Adequate sleep is crucial to a productive day. Unfortunately, many people struggle with getting enough restful sleep each night.
Signs that you have sleep issues may include daytime sleepiness, snoring, morning headaches or periods in which you stop breathing during your sleep. This can result in poor sleep quality which can make daily functions difficult, such as driving and staying awake during work hours, poor concentration, poor work efficiency, poor decision making, mood swings, depression, irritability and memory issues. More serious side effects include stroke, heart attack or death. Additionally, other health issues can be triggered or worsened, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic pain, arthritis, insomnia, and even responses to treatments and healing.
Sleep disorders lead to poor sleep which cause sleep deprivation. North Arkansas Regional Medical Center is here to help. The NARMC Sleep Center has trained team members ready to help you get to the root of your sleep issues.
“Our sleep bedrooms offer clean, comforting and calming atmospheres that help our patients relax and feel almost like they are at home during their sleep test,” says Sherry Diffey, CPSGT, Sleep Lab Clinical Coordinator. “The NARMC Sleep Center provides high-quality sleep testing, along with dedicated support for our patients regarding masks or CPAP issues. Over the years, the sleep center has seen more than 7,400 patients, and sleep testing has been a key factor in identifying treatable sleep disorders, initiating treatment of PAP for OSA, and helping patients with their goal of achieving better sleep and improved health.”
What happens during a sleep study?
After a referral from a primary care physician, a sleep study appointment is made. On the day of the appointment, patients arrive and check in at NARMC Admissions. A technician will walk the patient to their room in the sleep lab and explain the process. Electrodes and wires are placed on the patient to collect data during sleep. Data collected includes heart rate, leg movements, snoring, oxygen levels, and time awake and asleep.
“This is a painless procedure, but the wires and electrodes can be a little overwhelming at first,” Diffey adds. “Patients have some time after the hook-up process to relax, watch TV, play on their phone, tablet or laptop and to get more comfortable with the electrodes and wires.”
Lights are typically turned off at 10 p.m. so patients can begin to fall asleep. Some light to moderate interaction between patients and technicians may occur throughout the night as wires or electrodes may become loose or disconnected and need to be replaced. Lights are turned on around 5 a.m., and the patient is usually discharged no later than 5:30 a.m.
Patients should allow 10 days for the sleep test report to be sent to their primary care physician. They will then need to make an appointment to follow up with their provider regarding the results. The physician will then decide if a CPAP machine is needed and will send an order to a CPAP company if necessary. The goal is the have the patient set up on a CPAP device within two weeks of having their sleep study.
For more information, call 870-414-4000.