The Sleep Laboratory is affiliated with the Department of Pulmonology. However, it operates in a multidisciplinary manner, collaborating with many other medical specialties.
Regular and sufficient sleep is extremely important for an individual's health. Sleep is a period of physical rest as well as the renewal of cognitive functions. Furthermore, some vital tasks necessary for a healthy life can only be performed during quality sleep.
What illnesses does a sleep laboratory examine?
- Sleep apnea syndrome
- Sleep disorders (insomnia, etc.)
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure and diabetes
- Obesity - hypoventilation syndrome
- Snoring, simple snoring
- Upper airway resistance syndrome
- Periodic leg movements
- Restless leg syndrome
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Various sleep disorders
Who can apply to the Sleep Laboratory?
- Individuals with sleep apnea and suffocation sensation
- Loud and intermittent snoring
- Inability to fall asleep
- Waking up tired
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Morning headaches
- Dry mouth
- Night sweats
- Inability to lose weight
- Difficulty concentrating
- Forgetfulness
- Malaise
- Children with metabolic syndrome
- Children with growth and learning disabilities
How is a sleep test performed?
After arriving at the sleep laboratory, the patient undergoing the sleep test is allowed to rest for a while before being taken to the testing room. Electrodes are placed on the scalp, near the eyes, on the chin, and on the chest. This allows for the recording of brain waves and heart rate during sleep. Sensors attached to the fingertips monitor blood oxygen levels. Sensors attached to the nose record breathing and airflow during sleep. All electrodes and sensors are connected to a recording device, and the room's camera system is activated while the patient is allowed to fall asleep naturally. When the patient wakes up in the morning, all electrodes and sensors are removed one by one. This allows the patient to resume their daily routine after the procedure. It's a simple procedure, similar to a sleep test, blood pressure measurement, or ECG.
What are the treatment processes like in a sleep laboratory?
Sleep testing (polysomnography) is based on measuring brain waves, eye movements, airflow through the mouth and nose, snoring, heart rate, leg movements, and oxygen levels during sleep.
Patients need to stay in a sleep room overnight to undergo a sleep apnea test. During the test, signals received from cables attached to various points on the body are transmitted to a computer outside the room. By analyzing the recordings taken throughout the night, several parameters are examined, including how many times breathing stops during sleep, for how long, how oxygen levels and heart rate are affected when it stops, and whether deep sleep is achieved.
In the treatment of severe sleep apnea, Pap (positive airway pressure) therapy is used. Depending on the treatment effect and the patient's preference, the patient is monitored by adjusting the automatic settings or switching to a constant pressure device. The specific treatment for sleep apnea involves the use of devices that deliver pressurized air to keep the airway continuously open.
Pap (positive airway pressure) devices (sleep apnea masks) prevent sleep apnea by keeping the upper airways open during sleep. To determine which device is suitable for the patient and to see if apneas have disappeared or been reduced to a minimum, two nights must be spent in a sleep laboratory. Individuals who overcome sleep apnea problems after treatment with sleep devices experience a significant improvement in their quality of life. While the initial treatment is Pap (positive airway pressure) testing, other treatment methods include oral appliances and surgical procedures.
Which departments does the Sleep Laboratory collaborate with in a multidisciplinary way?
The Sleep Laboratory works in a multidisciplinary manner with many medical branches. These include primarily Pulmonology, ENT, Cardiology, Neurology, Psychiatry, Internal Medicine, and Dentistry. The tests performed are discussed in a council with the participation of specialist doctors, and treatment decisions are made by mutual agreement.
What are the service objectives of a Sleep Laboratory?
Sleep is a biological process that every person needs to experience every day for rest and rejuvenation, essential for their mental and physical health. The primary purpose of sleep is to allow the body and brain to rest after a tiring day. Starting the day feeling refreshed and rested indicates healthy sleep. However, if the body hasn't rested enough and the day begins with fatigue, sleep disorders should be suspected. Disorders that cause various problems during the day due to insufficient sleep or physiological events during sleep are called sleep disorders. These include:
- Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
- Excessive sleepiness
- Sleep-related breathing disorders
- Periodic leg movements during sleep
Among these conditions, sleep-related breathing disorders hold the most importance. Sleep apnea is the most significant of these sleep-related breathing disorders.
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is defined as frequent cessation of breathing during sleep. It is a disease that must be diagnosed and treated. Due to frequent cessation of breathing throughout the night, vital organs, primarily the brain and heart, are deprived of oxygen. In the long term, this leads to undesirable and difficult-to-treat health problems.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
- Snoring, cessation of breathing during sleep
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Waking up tired in the mornings
- Workplace accidents and traffic accidents
- Excessive sweating
Sleep disorders are diagnosed in Sleep Laboratories. Patients are admitted to the sleep laboratory where they undergo a test called Polysomnography (Sleep Test) for diagnosis and treatment. Sleep tests (Polysomnography) are performed on patients with a preliminary diagnosis of Sleep Apnea. Throughout the night, the patient's sleep patterns are recorded to identify disruptions in their sleep architecture, and diagnosis and treatment are then provided. Polysomnography performed in a sleep laboratory is the gold standard for diagnosing sleep disorders.
What tests are performed at the Sleep Clinic?
- All-Night Sleep Test + Respiratory Recordings + PLM
- All-Night Sleep Test + CPAP/BiPAP titration
- The Excessive Daytime Sleepiness Test (MSLT), also known as polysomnography or sleep test
Requires patients to stay overnight in a sleep room. During the test, signals received via cables attached to various points on the body are transmitted to a computer outside the room. These signals can be listed as follows: EEG (Brain waves), Jaw muscle EMG, Leg EMG, ECG, EOG (Eye movements), Body position recordings, Blood pressure, Blood oxygen levels, Airflow through mouth and nose, Belt measuring chest and abdominal movement, Snoring and voice recordings. By analyzing these recordings taken throughout the night, many parameters such as sleep quality, heart rate, severity and type of sleep apnea, and oxygen levels are examined. Then, PAP (positive airway pressure) titration is performed for treatment purposes.
What are the technical and design features of bedrooms?
At Medipol University Hospital, rooms are designed with a home-like atmosphere in mind, allowing patients to stay comfortably overnight without waiting in line. Each room is spacious, quiet, and equipped with its own TV, toilet, and shower, providing the comfort of home. Furthermore, a technical observation room where technicians review the test results and a patient sleep room have been strategically placed to provide assistance when needed. These special sleep rooms enable the diagnosis and treatment of patients (adults and children).
What technological devices are found in a Sleep Laboratory?
Our laboratory utilizes a variety of methods for diagnosis and monitoring, including advanced imaging techniques and laboratory tests. Our center systematically conducts studies on sleep disorders and performs sleep tests (polysomnography = PSG). Sleep disorders are diagnosed and treated at our hospital using a multidisciplinary approach.
What are the advantages of a Sleep Laboratory? Why should patients choose us?
- Outpatient Clinic Services: The clinic provides services with sufficient knowledge and experience regarding sleep disorders diagnosis and treatment options, social security processes, and PAP (positive airway pressure) devices.
- Treatment Follow-up: Patients receiving PAP (positive airway pressure) therapy have their device usage monitored and checked at regular intervals.
- Reporting: Many centers simply input polysomnography test results into a computer and provide an average. This often results in inaccurate data, leading to misleading treatment decisions. Reports should be evaluated by specialist doctors and technicians.
- The Council: Sleep Laboratory works in a multidisciplinary manner, collaborating with many medical specialties. PSG and PAP (positive airway pressure) titration tests are discussed in a council comprised of expert physicians, and joint decisions are made regarding treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Sleep Laboratory
To which department or departments is the Sleep Laboratory affiliated?
The Sleep Laboratory is affiliated with the Department of Pulmonology. However, it works in a multidisciplinary manner with many medical branches, primarily Pulmonology, ENT, Cardiology, Neurology, Psychiatry, Internal Medicine, and Dentistry. Tests are discussed in a council comprised of specialist doctors, and joint decisions are made regarding treatment.
What is the examination process like before deciding on a sleep test?
Our center operates by appointment. After a preliminary examination and evaluation in the Pulmonology-Sleep Laboratory, patients who have been given an appointment arrive at our hospital at 10 PM, where they are admitted and directed to our Sleep Center.
What should be considered before a sleep test is conducted?
- The person should bring personal items they might need, such as pajamas.
- Overeating and fatigue should be avoided.
- The person should wake up early that morning and, if possible, avoid sleeping during the day.
- Fazla çay, kahve, kola tüketmemeli, kesinlikle bir gece önceden alkol almamalıdır.
- Individuals should consult their doctor about taking regularly prescribed medications on that day, and if they are taking sleeping pills, they should stop taking them 3-5 days beforehand.
- Before arriving, the person should shower, shave, and remove any nail polish.
How long does a sleep test take?
A sleep test is not a short-term test. The test lasts as long as the individual's sleep duration, averaging between 6 and 8 hours.
Can a sleep test be done at home?
Home sleep tests use fewer electrodes and connections than laboratory tests, making them inaccurate and unreliable. Furthermore, because they are not conducted under supervision, they are considered inadequate for diagnosis and treatment.
Is a sleep test a one-time procedure?
Sleep tests (polysomnography) are performed for diagnostic purposes. Based on the results, CPAP-BPAP titration tests are then applied for treatment. Additionally, a follow-up polysomnography may be performed a certain time after surgery following a previous polysomnography.
Are there any risks involved in a sleep test?
Sleep tests pose no health risks. The electrodes and sensors used in sleep tests conducted under the supervision of a technician are extremely reliable. They do not cause any harm to the body.
Can pregnant women and those with various health conditions take a sleep test?
Physiological and hormonal changes during pregnancy can lead to sleep disorders and sleep apnea. The electrodes and devices used during polysomnography are completely harmless to the mother and the baby in her womb.
Is anesthesia administered before the sleep test?
No anesthesia or other sleep-inducing methods are used in the sleep test. The patient is expected to fall asleep entirely naturally.
Should those who regularly take medication stop taking it before a sleep test?
There is no harm in taking your regularly scheduled medications before a sleep test. However, you should inform your doctor. In some cases, if the patient has a specific condition, certain medications may not be suitable for that day.
How are sleep test results evaluated, and by whom?
After a sleep test is conducted, it is evaluated in detail by a specialist doctor and a specialist technician. A diagnosis is made and reported, and treatment is recommended.
What is the treatment process like after a sleep test?
Patients wake up feeling rested and refreshed after a sleep test. Following sleep apnea treatment, individuals who overcome their problems experience a renewed improvement in their quality of life. While Pap smear is the initial treatment option, other treatment methods such as oral appliances and surgery may also be considered. Furthermore, patients with neurological or cardiac problems are referred to the relevant departments for treatment.
What are EEG (Electroencephalography) and EMG (Electromyography) used for?
EEG (Electroencephalography) is a test that measures electrical activity in the brain. This test, which is performed using a device, involves placing small metal discs (electrodes) on the scalp. Brain cells actually emit small electrical impulses. EEG performed during sleep testing measures sleep-wake cycles, sleep depth, and sleep quality.
EMG (Electromyography) is the measurement of the electrical properties of muscles, nerves, and nerve roots. EMG can be used to diagnose, differentiate, and guide treatment. In sleep tests, jaw EMG can detect teeth grinding, and leg EMG, which measures periodic leg movements, can diagnose restless leg syndrome.