General Overview Sleep disorders usually remain unattended until they hamper one’s productivity and energy levels in routine activities. Sleep apnea is a physical condition which affects the breathing of an individual while they sleep. Sleep Apnea diagnosis is done by our specialists to get you back to a sound and uninterrupted sleep. Persons suffering from sleep apnea must refer to a sleep specialist as it may consequently lead to serious health issues.
Diagnosing Sleep Apnea Initially, the general physician may ask you to perform certain home tests and if abnormal results are observed, you are advised to visit sleep centers where the sleep specialists would guide you with an appropriate treatment. The test carried out by sleep specialists to diagnose sleep apnea at the sleep center is known as Polysomnography. It requires the patient to stay overnight at the sleep center. The test details various significant changes happening in the patient’s body during sleep. To carry out the process, electrodes and bands are placed on the surface of the body to record variations in the breathing process. Moreover, sensors are attached to the legs and also on the fingertips. Polysomnography includes a series of tests that include: » Electroencephalography (EEG) » Electromyography (EMG) » Pulse oximetry » Electrocardiography (ECG) » Recordings of movements in your chest and abdomen » Recordings of airflow through your mouth and nose
Are There Side-Effects To Diagnosing Sleep Apnea? A diagnosis for sleep apnea will definitely help the patients to rebuild the clarity and energy required for next day’s tasks. Whereas, ignoring sleep diagnosis may result in harmful side-effects like liver problems, complication with medications and surgery, daytime fatigue, nocturia, mood swings etc.
Follow-Up Patients of sleep apnea should observe certain behavioral measures to preserve the effect of treatments: » Weight loss » Avoidance of alcohol for 4-6- hours prior to bed time » Sleeping on one’s side rather on stomach or back
Dr. Jahangir Sharifi invests special care and efforts to diagnose patients suffering from sleep apnea and sleeping disorders. Please contact us at (323) 226-0022 to learn more about our services.