Our Sleep Disorders Center diagnoses & treats patients with sleep-related disorders. For this a Sleep Apnea Test is conducted to understand the sleep patterns.

1. What Happens if I am Referred to What Can Be Done About
the Sleep Lab?
You will be contacted by a staff member and
scheduled for an appointment. We will ask
My Sleep Disorder?
If a breathing problem is observed during your
sleep study, the technologist may awaken you
Sleep
Disorders
you several questions regarding your sleep to try a device that treats breathing problems
problem when we call to schedule you. We try during sleep. This device, called a positive
to schedule appointments according to your airway pressure (PAP) device, includes a mask
normal sleep times. A sleep study can be that fits around your nose or your nose and
performed any day of the week, and we mouth. Your sleep technologist will explain and
Lab
usually can accommodate patients who work answer questions about this treatment during
various shifts. We will send you some pre-test your study.
questionnaires regarding your sleep schedules
and habits. We ask that you bring the Other sleep disorders may require a change in
completed forms with you when you come in daily habits or sleep habits. Some conditions
for your appointment. You will also be able to may require the use of medications. Most sleep
bring your own bed clothes and pillow to disorders can be treated or managed effectively
make your stay more comfortable. once they are accurately diagnosed. Information for Patients with
A study usually requires an overnight stay at Sleep Related Disorders
the hospital, but it is considered an outpatient
Where is the Sleep Disorders Lab?
procedure. You will want to check with your We are located on the fourth floor of Beloit
insurance provider regarding coverage Memorial Hospital. If we can be of assistance,
information. please call (608) 364-5481.
What Will Happen Once I Arrive
at the Sleep Lab?
Our trained sleep technologists will show you
the equipment that will be used and give you
a chance to ask questions. They will apply
sensors to your head, face, chest, abdomen
and legs to monitor your breathing, heart rate,
and brain wave activity while you sleep.
You will sleep in a comfortable private room
designed for a sleep study. The room has a
regular full size bed with TV. The technician B E LO I T M E M O R I A L
will monitor your sleep from a nearby room.
H O S P I TA L
Affiliated with the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics
1969 West Hart Road, Beloit,Wisconsin 53511 • (608) 364-5011 B E LO I T M E M O R I A L
www.BeloitMemorialHospital.org
2/04 PP/1M
H O S P I TA L

2. What is Beloit Memorial Hospital’s What Kinds of Sleep Related What Should I Do if I Think I have
Sleep Disorders Lab? Disorders Does the Lab Evaluate? a Sleep Problem?
Many people take a good night’s sleep for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) If you think you have a sleep related disorder,
granted, but there are millions of people of OSA occurs in all age groups and in both consult your physician. You will need a referral
all ages who fail to get a good night’s sleep. men and women. Bedpartners may have from your physician to make an appointment
noticed long pauses in patient’s breathing at the Sleep Lab.
The Sleep Disorders Lab assists physicians in which may end with a sudden loud snore
the diagnosis and treatment of patients with or choking gasp. Early recognition and
sleep-related disorders. There are over 80
different disorders of sleep that can lead to
treatment is important because of its Use the Epworth Sleepiness Scale
association with irregular heartbeats,
difficulty in falling asleep, staying asleep, increased blood pressure, heart attacks
below to Measure Your Sleepiness.
remaining awake, sleepwalking, nightmares and stroke. In fact, about one-half of OSA
or problems that interfere with sleep. 0 = Would Never Doze
patients have high blood pressure.
1 = Slight Chance of Dozing
The Sleep Lab staff is specially trained in the Insomnia 2 = Moderate Chance of Dozing
field of sleep-related disorders and has the Some people have problems falling
experience to provide the highest quality of 3 = High Chance of Dozing
asleep or staying asleep during the
patient care. Registered Sleep Technologists, night. They also feel their sleep has not
along with a Pulmonary Medicine physician, How likely are you to fall asleep in the
refreshed them. This condition may
are members of the staff. following situations?
have many different causes, including
In order to understand your sleep, and any psychological factors such as depression
or stress, environmental factors such as _______ Sitting and reading
problems you are experiencing with it, we
need to look at various brain activities and noise, or physiologic factors such as _______ Watching TV
body systems and their relationship breathing disorders or pain.
_______ Sitting, inactive in a public place like
throughout your sleep period. After your Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) a theater or a work meeting
sleep study, a sleep specialist will review and Periodic Leg Movement Disorder (PLMD) _______ As a passenger in a car for an hour
interpret the test to help you and your Some people have uncontrollable leg without a break
physician understand your specific sleep sensations that occur continually while
patterns. Treatment recommendations will be _______ Laying down to rest in the afternoon
the body is at rest. PLMD is a basic
made if evidence of a sleep disorder is found. when circumstances permit
cause of sleep deprivation for up to
four million adults. _______ Sitting and talking to someone
_______ Sitting quietly after a lunch with
Narcolepsy
alcohol
This disorder often begins in young
adulthood. People who have narcolepsy _______ In a car, while stopped for a few
often complain of excessive daytime minutes in traffic
sleepiness. They also may suffer _______ TOTAL
muscular weakness when experiencing
anger, surprise, amusement, terrifying Please share this with your physician.
dreams or a feeling of paralysis when
falling asleep or awakening.