Maryville's St. Francis Hospital teamed up with Metropolitan Sleep Services, Inc. in April to begin sleep disorder testing in the Respiratory Therapy department.
Pat Giffin, nurse manager for the Emergency Room and Respiratory Therapy at St. Francis, said that the main area studied is sleep apnea. Sleep apnea not only causes a patient to stop breathing during sleep, but it can also cause major problems during surgery.
Surgery is often times, the warning factor for many patients suffering from the disorder, Giffin said.
"There was an increase in need of the studies," she said. "In the past we didn't realize how severe an issue sleep apnea can be. Surgery can cause problems. If they have it and they are waking up under pain medications, that can sometimes cause complications. We would just assume to know that ahead of time."
According to the American Sleep Apnea Association, an apnea is clinically defined as a cessation of breath that lasts at least 10 seconds.
Obstructive, central and mixed are three types of apnea, with obstructive being the most common.
On average, around four St. Francis patients a week participate in a sleep study conducted by a technician from Metropolitan Sleep Services, Inc. After being diagnosed by a physician a patient can opt to have a sleep apnea study performed on them.
Sleep studies are conducted at night so that normal sleeping patterns can be reproduced. Electrodes are placed on the scalp and face in preparation for the test. Monitors are used to record the heart and breathing rate. Continuous recordings of brain waves, electrical activity of muscles, eye movement, blood pressure, blood oxygen saturation, breathing, heart rhythms as well as direct observation of the patient help evaluate what happens to the body during sleep.
If a problem is detected during a patient's sleep study, the technician will wake up the patient and have them put a CPAP on. The CPAP delivers a certain level of air to a patient through a mask. Doctors will determine what level is needed to correct the sleep apnea.
Giffin said there have been several patients in the past who’ve used a CPAP and find themselves falling back into the same symptoms. She said patients would undergo additional sleep studies at that point to determine changes needed in their treatment.
"Patients notice how much better they feel," she said. "And hopefully they will get it a better, longer life out of not stressing their bodies."
Giffin said treatment helps many patients.
"They wake up with less headaches, they are more alert, they don't feel like falling asleep while driving," she said. "If it's not treated it can be hard on the heart. Your oxygen levels drop, and your heart and brain needs oxygen. That decrease can be very hard on your heart, brain and other organs."
While being overweight is often times a factor in those who have sleep apnea, other factors such as the way the muscles in your neck move and how big your tonsils are, play a part in contracting the disorder.
Mike Scrivener, CEO of Metropolitan Sleep Services, Inc., said that everyone from 3-year-olds to 80-year-olds could suffer from sleep apnea.
The following conditions have a high incidence rate of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA):
• Being overweight
• Large neck size
• High blood pressure
• Smoking
• Alcohol consumption
• Recessed chin
• Family history of OSA
As Giffin said many times sleep apnea goes unnoticed, and it is estimated that the majority of sleep apnea sufferers remain undiagnosed due to a lack of public awareness of the symptoms or consequences.
Signs of sleep apnea are:
• Daytime sleepiness or dozing off while driving
• Falling asleep at inappropriate times or fighting to stay awake after a full night of rest
• Loud snoring, gasping or choking
• Depression
• Irritability or mood swings
• Sexual dysfunction
• Morning headaches often accompanied by a dry throat
• Frequent nighttime urination
• Lack of concentration
• Memory impairment
A physician's order is required for a sleep study, and most insurance companies and Medicare will cover the cost of the test if medically indicated. If anyone has questions about sleep apnea or the testing that is performed at St. Francis Hospital, call (660) 562-2600 to talk to a respiratory therapist or to Pat Giffin.
Maryville, Mo. —
