Sleep Evaluations in Annapolis, MD
What Are Sleep Evaluations?
Sleep evaluations are a great way for physicians to evaluate your sleep patterns and identify sleep disorders. Participating in a sleep study allows a specialist to monitor your sleep patterns to provide an accurate diagnosis for various conditions. At Annapolis Asthma, Pulmonary & Sleep Specialists we provide sleep evaluations for men and women at our sleep center in Annapolis, MD. If you are experiencing symptoms of a sleep disorder, please call (410) 266-1644 to schedule a consultation with our board-certified sleep specialists.
Annapolis Asthma, Pulmonary & Sleep Specialists offers the following services:
- Comprehensive evaluation and treatment by our board-certified sleep physicians
- Education on sleep disorders
- Referral to a comfortable, state-of-the-art sleep evaluation facility
- Efficient scheduling, follow-up and communication with patients and referring physicians
What To Expect During a Sleep Evaluation
On your first visit to our office, you’ll meet one of our sleep specialists, who will take your medical history and perform a physical exam. You’ll discuss the physical and emotional factors that could be affecting your sleep.
This gathering of information will help determine whether you can benefit from a nighttime sleep study. For an accurate diagnosis, most patients will need an overnight sleep study (called polysomnography or PSG) conducted at the AAMC Sleep Lab. Through a variety of devices attached to your head and body; your sleep, breathing, heart rhythm and eye movements will be recorded for an entire night. This test is not painful and is non-invasive.
While you sleep, the polysomnogram records signals such as brain waves (EEG), heart rate and rhythm (EKG), eye movement, muscle activity, leg movements, airflow during breathing, and oxygen level in the blood. As this data is collected, technicians observe from another room, monitoring patients’ sleep throughout the night. The sleep study data help Dr. Ira M. Weinstein and Dr. Steven C. Resnick identify different sleep stages, classify various sleep problems and make recommendations for treatment options.
Some patients will also require daytime testing to determine the severity of their daytime sleepiness. This test called a multiple sleep latency test (or MSLT) involves five nap opportunities. We will ask you to try to fall asleep at around 9 am, 11 am, 1 pm, 3 pm, and 5 pm. We will measure the speed with which you fall asleep and the kind of sleep you go into. The MSLT is a good indicator of the degree of your excessive daytime sleepiness and indicator of whether you may have narcolepsy.
Some patients diagnosed with sleep apnea syndrome may need an additional night in the sleep laboratory to evaluate the effectiveness of nasal continuous positive airway pressure also known as CPAP therapy. During this evaluation, you will sleep with a CPAP device to help you breathe.
Fortunately, most sleep conditions can be successfully treated. With effective treatment, a marked improvement in well-being and health often occurs. Snoring and sleep apnea may be treated with equipment to aid breathing during sleep, a mouthpiece, or minor surgery. Other sleep disorders may be treated with medications or a change in daily habits.
Your physician will discuss these tests and treatments for sleep disorders with you.
Schedule Your Sleep Evaluation in Annapolis, MD
Annapolis Asthma, Pulmonary & Sleep Specialists provide sleep evaluations at our sleep center in Annapolis, MD for patients experiencing symptoms of a sleep disorder. If you are considering a sleep evaluation for the diagnosis of a sleep disorder, please call (410) 266-1644 to schedule your consultation with our board-certified sleep specialists.