Restful sleep is a crucial element to overall wellbeing and health.
Our pulmonologists and sleep specialists use state-of-the-art equipment and a comprehensive, integrative approach to get you on your way to better health through restoring undisturbed sleep.
At our Sleep Science Center, we test, diagnose and treat sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, restless leg syndrome, periodic limb movements, narcolepsy, and other behaviors that are specific to sleep. Our Sleep Science Center is nationally accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, signifying our quality, patient care and top-notch service.
Pensacola Lung Group & Sleep Science Center manages sleep studies on adults and children ages 8-17. Please call us directly to learn more about our referral process.
Pensacola Lung Group & Sleep Science Center
—sleep medicine that revolves around you.
We understand that sleep in general is a very personal and vulnerable time, and that’s why we make every attempt to make you feel comfortable, informed and safe.
Your preferences matter to us, and we accommodate a variety of needs to make your time with us pleasant and uncomplicated.
Features:
- Comfortable, full-size beds
- Relaxing rooms designed with your privacy in mind
- Both male and female sleep technicians
- You may wear your own clothes and bring your own pillows and blankets, if you’d like
- Televisions in every room
- Over-sized recliners available for those who cannot sleep in a regular bed
- Daytime sleep studies available for shift or night workers
- Showers and restroom facilities so you may go directly to work after your study
- Roll-away beds for parents staying with a child undergoing a sleep study
Sleep Studies:
What to expect?
Optimally, it takes two sleep studies to diagnose and treat a sleep disorder.
The initial sleep study is used to diagnose the presence of a sleep disorder, and the second sleep study includes testing to correct a sleep disorder. However, if a patient’s diagnosis is severe, our sleep technicians will immediately move to correct the disorder during the initial study. After a sleep disorder is corrected, a treatment plan is created by your physician (in collaboration with you) to ensure long-term success and improved quality of life.
In-lab vs. Home Sleep Studies:
What’s the difference?
We conduct sleep studies on-site at our Sleep Science Center, and they are typically done overnight and completed in seven to nine hours from setup to discharge.
After checking in around 7 or 8pm, you will be set up with cardiac monitoring, EEG (brain wave monitoring), and a small snore monitor under your nose. Once setup is complete, every adjustment is made remotely so you are not disturbed during the study. The data is collected while you sleep.
A home sleep study may be mandated at the direction of your insurance company. Due to the fact that home studies are insurance-mandated, Pensacola Lung Group & Sleep Science Center has no input into this testing. A home sleep study is typically a one-study process. In a home sleep study, third-party provided equipment is mailed to you with instructions for setup. A customer service helpline is available to you, if needed. After the sleep study is complete, the third-party sends your data to Pensacola Lung Group & Sleep Science Center for analysis. You will be informed of the results at a follow-up appointment with your doctor or his nurse practitioner/physician assistant.
Conditions & Treatments
Conditions
- General information
- Narcolepsy
- Restless Legs Syndrome
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
- Snoring
- Insomnia
Treatments
- Home Sleep Apnea Test
- In-lab Sleep Study
- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
- Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP)
- Automatic Positive Airway Pressure (APAP)
General information
Sleep Science Conditions
Pensacola Lung Group’s board-certified sleep doctors provide best in class care to our patients for all sleep issues.
Why sleep? Defined as “a natural, regularly recurring condition of rest for the body and mind, during which the eyes are usually closed and there is little or no conscious thought or voluntary movement.” That relatively simple version does not do justice to the importance and complexity of this natural phenomenon. Sleep allows the brain to direct:
- Healing
- Repair damaged or worn-out tissue
- Restore chemical balance
- Rebuild the immune system
- Regulate bodily function through hormones (for example, growth hormone is produced mainly at night while sleeping)
If sleep is insufficient or of poor quality (another form of sleep deprivation), then many health problems can manifest. Some of these you may already be aware of if you have ever experienced a bad night’s sleep.
- Feel irritable and experience mood swings
- Forgetfulness
- Can’t deal with stress
- Show poor judgment, poor concentration, and inability to make decisions
- Experience more emotional problems, including depression and anxiety
- Increased susceptibility to colds, flu and other infections
- Age more rapidly
- Increased propensity toward accidents secondary to sleepiness and poor coordination
So, given that sleep is essential to normal body function and that sleep disturbance has far reaching effects on your health (far beyond just “feeling bad”), seek medical attention when sleep is not optimum.
The physicians at Pensacola Lung Group evaluate and treat patients with sleep disorders, including:
- Insufficient Sleep Syndrome (not getting enough)
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea (irregular breathing at night leading to sleep fragmentation)
- Snoring, Irregular Sleep-Wake Cycle
- Insomnia
- Shift Work Sleep Disorder
- Periodic Limb Movements of Sleep (highly associated with Restless Legs Syndrome)
To schedule a consultation with one of our sleep specialists, call us at 850-477-9253.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
Sleep Science Conditions
What is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disease that interrupts sleep by stopping and starting your breathing. Those with OSA have airways that repeatedly collapse when throat muscles relax during sleep, blocking the flow of air. The disease causes snoring and choking or gasping during sleep.
Common symptoms include:
- Snoring
- Daytime sleepiness
- Pauses in breathing
- Difficulties with mood and concentration
- Unusual moodiness or irritability
- Frequently waking up to urinate at night
- Morning headaches
- Dry mouth
The risk factors for OSA include being overweight or obese, age, and upper airway crowding. Men are also two to three times more likely to have OSA. If you are experiencing the above symptoms, make an appointment with your doctor to discuss OSA.
For more information, visit http://www.lung.org/lung-health-and-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/sleep-apnea/ or http://www.sleepeducation.org/essentials-in-sleep/sleep-apnea.
Snoring
Sleep Science Conditions
What is snoring?
Snoring is the often loud or harsh sound that can occur as you sleep. You snore when the flow of air as you breathe makes the tissues in the back of your throat vibrate. The sound most often occurs as you breathe in air, and can come through the nose, mouth or a combination of the two. It can occur during any stage of sleep.
While light snoring can be a nuisance to your partner and nearby sleepers, it is usually not indicative of a serious sleep problem, and may not disrupt your overall sleep quality. Heavy snoring may be associated with obstructive sleep apnea, a serious sleep disorder that needs medical attention.
For more information, visit http://www.sleepeducation.org/essentials-in-sleep/snoring.
Insomnia
Sleep Science Conditions
What is insomnia?
Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that can make it hard to fall asleep, hard to stay asleep, or cause you to wake up too early and not be able to get back to sleep. You may still feel tired when you wake up. Insomnia can sap not only your energy level and mood but also your health, work performance and quality of life.
Many adults will experience short-term insomnia at some point in their lives which can last for days or weeks. It can be brought on by stress or traumatic event. Chronic insomnia lasts for a month or more.
Insomnia symptoms may include:
- Difficulty falling asleep at night
- Waking up during the night
- Waking up too early
- Not feeling well-rested after a night’s sleep
- Daytime tiredness or sleepiness
- Irritability, depression or anxiety
- Difficulty paying attention, focusing on tasks or remembering
- Increased errors or accidents
- Ongoing worries about sleep
To diagnose and treat insomnia, your doctor may give you a physical exam and sleep habits review. A sleep study may be necessary if the cause of your insomnia isn’t clear. Tests are done to monitor and record a variety of body activities while you sleep, including brain waves, breathing, heartbeat, eye movements and body movements. From there, your doctor will discuss treatment options with you.
Narcolepsy
Sleep Science Conditions
What is narcolepsy?
Narcolepsy is a lifelong sleep disorder that makes you feel overwhelmingly tired, and in severe cases, have sudden uncontrollable sleep attacks. Narcolepsy can impact nearly every aspect of your life. It is dangerous because you can have excessive sleepiness or a sleep attack at any time of the day, in the middle of any activity including eating, walking or driving. Operating a vehicle with untreated narcolepsy can be very dangerous and some states even have laws against it.
The cause of narcolepsy is not fully understood. Some causes may include autoimmune disorders, brain injuries, or a family history. It is diagnosed by a sleep study or multiple sleep latency test (MSLT), and can be treated with different types of prescription drugs.
For more information, visit http://www.sleepeducation.org/essentials-in-sleep/narcolepsy.
Restless Legs Syndrome
Sleep Science Conditions
What is restless legs syndrome?
Restless legs syndrome is a neurological sleep disorder that make you have an overwhelming urge to move your legs. Restless legs syndrome makes it difficult to get comfortable enough to fall asleep. The symptoms are usually worse at night.
The sensation is difficult for some people to describe. You may lie down and begin to feel burning or itching inside your legs. If you move your legs or get up and walk around, these symptoms may go away. The discomfort may return when you try again to go to sleep.
Talk to your doctor if you think you may have restless legs syndrome. Your doctors will conduct tests to rule out factors that may be causing your symptoms. Restless legs syndrome is treatable through managing the symptoms. Your doctor will help you find the best way to manage your unique symptoms.
For more information, visit http://www.sleepeducation.org/essentials-in-sleep/restless-legs-syndrome.
Home Sleep Apnea Test
Sleep Science Treatments
What is a home sleep apnea test?
Home sleep apnea testing provides a board-certified sleep medicine physician with the information he or she needs to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea. It allows you to sleep at home wearing equipment that collects information about how you breathe during sleep. You will usually set up the testing equipment yourself.
There are a variety of home sleep apnea testing devices that have different sensors and equipment. These devices measure your breathing and blood oxygen level. Some also may measure your heart rate or other information about your body.
You can learn more about the difference between home sleep study and an in-lab study on our Sleep Science Center webpage.
For more information, visit http://www.sleepeducation.org/essentials-in-sleep/home-sleep-apnea-testing.
In-lab Sleep Study
Sleep Science Treatments
What is an in-lab sleep study?
An in-lab sleep study provides a board-certified sleep medicine physician with the most complete evaluation of your sleep. You will be required to stay overnight at a sleep center, hospital or a hotel room.
An in-lab sleep study, also known as a polysomnogram, records your brain waves, heartbeats and breathing as you sleep. It also charts your eye movements, limb movements and oxygen in your blood. This data will help your doctor make a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan.
You can learn more about how Pensacola Lung Group conducts sleep studies and the difference between an in-lab study and an at-home study by visiting our Sleep Science Center page.
For more information, visit http://www.sleepeducation.org/essentials-in-sleep/in-lab-sleep-study.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
Sleep Science Treatments
What is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)?
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is the frontline treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. CPAP therapy keeps your airway open during the night by gently providing a constant stream of air through a mask you wear while you sleep. This eliminates the breathing pauses caused by sleep apnea, so you will no longer snore or make choking noises in your sleep. You will be able to sleep through the night without your body waking up from a lack of oxygen.
CPAP, BiPAP, and APAP are all treatment devices for sleep apnea. BiPAP stands for bilevel positive airway pressure, and APAP stands for auto positive airway pressure.
For more information, visit http://www.sleepeducation.org/essentials-in-sleep/cpap.
Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP)
Sleep Science Treatments
What is Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure? (BiPap)
BiPAP stands for bilevel positive airway pressure, and is very similar in design and function to a CPAP machine. While CPAP machines can only be set to a single pressure, BiPAP machines have two pressure settings: one for inhalation and one for exhalation.
BiPAP is a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. This therapy keeps your airway open during the night by gently providing a stream of air for inhalation and exhalation through a mask you wear while you sleep. This eliminates the breathing pauses caused by sleep apnea, so you will no longer snore or make choking noises in your sleep. You will be able to sleep through the night without your body waking up from a lack of oxygen.
BiPAP therapy can offer pressure relief as the patient exhales so that you don’t feel like you’re fighting against the incoming airflow during expiration. If you’ve tried CPAP and find the pressure settings too difficult to manage exhaling against, talk with your doctor and see if a BiPAP machine is right for you.
CPAP, BiPAP, and APAP are all treatment devices for sleep apnea. CPAP stand for continuous positive airway pressure, and APAP stands for auto positive airway pressure.
Automatic Positive Airway Pressure (APAP)
Sleep Science Treatments
What is Automatic Positive Airway Pressure? (APAP)
Similar to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines, APAP is a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea that keeps your airway open during the night by gently providing a constant stream of air through a mask you wear while you sleep. This eliminates the breathing pauses caused by sleep apnea, so you will no longer snore or make choking noises in your sleep. You will be able to sleep through the night without your body waking up from a lack of oxygen.
While CPAP machines can only be set to one setting, APAP machines have two: a low range setting and a high range setting. The APAP machine fluctuates through the night to automatically adjust itself to suit your needs at any given moment throughout your sleep. Most APAP machines can also be set to CPAP mode.
CPAP, BiPAP, and APAP are all treatment devices for sleep apnea. BiPAP stands for bilevel positive airway pressure.
Other Conditions and Treatments
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