902 North 7th Street
Cordele, GA 31015
229-276-3307
One in three Americans suffers from a sleep disorder. In fact, an estimated 20 million Americans experience a common sleep disorder called obstructive sleep apnea.
Sleep disorders can cause great discomfort and an increased risk of developing health-related issues such as hypertension, depression, job impairment, industrial accidents, and even driving fatalities. Sleep apnea – a condition in which the air passage in the throat becomes blocked – can cause a person to stop breathing from 10 to 100 seconds at a time, from five to over 100 times an hour, during one night’s sleep. As a result, oxygen levels in the bloodstream fall, and the heart works harder, possibly causing high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, and/or abnormal heart rhythms.
Healthy sleep patterns are essential to health improvement, happiness, and overall wellness. Once a diagnosis is made, our specialists, including a board-certified sleep medicine physician, will work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan.
The Crisp Regional Hospital Sleep Center provides a relaxed, comfortable environment for overnight sleep studies. Located on the second floor of the hospital, sleep study rooms are designed to create the ambiance of a nice hotel room or bedroom at home. The Sleep Center is open seven days a week and accepts physician referrals for individuals four years of age and older.
Accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Healthcare (ACHC) reflects an organization’s dedication and commitment to meeting national standards that facilitate a higher level of performance and patient care. Crisp Regional’s Sleep Center received accreditation in August 2015.
You may be suffering from a sleep disorder if you have one or more of these symptoms:
The specialists at Crisp Regional Hospital’s Sleep Center work with you to analyze factors that may affect your sleep. Using advanced technologies, we can diagnose and treat a variety of sleep disorders, including:
For more information about obstructive sleep apnea, visit www.sleepapnea.com.
The Crisp Regional Sleep Center can accommodate overnight studies in a comfortable, relaxed setting. While patients rest, sleep specialists monitor various factors, including heart activity, breathing, body movements, and sleep patterns, to diagnose interruptions in normal sleep cycles. These tests, called polysomnograms, provide a complete evaluation of your sleep.
Home sleep apnea testing is also sometimes an option for patients with suspected obstructive sleep apnea. You will sleep at home wearing equipment that collects information about your breathing, heart rate, and/or blood oxygen levels. When you return the equipment to the Sleep Center in the morning, we can assess the data gathered overnight.
Complete this Sleepiness Scale to assess your sleep health. If your score is 10 or more, we encourage you to contact your physician or the Crisp Regional Sleep Center (229-276-3307) for further evaluation.
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?
Obstructive Sleep Apnea occurs when throat and soft palate muscles relax during sleep, obstructing the airway and breathing difficult and noisy (snoring). Eventually, the airway walls collapse, blocking airflow entirely and resulting in a breathing pause or apnea.
What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?
Common sleep apnea symptoms include excessive daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, snoring, waking up gasping for breath, recent weight gain or loss, high blood pressure, and/or reflux or heartburn. These and other symptoms are also worrisome if you also have type II diabetes or any cardiovascular disease.
What should I do if I think I might have sleep apnea?
OSA is easily identified and effectively treated. Visit your primary care doctor first; he/she may refer you to a sleep disorders center or sleep lab for diagnosis and treatment.
How is OSA treated?
The most common treatment is “Continuous Positive Airway Pressure,” or CPAP therapy. This simple, non-invasive treatment provides air pressure that holds open your airway while sleeping. Other treatments may include surgery, laser treatments, and dental appliances, which may be effective for some people.
How does CPAP work?
CPAP provides a gentle air pressure flow through a mask to hold the airway open while you sleep. A person’s breathing becomes regular, snoring stops, and restful sleep is restored.
For more information, visit www.sleepapnea.com.
What is a sleep study or polysomnogram?
A polysomnogram is an overnight sleep study that records a patient’s physical state during various sleep and wakefulness stages. It provides essential data in evaluating sleep and sleep-related complaints, such as identifying sleep stages, body position, blood oxygen levels, respiratory events, muscle tone, heart rate, amount of snoring, and general sleep behavior.
How is a polysomnogram conducted?
Sensors called electrodes are attached to the skin on your head, face, and legs. The sleep technologist will lightly prep your skin with a cleanser before applying the electrodes, but there is no pain associated with a sleep study. A belt is placed around your chest and abdomen. We can then monitor brain waves, eye movements, airflow from your mouth and nose, snoring, oxygen levels, leg movements, and heart rate. You will be allowed to get up and go to the restroom during the night if necessary.
How long does the study take?
To make the appropriate diagnosis, we must acquire the proper amount of data. The sleep study will last about and at least seven hours. Your overnight study will end at approximately 5:30 a.m. If you need to wake earlier, you may notify the technician upon arrival at the Sleep Center so that we can make adjustments to accommodate your schedule.
How do I prepare for the study?
What if I need to cancel or reschedule?
You are required to give the Sleep Center a 24-hour notice of cancellation. If notice is less than 24 hours, you may be subject to a cancellation fee.
What happens after the study?
The technician will remove the sensors (electrodes) in the morning. You may shower at the lab if you wish. Our board-certified sleep medicine physician will review the entire sleep test and provide test results to you and your physician.
We look forward to ensuring that your night at the Crisp Regional Hospital Sleep Center is a pleasant experience.
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