Drowsy? Tired? A sleep study can tell if it's sleep apnea

Amy Baysinger, the sleep technician in Cardiopulmonary at St. Joseph's Hospital in Breese readies her computer for the next patient. Of the more than 25 identified sleep disorders, the most frequent is obstructive sleep apnea or OSA which affects more than 12 million Americans. Left untreated sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, memory problems, weight gain, impotency and headaches. For more information, contact your family physician or Cardiopulmonary at 526-5346.

Tired or exhausted on waking up? Morning headache? Depression or anxiety? Falling asleep while driving? Overweight?

If two or more answers were yes, you may have Obstructive Sleep Apnea or OSA and be a candidate for the sleep study program at St. Joseph's Hospital in Breese.

Offered Monday through Thursday nights, a sleep study is an overnight/outpatient test used to help diagnose sleep disorders that may affect a person's waking hours, said hospital Cardiopulmonary Director Tom Schaltenbrand. The procedure is non-invasive and painless.

The patient arrives at 8 p.m., meets with the sleep technician, then goes to a patient room where adhesive patches, gels and clips are used to attach the necessary 15 sensors, Schaltenbrand said.

Sensors are placed on the head to record brain activity and eye movement, on the chest for heart rhythms and on the legs, chest and stomach to measure muscle activity. The connecting wires or leads are plugged into a central amplifier and a computer records the data.

Another device measures airflow from the mouth and nose and the technician monitors the patient by sight and sound, he said.

After the procedure, the technician scores the test, counting the number of events such as high or low levels of oxygen or interrupted sleep, and adds observations while the patient wakes up and returns home.

Data is then reviewed by the technician and turned over to a pulmonologist and the pulmonologist and patient discuss the results and treatment options during a follow-up appointment, Schaltenbrand said.

Of the more than 25 identified sleep disorders, OSA is the most frequent, affecting more than 12 million Americans. Others include insomnia or narcolepsy, i.e., problems staying asleep or awake; nighttime behaviors such as sleepwalking, night terrors or bed-wetting; or periodic limb movement disorder.

"Apnea," Greek for "without breath," is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses and closes during sleep, Schaltenbrand said. Those with sleep apnea stop breathing during sleep, sometimes hundreds of times and often for a minute or longer.

Treatment for OSA can include using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device when sleeping. This device utilizes airflow to keep the passageway open.

Many people are unaware of sleep disorders and the majority of people remain undiagnosed, he said.

"If left untreated, sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases, memory problems, weight gain, impotency and headaches," Schaltenbrand said.

Those interested in a sleep study at St. Joseph's in Breese should contact their family physician for an evaluation and, if warranted, a referral to a pulmonologist who can order the sleep study.

Three pulmonologists-Ventrapragada Mohan, MD, Syed Rizvi, MD, and Barbara Sudholt, MD-all see patients in the hospital Specialty Clinics and can order a sleep study, he said.

Amy Baysinger, CRT, RPSG, is the sleep technician for the program, joining the hospital staff in 2007.        

"St. Joseph's in Breese is very fortunate to have Baysinger on staff," Schaltenbrand said. "She has a wealth of experience in sleep medicine."

Baysinger, of Carlyle, graduated from Kaskaskia College's respiratory program in 1996 and first worked in the respiratory department at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Belleville. In 2002, she transferred to that facility's sleep lab, passed her Registered Polysomnographic Technologist exam and, in 2006, was named department coordinator.

For more information, contact your family physician or Cardiopulmonary at 526-4346 or email Tom Schaltenbrand.