Sleep Center
Our sleep center is equipped to diagnose a variety of sleep disorders. Under the supervision of a board-certified sleep physician and a registered polysomnographic (sleep study) technician, sleep apnea and other disorders can be recognized and diagnosed in both adult and pediatric patients.
The sleep lab at The Medical Center at Russellville is equipped to evaluate a variety of sleep disorders in adults and pediatric patients as young as four years old. Sleep disorders such as Sleep Apnea, Restless Leg Syndrome, Insomnia, and Narcolepsy can be detected through a sleep study.
What is a Sleep Lab?
Sleep studies (polysomnography) are conducted to measure the quality and amount of sleep a person is getting. All sleep studies are performed under the supervision of a board-certified sleep physician and a registered polysomnographic technician.
The sleep center at The Medical Center at Russellville is located on the south wing. Each sleep room features a queen-sized bed, television, private bathroom and extra linens for comfort.
Sleep Lab Services Include:
- Pre- and post-test coordination by local medical staff
- State-of-the-art equipment for testing for a full range of sleep disorders
- Test data scored by registered polysomnographic technologist trained in sleep studies
- Interpretation and consultation by physicians specializing in internal medicine, pulmonary medicine and sleep medicine
- Patients need a physician’s order to have a sleep study performed.
Why is sleep important? Adequate sleep is essential to a person’s well-being. Sleep revitalizes the body and mind. Good sleep habits allow us to function at our best.
However, more and more people aren’t getting the sleep they need. More than half of adults have difficulty falling asleep more than one night a week, and almost one-third of adults are only getting six hours of sleep each night-two hours less than the recommended eight hours.
Some consequences of sleep loss are obvious-fatigue, irritability, trouble concentrating, lost productivity at work and an increased risk of vehicular accidents.
Other effects of lack of sleep aren’t as obvious-heightened risk of illness, depression, high blood pressure, heart disease, and strokes. Men, women, teens and children can all feel the effects of sleep loss and sleep disorders. If you suspect that you have a sleep disorder, talk to your physician about your concerns.
Common Sleep Disorders
Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea is a disorder in which a person experiences brief breathing disruptions while asleep. These disruptions can cause the person to wake-sometimes hundreds of times a night-without even realizing it. A person with sleep apnea will often get up feeling tired after what seemed like a full nights’ sleep.
Besides the obvious effects of sleep loss, if untreated, sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure and/or other cardiovascular diseases, stroke, memory loss, weight gain, impotence, headache and, in rare cases, sudden death.
Common symptoms of sleep apnea include:
- Frequent loud snoring
- Waking up feeling tired-even after a full night’s sleep
- Nighttime breathing disruptions like gasping for air
- Abnormal or unexplained daytime sleepiness
- Morning headaches
- Trouble concentrating
- Memory loss
- Depression
- Sexual dysfunction
- Work Shift Issues – Many people who work night shifts, or change shifts frequently, report tiredness, insomnia and other sleep disruptions. Our sleep specialist can offer suggestions for regulating the sleep cycle.
Restless Leg Syndrome
People experience restless legs in many different ways, but most describe very unpleasant “creepy, crawly” sensations that occur in the legs when they are sitting or lying still, especially at bedtime. Sometimes these unpleasant sensations cause the person to get up and walk around in an effort to relieve the sensations-making it difficult to fall asleep.
The Medical Center at Russellville’s Sleep Center can diagnose and treat all of these sleep disorders and more, returning you to restful sleep.
Pediatric Sleep Disorders
Sleep disorders aren’t confined to middle-age men. Children and adolescents may also be affected by sleep disorders. Common symptoms of sleep disorders in children include:
- Snoring every night
- Difficulty breathing during sleep
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Slow growth rate
- Morning headaches
- Enlarged tonsils or adenoids
- Daytime behavior problems such as hyperactivity, trouble paying attention, and aggressive behavior
Often, treatment for children after a positive diagnosis includes tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy. The Medical Center at Russellville’s sleep lab is equipped to perform sleep studies on children as young as 4 years old.
Personal Sleep Disorder Test
Do any of the following apply to you? If one or more sound like your sleep, talk to your physician.
- I have trouble falling asleep
- I wake up too early
- I frequently snore loudly
- I often wake up with a headache
- I wake up frequently during the night
- If I wake up at night, I have trouble going back to sleep
- I have too much on my mind to go to sleep
- I wake up feeling tired and unrefreshed, even if I slept all night long
- I frequently experience nighttime heartburn, pain or discomfort
- Bad dreams and/or sleepwalking interrupt my sleep
- I feel like I dream all night long
- I have been observed gasping for air while sleeping
- I experience unpleasant sensations in my legs when I lay down
- I feel sleepy or doze off while at work, driving, or doing other daily activities
What if I think I have a sleep disorder? If you think you might be suffering from a sleep disorder, talk to your doctor. Your doctor can recommend a sleep study for you.