Services at INTEGRIS Health Sleep Disorders Center of Oklahoma

Diagnosing sleep disorders

Approximately 50 to 70 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep disorders. Eighty percent of those are undiagnosed. People who have sleep disorders may experience daytime sleepiness, fatigue, irritability, depression, reduced concentration and memory, frequent illnesses, lost productivity and increased workplace accidents or automobile accidents. Sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, narcolepsy, periodic limb movement disorder and restless legs syndrome may cause these problems.

National statistics suggest as many as 380,000 Oklahomans live with undiagnosed sleep disorders, likely 60,000 in the Oklahoma City metro alone. More than 80 different sleep disorders can be diagnosed. In many cases the symptoms of one sleep disorder can be the same as another. An overnight sleep study is important in helping us determine what causes your symptoms. Our team of board-certified sleep specialists reviews each study to ensure the correct diagnosis is made.

Common sleep disorders:

• Obstructive sleep apnea: Occurs when a person is unable to breath normally due to tissue in the upper-airway blocking the normal passage of air to the lungs. Common symptoms include snoring, daytime fatigue and sleepiness and difficulty falling or staying asleep. This is also associated with increased risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and depression.
• Restless leg syndrome: An urge to move the feet or legs. It often causes difficulty falling or staying asleep, and may be associated with leg movements during sleep, called periodic limb movement disorder. We monitor for these leg movements during a sleep study.
• Narcolepsy: Characterized by daytime sleepiness. For some patients, the sleepiness associated with narcolepsy impairs work or school performance, as well as other daily activities.
• Insomnia: A group of conditions that cause problems falling asleep or staying asleep with next day fatigue or tiredness. Some sleep disorders, such as OSA and RLS, can be the cause of difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.
• Snoring: Occurs during sleep when flow of air is obstructed in the area where the tongue and upper throat meet the soft palate and uvula. Snoring noises occur when these structures vibrate against each other during breathing. 

Sleep study

A sleep study, or polysomnogram, is the most accurate method for diagnosing sleep disorders. It involves overnight monitoring of brain activity, heart rate, oxygen levels and breathing.

Treating sleep disorders

The appropriate treatment option will depend on the specific sleep disorder, but is customized to your individual needs. Part of our mission is to help your physician find the therapy specific to your needs so that you can sleep better at night and be more awake and alert during the day.

• We work with you and your physician to develop a treatment plan and provide follow-up
• We offer night, day and weekend sleep evaluations
• Board certified sleep specialists and registered sleep technologists
• All metro facilities are accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine