An ambulatory sleep study service at Nepean Hospital is allowing doctors to test patients for conditions such as obstructive sleep apnoea within the comfort of their own home.
A sleep study is a test that allows a doctor to look at sleep and breathing patterns during the night. Small electrodes are attached to a patient's head, face, chest and legs. These electrodes record brain, heart and muscle activity, while other sensors are placed on the finger, face and body and monitor oxygen levels and breathing/respiratory patterns.
Once fitted, patients return home and continue their nightly routines as they prepare for their usual bedtime. While a patient sleeps the device automatically collects and stores data at regular intervals, ready to be analysed by a sleep scientist and doctors.
Previously, patients in Penrith and surrounding suburbs had to go to private service provider or travel outside the area to receive a similar service or stay overnight in a hospital facility.
Staff Specialist for Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Dr M. Ali Tahir says the new service offers a convenient and comfortable solution for people who may be at risk of sleep apnoea.
"In-home sleep testing allows patients to undergo an assessment in the comfort of their own home and bedroom. This eliminates the stress of unfamiliar surroundings a sleep lab can present and often leads us to identifying more natural sleep patterns and interpreting accurate data," says Dr Tahir.
The added benefit of having the service based locally out of Nepean Hospital means patients spend less time travelling to places such as Westmead and gives them back more time in their day to spend with their family.
A home sleep study is used to diagnose moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea. The study is requested when a patient demonstrates signs and symptoms such as:
- Snoring
- Irregular breathing, choking or gasping during sleep
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Difficulty staying awake driving or while at work
- Increased irritability
- Deteriorating memory and/or concentration
Some cases of obstructive sleep apnoea can be treated with simple lifestyle changes including weight loss, mouthguard (mandibular splint) and positional devices.
Treatment of more severe forms of obstructive sleep apnoea may require the use of a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine, which blows air at a constant pressure through tubing and a mask into a person's airway.
A referral from a GP is required to be eligible for participation in Nepean Hospital's ambulatory sleep study service.
