Sleep Consultation and Sleep Study
Are you experiencing problems with sleeping?
Many people experience trouble sleeping or suffer from sleep disorders. Sleeping too much, too little, or feeling excessively tired all the time - these describe disorders such as narcolepsy, insomnia, sleep apnea, snoring or restless leg syndrome. When these issues interfere with your everyday productivity or general wellbeing it is best to ask a doctor for help. There could be many reasons as to why you are experiencing sleep issues. These reasons could include stress, hormonal imbalances (such as menopause), health conditions (such as asthma or metabolic abnormalities), the medications you take, or even the amount of caffeinated drinks you consume. Mood disorders such as anxiety and depression can also trigger sleep disorders, like insomnia.
The Epworth Sleepiness Scale is a useful tool you can use to briefly gauge whether you are experiencing detrimental sleep related issues. A score of 10 or more has the potential of excessive sleepiness and means that you should see a Physician. You can also do the Stop Bang Questionnaire to determine whether you need to see a Physician about Sleep Apnea.
Dr Tom offers sleep consultations, sleep study and CPAP titration tests for the diagnosis and treatment of these sleep disorders.
The consultation appointment is an office visit where you will be asked to discuss your sleep complaints and concerns, as well as any other related conditions you may have. Dr Tom will work with you to determine which tests to perform and develop a treatment plan.
A sleep study (polysomnography) is a non-invasive, overnight examination, usually conducted at a sleep lab or hospital that is set up for overnight stays. It will allow the doctor to monitor you while you sleep. Polysomnography is a multi-parametric test that allows us to see what's happening in your brain and body. It records your brain activity, the oxygen level in your blood, heart rate and breathing, as well as your eye and leg movements. In addition to diagnosing sleep disorders, a sleep study may also be used to help adjust your existing treatment plan if you have already been diagnosed with a sleep disorder.
If a sleep study determines you have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), you may require a "titration study". The titration study is performed in a lab for the purposes of calibrating a CPAP machine. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a common treatment used to manage sleep-related breathing issues. It is a machine attached to a breathing mask that fits over the nose and mouth. It uses pressurized air to keep the sleeping patients’ airways open. This therapy improves the condition over time and lessens the symptoms. It is one of several types of devices that keeps the airways open and treats OSA, including BiPAP (bilevel positive airway pressure) and VPAP (variable positive airway pressure) machines.