There are many questions that may arise as to whether or not YOU may be experiencing symptoms one of the many commonly known sleep disorders. After reading the some of the most frequently asked questions, be sure to visit our Sleep Disorder Facts area to see detail of many of the commonly studied disorders. There you will also find facts regarding children with sleeping issues, another one of our many specialties.

WHAT IS OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA?
OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA is periodic obstruction of the upper airway during sleep and has a prevalence rate of three to eight percent. Periods of apnea can last up to 90 seconds and may occur several hundred times per night. OSA is the most common medical cause of excessive daytime sleepiness and is more common in men.

Symptoms of OSA are listed below.

• Loud, habitual snoring
• Pauses in breathing during sleep
• Daytime sleepiness
• Irritability/Personality changes
• Obesity
• Choking/Gasping/snorts during sleep
• Hypertension
• Non-refreshing sleep/inability to wake up
• Daytime fatigue
• Memory and concentration problems
• Morning headaches
• Upper airway abnormalities
• Frequent napping
• Nocturnal Angina/Arrhythmias
• Frequent awakenings

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HOW SERIOUS IS THIS DISORDER?
VERY SERIOUS.  A survey in 1997 indicated that accidents involving motor vehicles or heavy machinery occurred twice as often in persons with moderate or severe daytime sleepiness.  Some researchers believe that sleep apnea is the greatest risk factor of car accidents.  Due to the higher levels of Carbon Dioxide and lower levels of Oxygen that are present in Apneic patients, patients are more at risk for a number of diseases such as high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, heart failure, diabetes, and kidney failure. 
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DOES IT ONLY AFFECT MEN?
NO!  Apnea is not prejudice.  It affects men, women, children and infants.  In fact after menopause, women are at a higher risk of developing Obstructive Sleep Apnea.  (See our section listed Women and Apnea).  Children are often at the greatest risk due to bad sleep hygiene or misdiagnosis as ADD (See Children with Sleep Disorders).
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WHAT DO I DO IF I THINK I HAVE SLEEP APNEA?
Complete our questionnaire and print it out to give to your physician. 
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WHAT IS A SLEEP STUDY?
A sleep study (polysomnogram) is a diagnostic test usually performed in a hospital or a sleep lab to determine the extent, if any, of a persons sleep disorder.   There are two kinds of polysomnograms. An overnight polysomnography test involves monitoring brain waves, muscle tension, eye movement, respiration, oxygen level in the blood and audio monitoring. (for snoring, gasping, etc.) The second kind of polysomnography test is also overnight but is called a C-PAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) study. A Sleep Technologist hooks you up to all of the same electrodes as in the initial overnight study, but includes a C-PAP machine to monitor your apnea and gently adjusts the pressure of the C-PAP machine to eliminate your apnea.  The initial overnight study as well as a C-PAP study are painless and no needles are ever used!!!  Both exams are covered by Medicare and Medicaid and most private insurance companies.
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WHAT HAPPENS IF I HAVE SLEEP APNEA?
If you test positive for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, your Doctor will refer you once again to the Sleep Lab to have another full nights study wi+th CPAP.  If you tolerate it and your apnea is eliminate with C-PAP you will be prescribed one for home.
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WHAT IS CPAP?
Moderate to severe Sleep Apnea is usually treated with a C-PAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure).  C-PAP is a machine that gently blows air into your nasal passages and trachea “wind pipe” via a comfortable mask, keeping the airway open and unobstructed. For more severe apnea, there is a Bi-level (Bi-PAP®) machine. The Bi-level machine is different in that it blows air at two different pressures. When a person inhales, the pressure is higher and in exhaling, the pressure is lower. Your doctor will "prescribe" your pressure and a home healthcare company will set it up and provide training in its use and maintenance.
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