Sleep apnea studies
Sleep apnea studies are studies or tests that the doctor performs on
sleep apnea sufferers to determine whether they are suffering from any
sleeping disorders. Sleep apnea doctors control what happens while the
patient is sleeping.
With these tests, one can determine the activities that are going on inside the body and the cause of sleeping problems, if any.
During sleep, there is a period of about ten seconds or longer that
sleep apnea sufferers stops breathing. This is a result from blocked
airflow in the passage airway, or signals sent by the brain to the breathing
musclesare interrupted. The brain does not get enough oxygen when you
stop breathing.
There are several sleep apnea symptoms. They are: difficulty in staying
awake; sleepwalking or bedwetting; sleeping problems; depression, stress,
hunger, or physical discomfort. Severe sleep apnea, which is deprivation
of oxygen, can cause heart disease, sexual dysfunction, high blood pressure,
and memory problems.
These 2 stages usually alternate between 4 to 5 times during night time sleep. A cycle change makes it difficult for sound sleeping.
Types of Sleep Apnea Studies
Common types of sleep apnea studies are Polysomnogram, Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) and Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT).
The Polysomnogram test records several body activities and functions
during sleep.
This includes eye movement, brain activity, carbon dioxide and oxygen
blood levels, breathing rate and rhythm, heart rate and rhythm, snoring,
the flow of air through the nose and mouth, chest and belly movement,
and body muscle movements.
MSLT test measures the time it takes for one to fall asleep, and whether
you enter into REM sleep. MWT test determines whether you can keep awake
during the daytime when one is usually awake.
Another sleep apnea study, known as actigraphy, is carried out to determine
if one has work-sleep disorder if the patient is working shifts.
Actigraphy is also carried out if the patient has a problem with the
body's 'internal clock'. This test requires the patient to wear a 'watch-like'
device on the wrist.
The device measures the sleep movements during sleep and while you are
awake. It enables the sleep apnea doctor to determine when the patient
is active during the day and when the patient is sleeping.
Sleep apnea studies are normally carried out in a sleep labs which
are in hospitals. However, the studies do not restrict to hospitals
alone.
They can also be done with portable equipments at home!
Sleep
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Stop
sleep apnea without medicine - changes in lifestyle can stop sleep
apnea...
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external links
mayoclinic: Sleep
apnea studies