What is Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a serious sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep. These pauses in breathing are caused by the relaxing of muscles in the throat, which causes the windpipe to become blocked during sleep. Each pause can last between 10 and 30 seconds, and occur several hundred times each night. People with Sleep Apnea are often not aware that they are having any difficulty breathing, even after they awaken.
During an apnea, or period "without breath", a person will attempt to breathe but will be unable to. The chest will continue moving as the person tries to inhale. It is common for chest and body movements to become very exagerrated during these periods. The lack of air causes the blood oxygen level to drop, while the level of carbon dioxide rises.
Sleep Apnea can cause cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, weight gain, impotency, headaches, and memory problems. Due to lack of useful sleep, it can also cause problems at work, school, and while driving.
What are the Symptoms?
There are many symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. They include: excessive daytime sleepiness, restless sleep, and loud snoring (usually with periods of silence followed by gasps). Non-specific symptoms include: morning headaches, trouble concentrating, irritability, forgetfulness, mood or behavior changes, increased heart rate, anxiety, depression, increased frequency of urination, bedwetting, esophageal reflux and heavy sweating at night.
Not all symptoms need to be present in order for Sleep Apnea to be present. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, or believe you may have Sleep Apnea, it is highly recommended that you be tested, to diagnoss or rule out Sleep Apnea.
For more information on Sleep Apnea, including causes, symptoms, and treatments, click here. (Please note that you need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed in order to view this file. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed, you may get it for free from the link below)
What are the Current Options for Diagnosing and Beginning Treatment for Sleep Apnea?
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Traditional 2-Night Sleep Study
A traditional sleep study is performed at a sleep testing facility. The patient stays overnight at the testing facility, while several tests are conducted as the patient is sleeping.
Generally, special directions are given regarding food, medicines, and other issues before 
the study. For instance, alcohol and caffeine consumption must be avoided. When the patient arrives at the testing facility, they are subjected to an hour long preparation process for the sleep study. During this time, electrodes are glued to the patient's chin, jaw, cheeks, lower leg, scalp, forehead, and eyebrow in order to take an EEG, EMG, EOG, and EKG. A snore microphone is usually secured on the lower neck. Elastic belts are placed around the chest and abdomen to measure respiratory effort, and an oximeter probe is attached to a finger to measure oxygen levels in the blood. A nasal airflow sensor is placed near the nose or mouth. In addition, the entire study is filmed, with staff monitoring the video throughout the night.
If Sleep Apnea is diagnosed, the patient is required to return for a second night of study called CPAP Titration.
Titration determines the proper pressure setting for a CPAP machine. A Titration study consists of all of the elements of the first day of study, with the addition of wearing a CPAP.
Costs:
- Referral to Neurologist - $25 Co-pay
- Sleep Study at Testing Facility - $700 x 2
- Unit Cost: Traditional CPAP - $700
- CPAP Mask - $60-$200
*Not computed in the cost is travel time of two round-trips to the sleep testing facility, as well as sleeping in an uncomfortable, unfamiliar environment.*
Average Cost with Insurance Deductible/Cash Pay: $2200
Bundled Service for Auto CPAP Transition to Traditional CPAP
Fortunately, there is a much easier and cheaper solution than the traditional sleep study. Utilizing the Auto CPAP (shown below), it is now possible to test for Sleep Apnea in the comfort of your own home and without the intrusive wires and electrodes. The Auto CPAP is then returned to the Dr. to be read and a diagnosis made.
Sleep Apnea can be ruled out for as low as $300, which includes a physician evaluation at our facility and Auto CPAP trial, to be done in the comfort of your own home.
Our office will provide, as part of bundled services, an Auto CPAP, designed to diagnose and ascertain traditional CPAP pressure levels. This unit will be in your home for 1-3 weeks, and readings will be monitored appropriately.
An Auto CPAP (show at right) differs from a traditional CPAP in that it continually adjusts the amount of pressure being delivered to the patient to find the best level. With a traditional CPAP, the pressure level is set through a Titration study, and remains the same after it is set. In addition, traditional CPAP pressure levels are set when the patient is on their back and in REM sleep. With an Auto CPAP, it is constantly monitoring breathing patterns in order to keep the pressure at an optimal and comfortable level. If the patient repositions themselves, or enters a different sleep cycle, the Auto CPAP will adjust the pressure level accordingly. This is especially important if there are pressure toleration issues, or big leaks at higher pressure levels.
For more information on the Auto CPAP, please click here.(Please note that you need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed in order to view this file. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed, you may get it for free from the link below.)
The Cost of this Bundled Service Averages: $1200
*The Klein Cypress Medical Clinic, P.A. strives to present the most accurate information possible. However, due to market fluctuations, prices are subject to change*