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Diagnosis
A sleep study allows clinicians to screen and diagnose sleep-related
breathing disorders, evaluate treatment and perform patient follow-up. A sleep study is a very simple, safe and painless procedure.
A sleep recorder will be worn to record exactly what is happening when you sleep. Your heart rate, pulse, chest movement,
and brain waves are just some of the recordings that may be taken. The sleep recorder is worn comfortably by patients while
they sleep. The recorder is small, which gives the patient more freedom and comfort to move around normally,
to give a better picture of how they're breathing.
The most common treatment is:
CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) pronounced see-PAP. CPAP equipment treats OSA by providing
a gentle flow of positive pressure air through a nasal mask to keep the airway open during sleep.
With CPAP Therapy:
- Breathing becomes regular and snoring stops
- Oxygen level in the blood becomes normal
- Restful sleep is restored
- Quality of life is improved
- Risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and vehicular or work accidents is reduced.
Less common treatments include surgery and oral appliances. These treatments may be effective in certain individuals.
All treatments should include lifestyle modifications, such as weight loss, if needed, exercise, sufficient hours of
sleep and avoidance of alcohol, sedatives, hypnotics and tobacco.
Treatment of sleep apnea requires commitment to using the therapy regularly if the greatest benefits are to be recognized.
Therapy is often more successful when you understand the disorder and the importance of regularly using the prescribed treatment.
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