Snore No More- Sleep easy

Sleep is essential to our overall health and well being and for us to perform both physical and cognitive tasks. A "biological clock" regulates body functions for a smooth sleep cycle. A common example of a sleep disorder is Insomnia, where the individual has difficulty initiating sleep, and waking earlier than desired that results in poor sleep that affects daytime functioning. Individuals suffering from episodes of Insomnia are irritable, anxious, and forgetful. Causes of insomnia include a condition called sleep-apnoea syndrome, which is a structural etiology that causes a significant decrease in airflow causing breathing difficulties. It is characterized by recurrent episodes of upper airway collapse called apnoea and hypoapnoea episodes. Other central causes of lesser contribution include thyroid disorders, kidney diseases, heart disease, history of alcoholism, and smoking.

In children, conditions that affect sleep include obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), adenoids, tonsillar enlargement, syndromic causes such a Pierre-Robin Syndrome in which facial bone developmental deformities are present. In adults, the most common cause is nasal obstruction (caused by polyps, deviated nasal septum, trauma, and tumor, etc.,.). The resulting symptoms are excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue, morning headaches, cognitive deficits, hypertension, cardiac failure, depression, sexual dysfunction, and gastro-esophageal reflux.

These symptoms require proper investigation of the upper airway, nose and throat, measurement of body mass, measurement of blood pressure, and apnoea-hypoapnoea index. This is done by a sleep study, which monitors the sleep stages, heart activity, breathing cycles, and muscular systems. Depending on the results of the sleep study, we grade OSA into mild, moderate and severe. Based on the grading of OSA, surgical treatment can be used to reduce the airway collapse, and pressure devices to keep the airway patent during sleep, so that one can lead a normal, healthy, cognitively intact life.

SLEEP LAB

A definitive diagnosis of sleep apnea can be made only with a sleep study conducted during a visit to a sleep lab, usually overnight, or a home study performed with special equipment. A sleep study generates several records of activity during several hours of sleep. These include an electroencephalogram, electro-occulogram, electrocardiogram, chest bands that measure respiration; and additional monitors that sense oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood and record leg movement.

SLEEP STUDY MACHINE:

The Embletta MPR PG adds more channels to measure additional parameters. Combining the Embletta MPR PG with the ST Proxy provides the following additional parameters resulting in a total of 20 collected channels. The TX Proxy uses Blue Tooth technology to connect to the MPR unit and adds 7 additional collected data channels including the following:

Number of channels: 12

Sampling rate: up to 500 Hz

Powered sensor inputs to XactTrace belts

Stainless steel Luer Lock

The following parameters can be recorded:

1. Abdominal Effort

2. Thoracic Effort and Nasal Pressure

3. Nasal Flow

4. Snore

5. SpO2 and Pulse Rate

6. 1 x ExG

7. Position

8. Activity

9. 1 x DC channel

10. Microphone (optional)

11. 6 EEG

12. 2 EOG

13. Tri-polar chin EMG

14. ECG

15. 2 x leg EMG

16. Differential pressure

17. 6 x DC (±5 V)

18. Ambient light

Questionaire to evaluate yourself at home:

Epworth Sleepiness Scale:

How likely are you to doze off or fall asleep in the following situations, in contrast to feeling just tired? This refers to your usual way of life in recent times. Even if you haven’t done some of these things recently try to work out how they would have affected you. Use the following scale to choose the most appropriate number for each situation:

0 = would never doze

1 = slight chance of dozing

2 = moderate chance of dozing

3 = high chance of dozing

It is important that you answer each question as best you can.

Situation Chance of Dozing (0-3)

Sitting and reading

Watching TV

Sitting, inactive in a public place (e.g. a theatre or a meeting)

As a passenger in a car for an hour without a break

Lying down to rest in the afternoon when circumstances permit

Sitting and talking to someone

Sitting quietly after a lunch without alcohol

In a car, while stopped for a few minutes in the traffic

Good sleep is critical to your health and well being. We understand the frustration and health risks that come with having a sleep problem such as sleep apnoea or snoring. We will work closely with you to understand and treat your particular sleep issue, so you can get the rest you need. We take a multi-disciplinary approach to all sleep disorders.

Visit www.beirc.net for further information regarding sleep related disorders and sleep study services.