Sleep Disorder Testing
Polysomnographic Sleep Testing is Available Through Oroville Hospital
Sleep testing can be useful in diagnosing and treating sleep disorders that can interfere with your daily life and have serious consequences on your health and lifestyle. Sleep tests at Oroville Hospital are performed by Registered Respiratory Therapists and Registered Polysomnographic Technicians.
Oroville Hospital's sleep facility is equipped for comprehensive, overnight sleep studies, and is staffed by certified and registered polysomnographers. Your doctor will order a sleep study (polysomnography) to evaluate the quality and depth of your sleep. Sleep testing monitors what goes on in your body during the sleep process. Measurements are taken of brain wave activity, muscle movement, eye movement, breathing, level of blood oxygen, and heart rate.
Sleep testing is done to diagnose and evaluate a number of sleep disorders, including:
- Insomnia
- Difficulty staying awake
- Sleep Apnea (excessive snoring with pauses in breathing)
- Restless Legs Syndrome
- Sleepwalking
- Nightmare
- Other Sleep interferences
Information about brain waves is obtained by applying small electrodes to your head using a removable paste. A plastic clip is attached to your finger or earlobe to monitor oxygen and heart rate. Flexible elastic belts around your chest and abdomen measure breathing. Although these devices may feel strange, most people do not find them uncomfortable.
The Oroville Hospital sleep facility uses low lighting in a homey bedroom environment to provide a comfortable setting for you while the sleep test is performed. All of the sleep testing equipment is kept in an area adjoining your sleep room to cause as little disturbance as possible. After your test, your physician will review your test results and make a plan for your treatment.
For questions about sleep disorders or sleep testing, please contact us at Oroville Hospital by calling 530-532-8308.