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Sleep Lab
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Approximately 18 million Americans suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a common but often undiagnosed sleep order. OSA is a life-altering, sometimes life-threatening, condition that causes a person to stop breathing repeatedly during sleep. As a result, the body does not get enough oxygen.
Easy-to-identify signs and symptoms associated with OSA include snoring, choking or gasping for breath while you sleep, fatigue and weight fluctuation. Additional symptoms include morning headaches, difficulty concentrating, depression, irritability and memory loss.
The good news is that OSA is treatable and there is relief. San Leandro Hospital's Sleep Lab conducts overnight studies of patients that include trials of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), which is the most common treatment for OSA. The sleep study and its analysis and interpretation are part of a complex process. Many hours of studies are required by specially trained professionals, such as sleep technologists, who "score" the large amount data recorded during the study. The information is then interpreted by Dr. Ratnasothy Rajah, San Leandro Hospital's physician interpreter, who specializes in sleep medicine.
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Why Do I Need a Sleep Study? |
What Happens When I Arrive at the Sleep Lab? |
What Happens After My Study Is Complete? |
Contact Us |
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Why Do I Need a Sleep Study?
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In order to fully understand your sleep and any problems with it, it is important to monitor various brain activities and body systems and their relationships throughout the night. After the study, a sleep specialist will review and interpret the record to help you and your physician understand your specific sleep patterns. Treatment recommendations will be made if evidence of a sleep disorder is found.
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What Happens When I Arrive at the Sleep Lab?
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When you arrive at the lab - usually between 5:30 and 9:30 p.m. - the technician will greet you and show you to your bedroom. You will be shown the equipment, all designed to ensure your comfort, and have the opportunity to ask questions. You should inform the technician of any changes in your sleep or specific difficulties you have not already discussed with your healthcare professional.
You will have time to change into nightclothes and get ready for bed as you do at home. There may be a waiting period before the technician applies the electrodes, and you can read, watch TV or relax during this time. If you have a commitment in the morning, be sure to inform the sleep technician beforehand so that a wake-up call can be arranged. Your wake-up time should also be confirmed when you arrive at the sleep center.
While you are sleeping, various important body functions and measurements are recorded. The technician will monitor your sleep throughout the night from a nearby room. If a breathing problem is observed during the study, the technician may awaken you to ask to try a device that treats breathing problems during sleep. This device, called a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), includes a small mask that fits around your nose or your nose and mouth. If you will be trying the CPAP during your sleep study night, the technician will adjust the mask in advance to make sure it fits comfortably.
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What Happens After My Study Is Complete?
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Be sure to inquire before your study about scheduling a follow-up visit. You will probably have a follow-up visit with your healthcare professional to discuss the results and recommendations for your treatment. Some healthcare professionals prefer that you wait until the sleep study results are available before the follow-up appointment is scheduled.
Note that sleep study results are not generally discussed over the telephone because of their complex nature. To fully understand the results of your sleep study, their implications and any treatment recommendations that are made, you should meet face-to-face with your healthcare professional.
Additional procedures are occasionally needed to establish a diagnosis or evaluate a treatment. Your healthcare professional will advise you if you need this.
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Contact Us
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The Sleep Lab is located on the second floor in San Leandro Hospital. Currently, two studies are run during the week with three or four nights available for scheduling. Most insurances do not require pre-authorization, just a physician's order or symptoms.
For more information, contact Cardiopulmonary Department Director Tim Winn at (510) 667-4503.
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Your Snoring Could Make Your Spouse Snap
Snoring may be more hazardous to your health and well being than you might think. Left untreated, sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems such as stroke, weight gain and headaches. A new study suggests that it may also cause serious damage to your marriage.
Researchers studied 10 couples in which the male was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. The couples spent the night in a sleep lab, where sensors monitored their every move, including their brains, eyes, breathing and muscles. Researchers calculated a sleep efficiency rating, the percentage of time someone actually sleeps during the night. While an average rating is about 90, the women in the group measured 73.
Then, on a scale of 1 to 10, the women rated their quality of life at just 1.2! The lack of sleep created a hostile and tense situation in the household. Questioners revealed that the strain on the marriage threatened its very stability.
But there is a happy ending to the story. Each man was treated for his sleep apnea for two weeks, and the tests were repeated. The findings show that the women woke up less frequently, raised their sleep efficiency levels and bolstered their quality of life jumped from 1.2 to 7.
Could proper treatment help you?
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