This document discusses healthy sleep patterns and sleep disorders. It begins by introducing the importance of restful sleep and common sleep disorders. It then defines key terms in sleep medicine like sleep tech, sleep doctor, polysomnogram, and events. The stages of sleep are explained along with treatments like CPAP and BIPAP. Alternative herbal treatments for sleep are mentioned alongside resources for further information.

1. Healthy Sleep Patterns
By
Anthony Wallace, BSc., M.A., DrPH(ABD)
P.C.D.I Healthcare and Consultants of Texas
L.L.C

2. Introduction
• This presentation will educate the community
regarding the importance of a restful sleep.
• This presentation will address issues such as stressful
sleep, common sleep disorders, and the alternative
approach to treatment.
• We will discuss the terms used in sleep medicine and
the techniques used to diagnose sleep disorders.
• In this presentation, I will give you some resources on
how to get a sleep study recommendation from your
doctor.
• This is also a good resource when researching a new
career as a sleep technologist.

3. Disclaimers
• This presentation is used to educate or reinforce
education that your primary care practitioner may
have already given you.
• This information is used educate those who are
seeking relief from symptoms of sleep deprivation.
• It is important that when using herbal sleep aids or
any other alternative methods please consult your
primary care practitioner or licensed naturopath.
• Some supplements or teas may interfere with other
prescription recommendations. This may cause
adverse reactions, unwanted side effects, and even
death.

4. Sleep Terms
• Sleep - The body processes of healing (cells, getting
rid of waste products, and healing the organs)
• Sleep Tech – This certified professional who conducts
sleep test using a EEG waves and events to score a
test for the doctor to interpret sleep disorders. This
person records all the events that are displayed
through out the night and gives the data to the
doctor.
• Sleep Doctor – This is an MD (Medical Doctor) who
specializes in sleep medicine.
• PSG – Polysomnogram
• Titrate – Term used in sleep studies to measure how
much air is needed to stop the events.
• Events – Activities that occur during the night (kicking,
snoring, and fighting).

5. Sleep Terms
• RLS – Restless Leg Syndrome
• Apnea – The patient has stop breathing
• Neurons – Brain cells
• CPAP – Continuous Positive Air Pressure
• BIPAP – Bi-level Positive Air Pressure.
• REM – Rapid eye movement
• Scoring - the amount of events that occurs on the
Polysomnogram.
• Sa02 – Oxygen Saturation level (90 and above is a
good value)

6. The Importance of Sleep
• The human body needs at least 6-
8 hours of rest in efforts to heal
and rejuvenate from the previous
day.
• In today’s society, most of the
American population may get 4
hours of rest due to our fast
instantaneous paced society.
• Most people may not get the
required rest because of their
mate’s sleeping habits, work
related stress, or conditions that
may cause chronic pain.

7. Sleep Patterns
• The body will go through all four
stages of sleep within an 6-8
hours time period. Most patients
may will get to REM much faster
than others because of the
activities of the day.
• In the figure to the right is a
display of the stages of sleep.
This is an example of how your
brain reacts to sleep.
• For example, delta waves show
that the patient is relaxed but
daydreaming.

8. Stages of Sleep
• Stages 1 and 2 are waves that
display daydreaming
• Stages 3 and 4 are waves that
display the patients brain waves
of deeper sleep patterns
• Stage REM (Rapid Eye
Movement) which is the deepest
sleep pattern. This is the stage in
which dreaming is taking place.
and the body paralyzes to
prevent sleep walking. This is the
stage where most events may
occur.

9. CPAP
• CPAP is defined as continuous
positive air pressure.
• A CPAP is used to titrate the patient
to a healthy SAo2 level in the blood.
• To much air during the titration
phase of the test can cause heart
arrhythmias.
• Most patients need a CPAP machine
to ensure that the saturations will
not fall below 90% of 100.
• The CPAP machine is room forced air
that is mixed with water (humidifier
actions)
• The misconception is that all patients
who use a CPAP are obese and this is
simply not true. Patient who snore
may decrease their episodes with a
CPAP.

10. BIPAP
• BIPAP is defined as Bi-level
positive air pressure.
• This is a form of treatment that
mixes room air and oxygen
together to ensure the patients
O2 level will not fall during REM
sleep.
• Most BIPAP machine are used in
hospital settings such as the
picture describes.
• The BIPAP machine will display
the rate of breathing, oxygen and
room air mixture.
• BIPAPA can also be conducted at
home .

11. Chain of Command
• Sleep Doctor – This is a Medical Doctor who has
specialized in sleep medicine. The Doctor will read
the score information and based on the scoring the
patient will either be prescribed CPAP or BIPAP
therapy.
• Sleep Director – This is a professional who has passed
one of the major board of sleep therapist and
technicians examinations. This professional oversees
the quality and accuracy of the test. This position may
require scoring experience.
• Sleep Technologist - This is a professional who may
be a certified technologist or a student. This
professional may perform test under the direction of
the sleep director.

12. Sleep Testing
• When going for a sleep test it is important not to take any sleep
medication before going in unless instructed to do so by the sleep
therapist or physician. If you have taken sleep medication please let your
technologist know.
• Most sleep studies will take 6 -8 hours to complete to get a true value of
the test.
• When the technologist is doing the test it is important to know that the
technologist will be coming into your room to adjust the leads and the
CPAP machine frequently.
• There are several tools that are used to conduct the test. Most of the
patients wake up to a very loud sound which is the continuous air from
the CPAP. This is normal
• The conductive gel that is used in the patients hair, forehead, and in the
face may be washed out by using conditioner first then household
shampoo to follow.

13. Alternative Treatments
• Jasmine - This herb (plant) will aid in sleep by relaxing
the body. (mild) and aids in promoting liver health.
• Chamomile – This herb will aid in relaxing the body. It
is good for migraine headaches and nocturnal (night)
pain. (mild)
• Kava Kava - This root works like valium but can be
toxic if taken in high dosages. (strong)
• Skull Cap – This herb is used to relax the body from
head to toe. It is used for extreme migraine
headaches. (strong)
• The medicines that are described above can cause
side effects of drowsiness, rashes, nausea, vomiting,
hallucinations, these medicines can not be combined
with other relaxants unless authorized by your license
Master Herbist or Naturopath.

14. Resources
• American Academy of Sleep
Medicine
• www.aasmnet.org
• American Association of Sleep
Technologist
• www.aastweb.org
• Richard O’ Boyle (2002)
Maintaining Proper Sleep
Hygiene.
•