Sleep Apnea Support

Sleep. For some, it’s a good night’s sleep. For others, it’s a restless night. Gasping during sleep, daytime sleepiness, loud snoring and morning headaches are just a few of the telltale signs you may be among one in 15 Americans with obstructive sleep apnea.

“Sleep apnea is when you completely or partially stop breathing while asleep, causing oxygen levels to drop,” said NKCH Diagnostic Sleep Center Medical Director Scott Shorten, MD. “This happens when the muscles in the back of the throat fail to keep the airway open.”

This common sleep disorder may also cause:

• Dry mouth
• Frequent nighttime urination
• Memory or concentration difficulties
• Moodiness
• Night sweats
• Sexual dysfunction

Whether you have a few or several symptoms, it’s wise to seek a referral to a sleep specialist, like Dr. Shorten, a neurologist with Meritas Health Neurology.

“Some people are afraid of a sleep apnea diagnosis, but it’s very treatable. Getting good quality sleep can be life-changing,” said Dr. Shorten, who is board certified in neurology and sleep medicine.

He noted that when untreated, sleep apnea can cause other serious health problems, including:

• Congestive heart failure
• Coronary artery disease
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Stroke

Sleep studies are a painless, effective way to diagnose sleep disorders.

At-Home Sleep Study

An at-home sleep study can help determine if sleep apnea is the cause of your sleep troubles. A patient need only wear a band around the chest and two sensors — one on a finger and one under the nose.

After at least seven hours of recorded sleep at home, the patient returns the equipment to NKCH’s Green Hills Diagnostic Sleep Center, where technologists download the data to the patient’s electronic medical record. Patients who have sleep apnea may be treated with a continuous positive airway pressure machine (CPAP) or other alternative, such as a mouthpiece or a surgically implanted mechanism, depending on the severity.

Sleep Center Study

Often, when sleep apnea is the diagnosis, the patient will undergo a follow-up sleep study at the sleep center. During the study, a technologist will start a CPAP and slowly increase the settings until the sleep apnea is alleviated. The patient spends a normal sleep period — night or day — in a room with a full-size bed, private bathroom and television.

“A home study is specific to diagnosing sleep apnea,” Dr. Shorten said. “It cannot detect other sleep disorders, such as periodic limb movement disorders. When other diagnoses are suspected or there is a concern for supplemental oxygen or potential seizures, an in-facility sleep study is more appropriate.”

NKCH’s sleep specialists test for more than 20 sleep disorders. Known as registered polysomnographic technologists, they have experience conducting sleep studies tailored to specific needs. They attach special electrodes to the patient’s head, chest and legs. They record when you are asleep and your different stages of sleep. Once asleep, they monitor the patient’s abdomen, chest and leg movement; airflow; brain and eye activity; heart rate and oxygen level. The center is accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the leading sleep services accrediting agency.

Sleep and Health

Dr. Shorten’s desire to care for people with sleep issues is rooted in his appreciation of the relationship between sleep and overall health.

“Helping patients carry out their lives in an alert manner so they can accomplish their goals is rewarding,” Dr. Shorten said. “Since I completed my fellowship seven years ago, sleep medicine has continued to gain more recognition as an important foundation for general, physical and mental health.”