Sleep Studies/Home Sleep Studies
To determine if you have sleep apnea we will first ask you a series of questions that suggest sleep apnea such as snoring, stopped breathing at night, tiredness and fatigue, weight gain, mouth breathing, or a history of high blood pressure or heart and lung disease. It is important to understand that most people who have sleep apnea snore, but most people who snore do not have sleep apnea. We will not assume that you have sleep apnea based on the presence of snoring alone.
What Is A Sleep Study…
If we suspect that you may have sleep apnea, you may be scheduled for a sleep test called a polysomnography (PSG). A PSG may be performed at a sleep center or at home depending on the severity of your symptoms. During these overnight tests, you are measured for apneas (pauses in your breathing), oxygen levels, snoring, as well as a number of other events. You may be asked to go for a second night sleep study so that you may be given a breathing or CPAP machine to determine how much pressure is required to overcome your collapse. Although this test may be inconvenient, the data from these studies is essential in determining the severity of your sleep apnea as well as determining your treatment plan. Insurance companies may also require sleep studies in order for you to be covered for your treatment. If you have already received a sleep study please obtain the study or have it faxed to the office prior to your visit, if possible.
We Will Explain Your Study To You…
On your return visit, Dr. Pasha will discuss the results with you and allow you to have a perspective on the severity of your sleep apnea. Dr. Pasha has found that many patients do not understand their sleep study and may have been told that they have sleep apnea when in fact they might be better characterized as having an upper airway disorder or a primary snoring disorder. Dr. Pasha will give you a score called a Respiratory Distress Index or Apnea/Hyponea Index. This number is one measure of the severity of your sleep apnea. A score of >5-10 is considered abnormal. Scores greater than 16 are more severe. If your score is greater than 41 you are at a higher risk of medical disease such as high blood pressure or heart or lung disease.
The next step is to identify the source of your airway collapse or the cause of your snoring. To complete this, we may place a small scope in your nose and throat and measure the areas of obstruction. We may have you snore to identify where the vibrations are coming from. This information is essential in determining all of your treatment options.
