At The Forefront of Sleep

specializing in the treatment of sleep disorders

What is a Sleep Study?

This study is also called a polysomnogram. It's purpose is to test for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and other sleep disorders. The process includes charting your brain waves, heart beat, and breathing as you sleep. It also recorded your eye and leg movements and muscle tension. Sensors are placed on your head, face, chest and legs and tiny electrical signals are sent to a computer. These signals show when you are asleep and awake during the night. The brain-wave and eye-movement detectors show when you are in Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep. This is a stage of sleep where your eyes twitch and your brain waves are at it's lowest frequency. It is also the stage of sleep when you have most of your dreams. The breathing monitors show the number of times you stop breathing. They can also detect low air flow and minor changes in oxygen level. The leg sensors show both minor twitches and major movements that occur during the night. A clip is also placed on your finds to note changes in the level of oxygen in your blood.

What We Test For

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea can be deadly. It causes a rise in blood pressure and can lead to strokes. It has been linked to numerous cases of cardiovascular death in the Bahamas. The disturbed sleep causes the sufferer to be irritable and have problems with concentration. He or she may wake up with a dull headache and feel groggy and sleepy all day. Apnea episodes (when the sleeper stops breathing) can last 10 seconds or more and can occur hundreds of times every night. This may cause the sleeper to awaken gasping for breath many times during the night. He doesn't get the deep sleep he needs. However, in addition to fragmented sleep, the apnea causes the oxygen levels in the blood to drop to a dangerous low while carbon dioxide levels rise.
This causes cardiac arrhythmia and can lead to fatal heart attacks and strokes.

• Loud snoring with episodes of gasping for breath
• Daytime sleepiness

• Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat

• Morning headaches
• Restless sleep
• Insomnia or nighttime awakenings
• Going to the bathroom frequently during the night
• Waking up feeling out of breath
• Forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating
• Moodiness, irritability, or depression

• Uncontrolled Hypertension

• Heart Disease

• Strokes

In obstructive Sleep Apnea, the throat closes down and obstructs the breathing. This can be caused by several things: Fatty tissue in the throat area, enlarged tonsils or adenoids, or an unusually long uvula (the fleshy lobe in the middle of the back of the soft palate.)

If you suspect you or a member of your family may be the victim of sleep apnea, arrange for a visit to a sleep lab for testing. There are several methods of treatment including a change in lifestyle, the use of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) and surgery.

What assessment tools can be used to diagnose Sleep Apnea?

Stop-Bang Questionnaire

Epworth Sleep Scale

Do You Snore?

Most of us don't think of snoring as something to be overly concerned about unless our bed partner is disrupting our sleep! But frequent, loud snoring may be a sign of Sleep Apnea, a common and potentially serious disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts as you sleep.

Sleep Room

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Now Available

Oral Appliances for Mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Specialty Mattresses and Pillows.

Sleep Room for Sleep Apnea treatment in The Bahamas

Sleep Solutions Co.