Natchitoches Sleep Center
What Happens During an Overnight Sleep Study?
When you arrive for your sleep study, you will be met by a registered polysomnographic technologist (RPSGT) who will be administering your sleep study. They will go over your paperwork, have you fill out any necessary forms, and review with you what the sleep study will entail. After collecting your health history, the tech will apply monitors to measure activity on your body as you sleep. This will include:
- Wires with small electrodes attached to your scalp with a conductive paste to measure brain activity. This lets the tech know if you are sleeping, and what stage of sleep you are in.
- Wire electrodes are taped to your face near the eyes and chin to show muscle activity. These electrodes are used to measure eye movements, which helps the tech know what stage of sleep you’re in, as well as chin movements to observe teeth grinding as well as other sleep disorders related to muscle activity.
- Two elastic belts around your chest and stomach to measure breathing effort.
- A nasal cannula (clear plastic tubing) and small heart monitor to measure all breathing activity.
- A wire electrode on each leg to measure leg movements/muscle activity.
- A monitor on your finger (pulse ox) to detect oxygen levels during the study.
- Three lead EKG monitors to show heart rate and rhythm.
- A small snore mic applied to your throat to detect snoring.
Once you have been hooked up, then you will be asked to get in the bed for a series test to calibrate the equipment, when calibrations are finalized you are encouraged to fall asleep. Then RSPGT will begin monitoring the data from the control room.
The Benefits of Sleeping Well
A good night’s sleep is important for helping your body function at its best. Healthy sleep can help your body better regulate blood sugar levels, keep your immune system functioning properly and even improve your heart health by decreasing stress. Sleep is when your body heals and replenishes, also helps you function effectively throughout the day and managing a healthy weight.
Sleep deprivation changes your hormones in your body, affects the immune system, decision making, concentration, energy, and moods.
When to see the Doctor
When experiencing any of these signs of sleep disorder:
- Loud snoring
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Gasping or choking while asleep
- Morning headaches
- Recurrent awakenings or insomnia
- Restless sleep
- Concentration, fatigue, and depression
Common Sleep Disorders
- Sleep Apnea is a serious sleep disorder that occurs when a person’s breathing is interrupted during sleep. There are two types of sleep apnea: Obstructive and central:
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common. It is caused by a blockage of the airway when the soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses during sleep.
- Central sleep apnea (CSA) is when the brain fails to tell the body to breathe. It’s related to the function of the central nervous system.
- Insomnia is when you have difficulty falling or staying asleep.
- Restless legs syndrome causes an intense, often irresistible urge to move the legs. This sensation is brought on by lying down in bed or sitting for prolonged periods. RLS usually occurs in the evening, making it difficult to fall asleep.
- Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that affects the control of sleep and wakefulness. People with narcolepsy experience excessive daytime sleepiness and uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep during the day.
Sleep Clinic Team
Sleep Studies are a specialized field of medicine and require extensive training to perform. The Medical Director of the Sleep Center is Pulmonologist Dr. Warren Botnick, FCCP, DABSM. The multidisciplinary team of clinicians includes Respiratory Therapists who are certified in Sleep Disorder Specialty (RRT-SDS) and Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (RPSGT).
At NRMC, our skilled team conducts many types of sleep studies depending on a patient’s symptoms including:
- Polysomnogram: Computerized technology monitors and records brain waves, respiratory rate and patterns, heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and eye movements. Monitoring eye movement helps determine periods of deep sleep of Rapid Eye Movement or light sleep of Non-Rapid Eye Movement.
- Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT): This test (also called a nap test) is used to diagnose conditions such as narcolepsy. It measures how quickly a person can fall asleep during the day in a quiet location. The study monitors the individual during the first signs of falling asleep and throughout the nap.
- Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT): This study can help doctors determine how well an individual is functioning during the day or whether they are overly tired.
- Home Sleep Testing (HST): Using devices that can help diagnose sleep apnea, patients use a specially designed device at home to record breathing, oxygen levels, and other vital statistics including heart rate which then the Sleep Center team uses to help diagnose a sleeping disorder.
- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure (BiPap), Adaptive Servo Ventilation (ASV) and Average Volume Assure Pressure Support (AVAPS): These noninvasive devices can be used to treat sleep apnea, a condition that causes pauses or stops in respiration during sleep.
Your Sleep Study at NRMC
The Sleep Center is located on the first floor of Natchitoches Regional Medical Center. The Sleep Center has its own private and convenient entrance facing Keyser Avenue. There is ample, well-lit parking directly in front of the Center’s entrance. Inside the Sleep Center, there are specially designed rooms specially equipped for the studies. The rooms are designed for your comfort and include soft linens, and a comfortable bed.
Patients arrive at the Sleep Center at NRMC at 8:00 p.m. and will be ready for bed by 9:30 or 10:00pm.
The results of the study will be interpreted and the findings will be sent to your referring physician. Please see your doctor for the results.
Medical Director:
Dr. Warren C. Botnick
601 Keyser Ave
Natchitoches, LA 71457
318.214.5770
Medical School: Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia
Internship: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California
Residency: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California
Fellowship: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California
For more information about Sleep Studies, please call (318) 214-4464.
