Services
Sleep Studies
Sleep studies are tests that collect information on various aspects of how well you sleep, and how your body responds if you are having sleep problems. Sleep specialists use the results to understand how your body responds to sleep problems, diagnose any sleep disorder(s) you may be experiencing, and assess the severity of your condition.
Sleep studies are helpful in diagnosing:
- sleep apnea, or sleep-related breathing disorders,
- seizure disorders during sleep,
- restless leg syndrome and other sleep-related periodic limb movements,
- sleep disorders such as narcolepsy that can cause extreme tiredness during the day.
Sleep studies are an important part of the assessment process because people are not usually aware of how they’re breathing and moving while they’re asleep. Its important to diagnose and treat sleep problems because untreated sleep disorders have been associated with increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and other medical conditions, as well as increased risks of falls and car accidents.
After an initial consultation with our sleep specialist or your physician, you may be referred for a sleep study. The medical term for this study is “polysomnogram,” which is a noninvasive, pain-free procedure that usually requires spending a night in the sleep center. During a polysomnogram, a sleep technologist records multiple biological functions during sleep, such as brain wave activity, eye movement, muscle tone, heart rhythm and breathing via electrodes and monitors placed on the head, chest and legs.
After your sleep study is recorded, the data will be tabulated by a technologist and presented to a physician for interpretation. Depending on your physician’s orders, you may be given therapy during the course of the study, which may include oxygen or a device called continuous positive airway pressure therapy, or CPAP.
WV Sleep Centers wants you to feel as comfortable as possible during your sleep study, so we’ve taken extra steps like offering private hotel-like bedrooms with your comfort and relaxation in mind. We combine the latest diagnostic technology with the highest level of care to ensure a successful outcome for you.
CPAP Sleep Apnea Management
Obstructive Sleep Apnea is one of the most common forms of sleep apnea. Caused by an obstruction in the upper airway, it’s characterized by frequent pauses in breathing. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, or CPAP for short, is often an effective therapy for preventing the obstruction. PAP devices work by sending a steady but gentle stream of room air into the patient’s airway. The pressure delivered by the device prevents the tracheal wall and soft palate from collapsing, thereby keeping the airway open.
We’ve found that patients are most likely to be successful with their CPAP therapy when they have plenty of proper guidance and encouragement! There’s a brief learning curve that can be shortened further through access to one-on-one professional support. Because various published studies have indicated that the first month of PAP usage is crucial to compliance, WV Sleep Centers has developed a unique Sleep Apnea Management Program.
The program offers:
- Intensive patient education and counseling.
- Monitoring for PAP compliance issues (via downloadable PAP machines)
- Follow-up contact that helps ensure patients are successful as they adjust to therapy
WV Sleep Centers’ specially trained PAP specialists work with the patient throughout the entire process. Progress reports are sent to the ordering physician to keep them informed.
Consistent daily PAP usage for sleep apnea patients is the key to maintaining good health and preventing the onset of more serious consequences such as:
- Systemic hypertension
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Neurocognitive dysfunction
- Myocardial infarction
- Stroke
- Arrhythmia
- Increased mortality
