Sleep Lab

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It's time to see a sleep disorder specialist when you have had trouble sleeping for more than a month or if you are tired during the day for unknown reasons. If you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, it is important to have the cause evaluated in a sleep lab. You and your primary care physician should not assume that you have "insomnia". Recent studies showed that a high percentage (30-50%) of people diagnosed with insomnia actually have another sleep disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea. Also, it is very important to have your nocturnal breathing pattern evaluated before starting sleeping agents, because they may depress your respiratory drive.

FHVK has a team of doctors (Pulmonology team) specially trained in sleep disorders and state of art sleep lab for conducting sleep studies. We have highly trained and experienced sleep technologists, who have received specialized training in the field of sleep disorders.

Q. What are some of the consequences of sleep disorders if left untreated?
• Daytime sleepiness and fatigue
• Cognitive impairment and poor job performance
• Anxiety, depression, memory loss and dementia, hypertension, cardiac disease, stroke, and traffic accidents.

Q. What does a sleep study entail?
A sleep study is a non-invasive, painless evaluation of your sleep. Electrodes attach with paste and they monitor your brain waves, rapid eye movements, breathing patterns, respiratory efforts, oxygen levels, snoring, muscle tone and leg movements, electrocardiogram and heart rate. You are able to move from side to side.

Patient information sheet

You have been prescribed a diagnostic procedure to analyze your sleep patterns. Highly trained and experienced sleep technologists, who have received specialized training in the field of sleep disorders, staff the sleep laboratory. Our technologist will strive to make you comfortable and keep you informed during the waking portion of your stay. Throughout your sleep study process, no needles, drugs, x-rays or invisible procedures will be used- making this a very safe and painless process.

Preparing For Your Study:

The following preparation should be made just before your overnight stay:
• Shower and shampoo your hair.
• Avoid using anything on your hair after it has been cleaned and dried. (i.e. gel, cream, hair spray).
• Do not wear makeup or jewelry.
• Do not use creams or lotion on your face or body.
• Do not wear acrylic nails or hair braids/ weavers that can affect sensor placement.

During your Sleep Study:

When your study begins, the technologist will ask you to be seated and the process of placing special sensors on the various points of your body will begin.
Depending on the type of sleep study prescribed, the sensor may be placed in the following location:
• On your scalp
• On your forehead
• On your temples
• Near your eyes
• Under your nose
• On your chin
• On your finger
• On your chest
• On your leg

The technologist will explain the purpose of each sensor as its being placed. Sensors are placed using a type of medical paste—and you should not experience any pain or discomfort with this process.

Shaving is unnecessary for sensors placed on the scalp- a simple hair part will be used. Some shaving may be necessary on the chest and on the leg if the patient has heavy body hair that would impact the quality of the sleep study.
After the placement of the sleep monitoring gear, you free to relax until bedtime.

At Bedtime

Just before bedtime, the technologist will attach the long leads (wires) from your sensor to the computer monitoring system that is located at your bedside. Again, there is no pain or discomfort.
While is might seem a bit awkward to sleep with many wires running from your sensor to your bedside monitoring equipment, it should not create any discomfort or impair your normal ability to sleep or to get up during the night, should you need to use the restroom.
The technologist will be nearby and will be continually monitoring your sleep study on our sleep diagnostic system.

When Getting Up:

Following your sleep study, the morning gear is removed. In those areas of the body where sensors were placed over body hair, there may be slight pulling sensation when the sensor is being removed, much like the removal of a band-aid.
You may use restroom, freshen up and get dressed for discharge. The result of your sleep study will be forwarded to your sleep study will be forwarded to your sleep physician for interpretation and the recommendation of the treatment, that’s right for you.

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