Santa Barbara Sleep Clinic

Services

Almost everyone underestimates the importance of a good night’s sleep. How many times have you heard people say “I’m so tired.” “I didn’t sleep very well last night”

In the stressed out and hectic world we live in, often sleep is the last thing on people’s minds, and yet more and more people complain of being tired, and “stressed out”. In spite of all this, sleep seems to be everyone’s last priority. Most people do not realize that sleep problems can lead to a host of other medical problems, most obviously chronic fatigue. But a poor night’s sleep can adversely affect everything from your mood and energy to your cardiac health. Inadequate sleep may increase your risk for cancer and, and recent studies have even indicated a link between inadequate sleep and obesity.

At the Santa Barbara Sleep Clinic, your good night’s sleep is our number one priority. We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of people who have trouble both falling and staying asleep due to a variety of sleep disorders including sleep apnea, periodic limb movements, insomnia and restless legs syndrome.

We provide:

Sleep Consultation

During the initial sleep consultation, the sleep specialist will collect information about your sleep habits called a “sleep history”. The sleep specialist uses the sleep history to evaluate symptoms such as difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, daytime sleepiness or fatigue, breathing problems during sleep such as snoring or obstructive sleep apnea, restless legs at night or other sleep disturbance. The sleep specialist may recommend an overnight sleep study known as a Polysomnogram.

Diagnostic Polysomnogram (Sleep Study)

A Polysomnogram or Sleep Study is the most reliable test to evaluate your present sleep complaints. During this test, several small sensors will be placed on your scalp, face, chest, abdomen, and legs. These sensors will monitor your eye movements, brain waves, muscle activity, heart rate, breathing (airflow), respiratory effort and oxygen level throughout the night. There is no discomfort caused from the electrode hook up, and the procedure is completely painless.

The test requires an overnight study. A registered technologist will oversee the recordings during the course of the night from an adjoining control room.

Following the sleep study, the sleep specialist interprets the recording. The findings are integrated with your sleep history to determine a diagnosis and make the appropriate treatment recommendations.

CPAP Titration

During the CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) Titration study, the same sensors will be attached to you to as they were during the Diagnostic Polysomnogram. In addition, you will be fitted with a relatively small, comfortable mask that covers your nose. The mask is attached to a unit that delivers air pressure into your airway to keep you from having episodes of apnea. During the study, the pressure of the air delivered by the CPAP machine is gradually increased by the technician until your breathing is normalized and the obstructive apnea has been eliminated in all stages of sleep and in all body positions. The CPAP will allow you to achieve a restful and deep sleep without interruption from the obstructive apneic events and snoring.

Split Night Polysomnogram

During a Split Night Polysomnogram, we will monitor you for a few hours to determine the presence and severity of obstructive sleep apnea. If you achieve a specific number of apneas during the first 3 hours of recorded sleep time and if this meets our specific
criteria’, CPAP will be initiated and titrated on the second half of the study.

During this test, several small sensors will be placed on your scalp, face, chest, abdomen, and legs. These sensors will monitor your eye movements, brain waves, muscle activity, heart rate, breathing (airflow), respiratory effort and oxygen level throughout the night. In addition, the technician will fit you with a relatively small, comfortable mask that covers your nose. The mask is attached to a unit that delivers air pressure into your airway to keep you from having episodes of apnea. The pressure of the air delivered by the CPAP machine is gradually increased by the technician until your breathing is normalized and the obstructive apnea has been eliminated. in all stages of sleep and in all body positions.

There is no discomfort caused from the electrode hook up, and the procedure is completely painless.

The test requires an overnight study. A registered technologist will oversee the recordings during the course of the night from an adjoining control room.

Adaptive Servo Ventilation (ASV) Titration

If you have been diagnosed with central sleep apnea or Cheyne-Stokes Respiration, your doctor may be recommend that you undergo an ASV titration. The procedure is similar to a CPAP Titration Study except that the Adaptive Servo Ventilation technology is much different from CPAP therapy. ASV, a form of non-invasive ventilator, can detect reductions or pauses in the breathing prior to the decrease in breathing and delivers enough air to support the breathing while reducing the pressure after the breathing event ends.

Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT)

The MSLT is usually performed the day following the overnight sleep study. The MSLT consists of a series of 4 or 5 opportunities to nap throughout the day. The naps vary in length from 15 to 40 minutes depending on if and when you fall asleep during the course of the nap. The naps are given every 2 hours throughout the morning and afternoon. In between the naps, you are required to stay awake.

A multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) is conducted, along with a polysomnogram, to determine the severity sleepiness and to confirm or rule out narcolepsy or hypersomnia.

Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT)

A Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT) is conducted along with a polysomnogram to determine your ability to stay awake. This test is generally used for commercial drivers, pilots and people who work around heavy equipment to ascertain ability to perform their job safely.

The test is usually done immediately after an overnight study. You will remain wired with most of the wires from the polysomnogram done the night before. A series of four ‘tests’ are taken at two-hour intervals. Each ‘test’ requires the patient to sit in a chair for 40 minutes and try to remain awake.

Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) Complete Care Program

If your doctor recommends Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP, Bilevel or ASV), our DME specialist will train and educate you on how to properly use and operate the equipment and accessories. The equipment will consist of a unit, mask, headgear, tubing and filters. The specialist will train show you how to care for, clean, and maintain the equipment . To ensure successful compliance, our specialist will explain how to contact us with questions and how to get replacement supplies. We are committed to helping you understand the basics of the equipment and will be glad to assist you with questions that may arise when traveling abroad or in remote locations with your PAP equipment.

Compliance & Ongoing Care

Santa Barbara Sleep Clinic is committed to your success with PAP therapy. As part of our Complete Care Program, we will contact you within 24-48 hours of your first night with the unit. We will contact you on day 7 and day 14 to make sure your mask and accessories are comfortable and that you are on the path to long-term success. After the first month, we will download compliance and usage data stored in the memory card on your PAP machine. From this data, we can determine if you are receiving optimum PAP therapy at home, if you are experiencing mask leaks and how long you are using the mask on a nightly basis.

Every few months, we will contact you to determine how you are doing with your equipment and supplies as we want to be sure you are benefiting from the PAP therapy.