Sleep Disorders
Studies have shown that sleep disorders are linked with a variety of health problems, including heart disease. St. Luke's Magic Valley Sleep Institute provides excellent care to patients with sleep disorders. Our highly trained team leader and Sleep Lab staff work closely with four primary physicians specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of these disorders.

If you or someone you know is suffering from a sleep disorder, consult your doctor to see if you may need a referral to St. Luke's Magic Valley Sleep Institute.

Sleep is essential for good health. However, millions of people suffer with some type of sleep disorder that prevents them from having a good night's sleep. Often the symptoms of a sleep disorder go unrecognized and untreated. Without help, an individual's quality of life can suffer, possibly leading to other medical conditions or even an injury.

St. Luke's Magic Valley Sleep Institute is dedicated to diagnosing and treating a variety of sleep disorders. You can rest assured that you are in good hands with our highly trained physicians and technicians.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) affects an estimated 5-10 percent of the population. When asleep, the muscles that stiffen and open the throat relax. This relaxation leads to slight sleep-related narrowing of the throat. In people with OSAS, the sleep-related throat narrowing is so great that breathing becomes difficult. The brain senses that there is a problem and briefly awakens in order to increase the effort to breathe. Once awake with a fully open throat, the effort to breathe decreases. The person resumes sleep and the cycle repeats itself throughout the night. This cycle can disturb sleep dozens or hundreds of time each night. The episodes are so brief that they are not remembered.

Obstructive sleep apnea can put you at risk for high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke. It can cause excessive daytime sleepiness that affects both your work and/or social activities and may lead to accidents while driving.

Warning Signs !

• Loud, disruptive snoring
• A snoring pattern interrupted by pauses, then gasping
• Inappropriate daytime sleepiness
• Trouble with concentration, forgetfulness, depression, irritability
• Morning headaches, frequent nighttime urination, sexual dysfunction

Sleep Study
A polysomnogram, or sleep study, is an outpatient procedure performed overnight at the Sleep Institute. Several small electrodes are placed on the surface of the skin to monitor overnight sleep patterns such as brain waves, muscle activity, heart rate, breathing, and snoring. Sometimes additional testing is needed during the day to diagnose other types of sleep disorders. A consultation is often offered before and after testing to tailor the testing, diagnosis, and treatment to your needs.

The Sleep Institute offers rapid diagnostic and treatment services to restore quality, restful sleep. Trained sleep specialists will interpret the results and work with you to find the most appropriate treatment.

The private rooms used for testing resemble comfortable hotel rooms, with large comfortable beds, individual thermostats in each room, cable TV, and restful decor.

Your sleep study will be scored, and every minute that you are asleep is looked at and analyzed. It is then reviewed by one of our interpreting physicians. The findings are integrated with your sleep history to determine a diagnosis and to make treatment recommendations. A sleep study report is sent to your physician. This process usually takes about a week.

Diagnosis and Treatment
If you have been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea (OSAS), your physician may have you return to the Sleep Institute for a sleep study with Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). CPAP is the most effective and widely used method of treating sleep apnea. While you sleep, this system gently delivers air into your airway through a specially designed mask that fits over your nose and mouth. This creates enough pressure to keep the airway open and produce immediate relief from sleep apnea and snoring. The CPAP does not breathe for you; you can breathe at a normal rate. The CPAP machine will not cause you any pain.

At the start of a CPAP study, sensors will once again be applied to your skin and the technologist will monitor you throughout the night. Before you fall asleep the technologist will fit you with the CPAP device. The technologist is trained in using the CPAP apparatus and can answer most questions and concerns that may arise during your study.

You will have to wear CPAP every night at home after your second study is finished. You will be set up with a CPAP machine after one of our interpreting physicians has looked at your study and recommended a therapeutic pressure for you to wear at home. This process usually takes about a week.

We will notify the durable medical equipment (DME) company of your choosing. The DME company will then contact you to get you set up with the CPAP.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call us at
(208) 933-0040.

St. Luke's Magic Valley Sleep Institute
450 Falls Avenue, Suite 202
Twin Falls, Idaho 83301

Phone: (208) 933-0040
Fax:       (208) 933-0042

Office hours:
Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Links:

National Sleep Foundation
Sleepnet.com
The Sleep Well at Stanford University
The Sleep Medicine Home Page
St. Luke's Sleep Institute in Boise and Meridian