Sleep Disorders Center

Most Americans are not getting a good night’s sleep. Reasons can range from too much caffeine, stress, or a sleep disorder. Although Sleep Apnea is the most common sleep disorder, there are actually 70 sleep disorders including restless leg syndrome, insomnia, narcolepsy and parasomnias. The Hillcrest Hospital South Sleep Disorders Center can help diagnose if you have a sleep disorder so you can get treatment and go back to getting a good night's rest.

Statistics

  • Around 49% of Americans suffer from a significant sleep disorder.
  • Most congestive heart failure patients suffer from sleep-related breathing disorders and 20% of sudden deaths in heart failure patients occur between midnight and 6 a.m.
  • Approximately 4% of all adults have Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome, 80% of those are undiagnosed.
  • Snoring is the first indication of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in 15% of adults.
  • 2% of women and 4% of men have sleep apnea.
  • High Blood pressure is present in approximately 50% of Sleep Apnea patients.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive Sleep Apnea occurs when the muscles of the soft palate and throat relax during sleep, obstructing the airway and making breathing difficult and noisy (snoring). Eventually the airway walls collapse, blocking airflow entirely, which results in a pause in your breathing. Each time breathing stops, the oxygen level in the blood falls and your sleep is disturbed. This creates stress on the heart, which can increase your blood pressure and could result in heart problems, high blood pressure and even stroke if left untreated. Sleep Apnea (cessation of breathing) can be a life threatening condition.

Central Sleep Apnea is when the diaphragm does not receive a signal to breathe normally. This also causes your oxygen to drop and your sleep to be disturbed.

Mixed Sleep Apnea occurs as a combination of central and obstructive breathing at the same time.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea 

  • Snoring
  • Daytime sleepiness
  • Morning headaches
  • Waking up gasping for breath
  • Recent weight gain or loss
  • High blood pressure
  • Reflux or heartburn
  • Type II Diabetes
  • Cardiovascular Disease

It is important to realize that these are just some of the symptoms that could indicate Sleep Apnea.

Common Physical Characteristics

  • Enlarged tonsils or adenoids
  • Deviated nasal septum
  • Chronic sinusitis and allergies
  • Nasal polyps
  • Retrognathia
  • Enlarged tongue or uvula

Treatment for Sleep Apnea

Diagnosing a sleep disorder requires an overnight sleep study performed in a professional sleep center. This is a simple test that will monitor the following areas during your sleep:

  • Brain waves
  • Eye movements
  • Muscle movements
  • Heart rate
  • Leg movements
  • Breathing patterns and noise
  • Oxygen levels

The Hillcrest Hospital South Sleep Disorders Center is designed to conduct sleep studies in a secure, home-like atmosphere similar to your bedroom or a hotel room. Your room offers a Queen bed, private bathroom with shower, vanity and television. Our highly-trained sleep specialists work with each patient and their physician to deliver high quality service and effective treatment options.

You will be scheduled to arrive at Hillcrest Hospital South Hospital, located at 91st and Highway 169, between 7:45 pm and 9:00 pm. Please come through the Emergency Department entrance where the Sleep Lab Technician will escort you to the the Hillcrest Hospital South Sleep Disorders Center on the fifth floor of the hospital. You will have small monitoring devices attached to several areas of your body to monitor you during your sleep. After your overnight stay, the results will be scored and sent to your physician.

For more information, please contact the Hillcrest Hospital South Sleep Disorders Center at (918) 770.7477 or (800) 990.9816.

For more education on specific sleep conditions, visit http://wired.md/sleepedu/