REM Sleep Diagnostics

Information About Common Sleep Disorders

Millions of Americans suffer from sleepiness during normal waking hours. This is not healthy for them or those around them. Sleepiness affects people when they are not getting proper sleep, which may be caused by several different factors. Should someone experience sleepiness for three or more days per week, it is strongly suggested that they visit their family physician for further evaluation.

IMPORTANT: The information contained on/within this web site/web page is provided as a public service by REM Sleep Diagnostics, which is soley responsible for any/all content. NO attempt to provide clinical diagnosis and/or treatment of/for any medical condition is made, offered, or inferred herein. Sleep Disorders may indicate, or, present in and of themselves, (a) serious health condition(s). Consult your primary care physician or other appropriate medical professional, should you suspect that you, or someone you know, may have a Sleep Disorder(s)

Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea is a potentially serious condition characterized by the repetitive cessation or reduction of airflow during sleep. There are two types of Sleep Apnea: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Central Sleep Apnea (CSA), and a related disorder known as Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS).

Because of the serious disturbances in their normal sleep patterns, people with sleep apnea often feel very sleepy during the day and their concentration and daytime performance suffer. The consequences of sleep apnea range from annoying to life-threatening. They include depression, irritability, sexual dysfunction, learning and memory difficulties, and falling asleep while at work, on the phone, or driving. It has been estimated that up to 50 percent of sleep apnea patients have high blood pressure. Although it is not known with certainty if there is a cause and effect relationship, it appears that sleep apnea contributes to high blood pressure. Risk for heart attack and stroke may also increase in those with sleep apnea. In addition, sleep apnea is sometimes implicated in sudden infant death syndrome.

For many sleep apnea patients, spouses are the first ones to suspect that something is wrong, usually due to heavy snoring and apparent struggle to breathe. Co-workers or friends of the sleep apnea victim may notice that the individual falls asleep during the day at inappropriate times (such as while driving a car, working, or talking). The patient often does not know he or she has a problem and may not believe it when told. It is important that the person see a doctor for evaluation of the sleep problem.

In addition to the primary care physician, pulmonologists, neurologists, or other physicians with specialty training in sleep disorders may be involved in making a definitive diagnosis and initiating treatment. Diagnosis of sleep apnea is not simple because there can be many different reasons for disturbed sleep. Several tests are available for evaluating a person for sleep apnea. Polysomnography is a test that records a variety of body functions during sleep, such as the electrical activity of the brain, eye movement, muscle activity, heart rate, respiratory effort, air flow, and blood oxygen levels. These tests are used both to diagnose sleep apnea and to determine its severity. The Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) measures the speed of falling asleep. In this test, patients are given several opportunities to fall asleep during the course of a day when they would normally be awake. For each opportunity, time to fall asleep is measured. People without sleep problems usually take an average of 10 to 20 minutes to fall asleep. Individuals who fall asleep in less than 5 minutes are likely to require some treatment for sleep disorders. The MSLT may be useful to measure the degree of excessive daytime sleepiness and to rule out other types of sleep disorders. Diagnostic tests usually are performed in a sleep center, but new technology may allow some sleep studies to be conducted in the patient's home.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

OSA, which ismore common than CSA, is a disorder characterized by repetitive collapse of the pharyngeal airway during sleep. It is caused by abnormalities in the anatomy and muscle control of the airway. The recurrent obstruction causes loud snoring, hypoxemia, brief awakenings, and a rise in blood pressure. Typically, these apneas occur hundreds of times every night. Chronic sleep apnea is associated with hypertension, excessive daytime sleepiness, and, possibly, increased mortality. This condition affects four percent of men and two percent of women, with middle-age, overweight men making up the majority of cases. OSA may also run in families.

Central Sleep Apnea (CSA)

CSA occurs when the respiratory center in the brain repetitively fails to initiate a breath. As oxygen levels fall, the sleeper often awakes gasping for breath as his/her body struggles to adjust its oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. Underlying causes include abnormalities or extremes of normality in the ventilatory control system and heart failure.