Gastonia NC Sleep Apnea Testing
Aeroflow offers Sleep Apnea Testing in Gastonia, NC as well as surrounding areas in western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee. There are 2 basic types of Sleep apnea testing. This testing is used to diagnose and determine the severity of the apnea as well as how to treat it.
Severity of sleep apnea is determined by how many times a person stops breathing per hour. This is measured with an AHI. AHI stands for apnea hypopnea index. An AHI of 5-15 is considered mild, 16-30 is moderate, and anything over 30 is severe sleep apnea. To determine the severity of sleep apnea, the patient must complete sleep apnea testing. This test is called polysomnography or better known to most as a sleep study. Polysomnography is defined as “the polygraphic recording during sleep of multiple physiologic variables, both directly and indirectly related to the state and stages of sleep, to assess possible biological causes of sleep disorder.” (“Polysomnography“) Sleep apnea testing in Gastonia, NC can be completed in the home (Unattended sleep study) or in a sleep lab (attended sleep study). Both sleep apnea testing techniques are similar because they have the same end result, which is determining the severity of sleep apnea in order to reach a diagnostic determination. They are different because with an attended sleep study is in a controlled environment where you go to a facility and spend the night. With unattended sleep study, the test is completed in the comfort of your own home. Both options of sleep apnea testing can be completed in Gastonia, NC and are evaluated by a physician that specializes in sleep.
Untreated sleep apnea can lead to many health complications such as heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes. However, sleep apnea can usually easily be treated easily with CPAP therapy. CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure. A CPAP is a machine worn with a mask that pushes pressure down the airway in order to prevent the airway from obstruction. There are several types of CPAP’s used to treat sleep apnea depending on the type of sleep apnea presented. There is also BiPAP therapy, which is bi-level positive airway pressure system. This machine has a higher pressure for inspiration and a lower pressure for exhalation. These machines are usually used with more severe sleep apnea or for patients intolerant of CPAP therapy. This therapy is the preferred treatment for sleep apnea.
With proper education and understanding of this disease, sleep apnea can be caught in enough time to prevent complications. If untreated, the disease can cause problems to the patient’s health and well being that are irreversible. Awareness starts with ones own willingness to seek treatment for the symptoms.
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