The Sleep Lab at Barnesville Hospital is a comprehensive, outpatient sleep disorders program designed to pinpoint, analyze and treat faulty sleep patterns in a variety of sleeping disorders. With the expertise of Dr. Gurmeet Singh, board-certified Neurologist and Medical Director Dr. Attila Lenkey, board-certified pulmonologist and sleep medicine specialist, the sleep lab provides services including Nocturnal Polysomnography (NPSG), Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT), Maintenance Wakefulness Test (MWT) and a complete patient Education and follow-up program.

          A sleep study is a medical test performed while you sleep at night. This test is used to evaluate and diagnose a sleep disorder. Sleep studies are safe and noninvasive procedures that provide valuable information to your physician.

          Sleep studies are done on an outpatient basis, so you will not be admitted to the hospital but it will be necessary for you to register. After registration, a Sleep Technician will escort you to your room for the night. You will have a private room with a television and bathroom. The night will begin with some paperwork and questionnaires to help with treatment. After the paperwork is completed, you will be asked to change into your sleep attire. Before the sleep study can begin, the Sleep Technician will apply several monitors to your body for recording sleep functions.

          The setup includes 9 electrodes that will be secured to your scalp. You do not need to cut or shave your hair. The glue is dissolved with water and is easy to clean out in the morning. Also, you will have 4 electrodes taped to your chin and the temple area to record chin and eye movements. There will also be a breathing sensor taped to the area between the nose and upper lip to monitor your breathing and does not block your airways. Since we monitor your heart throughout the night, we attach adhesive electrodes to your shoulders and 1 to the side of your chest. Two electrodes are taped to each leg to record all leg movements. Also, you will have a cloth belt placed around your chest and abdomen to monitor your breathing. These belts are not restrictive and fit over your clothing. Finally, a band-aid type probe is wrapped around a finger to record the amount of oxygen in your blood. This setup is painless and you may watch television or read during the procedure.

          Before the sleep study begins, the Sleep Technician will provide you with information regarding common sleep disorders and treatments. A common treatment that may be used during your visit is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). The Sleep Technician will introduce you to this equipment.

          The sleep study will begin around 10:00pm to 11:00pm and will last until 5:30 to 7:30am. During the sleep study, the door to your room will be closed and the lights and television turned off. We do not allow cellular phones or pagers as this might disrupt your sleep. Your room is monitored with a video camera and a telecom to allow communication between yourself and the Tech.

          Once the sleep study ends, the tech will disconnect all the wires. The results of your sleep study will be available during your follow up visit with your referring physician.

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea is when a person stops breathing repeatedly during sleep
• Breathing stops because the airway collapses and prevents air from getting into the lungs
• Sleep patterns are disrupted, resulting in excessive sleepiness or fatigue during the day

What causes the airways to collapse during sleep?
• Extra tissue in the back of the airway such as large tonsils
• Decrease in the tone of muscles holding the airway open
• The tongue falling back and closing off the airway

How many people have Obstructive Sleep Apnea
• 4 in 100 middle-aged man and 2 in 100 middle-aged women have Obstructive Sleep Apnea
• Most OSA sufferers remain undiagnosed and untreated
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea is as common as adult asthma

What happens if Obstructive Sleep Apnea is not treated?
Possible increased risk for:
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease and heart attack
• Stroke
• Fatigue-related motor vehicle and work accidents
• Decreased quality of life

What are the signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea?
If you or someone you know snores regularly and has one or more of the following symptoms, it may be Obstructive Sleep Apnea:
• Snoring, interrupted by pauses in breathing
• Gasping or choking during sleep
• Restless sleep
• Excessive sleepiness or fatigue during the day
• Large neck size (>17" in men, >16" in women)
• Crowded airway
• Morning headache
• Sexual dysfunction
• Frequent urination at night
• Poor judgement or concentration
• Irritability
• Memory loss
• High blood pressure
• Depression
• Obesity

What should you do if you suspect you may have Obstructive Sleep Apnea
• Consult your physician and have a sleep study done. A sleep study can provide your doctor with information about how you sleep and breathe.
• This information will help the doctor to determine your diagnosis and treatment options.

What is the treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea
• A CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure), pronounced "see pap"
• Other treatments should include weight loss if needed, exercise, and avoidance of alcohol, sedatives, and hypnotics

How does CPAP therapy work?
CPAP treats Obstructive Sleep Apnea by providing a gentle flow of positive-pressure air through a mask to splint the airway open during sleep.
• Breathing becomes regular
• Snoring stops
• Restful sleep is restored