Sleep Lab

The Sleep Lab at North Colorado Medical Center will help patients discover why they are not getting the perfect night's sleep.

A sleep disorder is a disorder in the sleep patterns of a an individual. Some sleep disorders can interfere with mental and emotional function.

The most common sleep disorders are:

• Obstructive sleep apnea - Repeated episodes of temporary pauses in breathing during sleep.
• Periodic limb movement syndrome - Kicking movements of the legs which occur every 20 to 90 seconds during the night and may disturb the normal sleep.
• Narcolepsy - Sudden, uncontrollable urges to sleep, causing an individual to fall asleep at inappropriate times.
• Parasomnias - Undesirable physical phenomena that occur during sleep include sleepwalking, sleep terrors (night terrors), REM behavior disorder, and rhythmic movement disorders.
• Sleep Apnea - A very effective therapy for treatment of sleep apnea is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) -- a mask worn during sleep. It provides a specific pressure that will allow the person to breathe and sleep normally throughout the night.  A support group meets regularly to provide help and encouragement.

Sleep Studies
Sleep studies are tests that watch what happens to an individual's body during sleep. The studies are done to find out what is causing sleep problems.  Studies include full night sleep studies in a warm, comfortable atmosphiere and are offered at atll times of day, including shift worker hours.  Sleep Number® beds are available.

A board-certified sleep physician from North Colorado Pulmonology will oversee the interpretation of every sleep study.

Sleep disorder symptoms include:

• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Snoring
• Overweight
• Mood changes
• Lethargy
• Morning headaches
• Low oxygen
• Low sex drive
• Achy, crawly feeling in legs
• Sudden sleep attacks

To schedule a sleep study, contact your primary care physician today!