If you have undergone a sleep study to see whether you have a sleep disorder, the next step is to go over the results. At Poss Sleep Apnea and TMJ Solutions in Brentwood TN, we can guide you every step of the way.
The physician who ordered the sleep study will schedule the follow-up with you to review the results. The first thing that most people want to know is what those results say about their sleep patterns, and how those impactd their health.
To the untrained eye, the sleep study results may be a little confusing. There will be computer graphs and readings, and probably a printed report. The doctor will sort it out for you and outline your next steps.
One of the most important numbers on the sleep test results is the AHI or RDI, or Apnea/Hypopnea Index. This is the number that counts all of your respiratory events that impact your airflow as you sleep. Just by looking at the number gives you a clear idea of how mild or severe your sleep apnea is.
Patients are often surprised at how much these sleep results tell us. We can tell how long it took you to fall asleep, how long you actually slept, how long you slept on your right side, left side, stomach, and/or back. It measures the sleep stages that everyone goes through during the night. Most of us cycle through these stages multiple times during sleep.
The most critical measurement, though, is the one that tells us the severity of a given case. In those patients whose oxygen saturation dips below 95%, the brain and body are not getting enough. Patients who aren’t getting enough oxygen can be set up with a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure device, C-PAP for short. The C-PAP restores normal breathing, so you get the sleep you need.
Poss Sleep Apnea & TMJ Solutions in Brentwood TN conducts sleep studies and go over the results with you. If we diagnose a sleep disorder we can get you started on treatment. If you or a loved one is coping with sleep apnea or similar issue, do not hesitate to contact us today.
