoring in children, low school test scores, hyperactive behavior, lack of attention due to sleep deprivation
- irritability
Left untreated, these disorders can lead to:
- hypertension
- stroke
- low blood-oxygen levels which may cause headaches
- an enlarged heart
- congestive heart failure
- death
- uncontrolable weight gain
Once detected, most sleep disorders can be easily corrected using a variety of techniques, such as:
- changes in habits or behaviors
- continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP and BiPAP) devices and pressure-support ventilation
- medications
- oral appliances and dental devices
- surgery (including tonsillectomy, laser surgery and coblation (radio-frequency tissue reduction)
- weight loss
- pillar procedure
At our Deaconess Sleep Lab patients undergo a one-night (or occasionally a two-night) study during which their sleep is monitored using 12 to 16 electrodes. Treatment recommendations by the sleep specialist, are then sent to the referring physician. The sleep center is staffed by a board-certified sleep specialist, nationally credentialed respiratory therapists, registered polysomnographic technologists, and board eligible polysomnographic technicians all of whom specialize in various treatments of sleep disorders.
For more information, contact Deaconess Sleep Lab at (405) 604-4237.