CPAPtalk.com - Our Collective Wisdom

Our Collective Wisdom

Sleep Lab Orientation (Mile High Sleeper) (What To Expect)
Sleep Lab Orientation Three definitions are useful for the sleep study. Apnea. The Greek word “apnea” means “without breath.” You stop breathing during sleep for ten seconds or longer. Hypopnea. There is airflow through your throat but at a much reduced level, which leads to not getting enough oxygen. It’s abnormally shallow breathing lasting at least ten seconds. AHI, Apnea-Hypopnea Index for Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Less than 5 events (apnea or hypopnea) per hour is considered normal. 5 or more events per hour is considered Mild 15+ considered Moderate 30+ considered Severe (from T. S. Johnson MD, Sleep Apnea - The Phantom of the Night, page 211) A sleep study uses a pulse oximeter, a device with a red light that clips on your finger. It measure oxygen levels in your blood by noting the color; oxygenated blood is bright red, blood with hemoglobin desaturation is darker red. Comprehensive Sleep Lab Orientation in Print There are two chapters on sleep testing and understanding your report in the book Sleep Apnea – The Phantom of the Night by TS Johnson MD et al. Short Sleep Lab Orientation DVD or Online Video “Introduction to the Sleep Lab” Order from https://www.cpap.com/productpage/cpaptalk.com-introduction-to-the-sleep-lab.html Allow time for delivery or view online at http://www.cpaptalk.com/cpaptalk-cpap-video-movie.php?videos=video&VGID=58 Tips for Wearing a Mask and Using CPAP for the First Time • Expect elaborate headgear, face straps, and stiff, bulky plastic nose pieces that make you look like an astronaut. • While the sleep technician puts the mask on you, breathe through your mouth. • Before you are hooked up to the CPAP machine, ask the technician to let you feel the airflow from the hose on your hand. It’s surprisingly breezy. It will feel much less breezy when felt through a mask. • You won’t need it, but to make you more comfortable psychologically, ask the technician to show you how to quickly remove the mask and how to disconnect the mask from the hose or CPAP machine. The technician will show you how to call him or her during the night. • While sitting up, spend a few moments “practice breathing” through the mask with CPAP turned on. It works! You can do it. You can even fall asleep while wearing it. Want more? See the blog peer coaching articles on Evaluating Your Sleep, Sleep Study Tests, Introduction to Sleep Apnea, More Sleep-Related Web Sites, and CPAP Machine Choices at http://smart-sleep-apnea.blogspot.com . Not written by healthcare professionals. The information and opinions offered are not intended or recommended as a substitute for professional medical advice. © Mile High Sleeper, May 2006. Permission to use for free educational purposes.
Back to Index

Sleep Lab Orientation (Mile High Sleeper) (What To Expect)

Sleep Lab Orientation

Three definitions are useful for the sleep study.

Apnea. The Greek word “apnea” means “without breath.” You stop breathing during sleep for ten seconds or longer.

Hypopnea. There is airflow through your throat but at a much reduced level, which leads to not getting enough oxygen. It’s abnormally shallow breathing lasting at least ten seconds.

AHI, Apnea-Hypopnea Index for Obstructive Sleep Apnea:
Less than 5 events (apnea or hypopnea) per hour is considered normal.
5 or more events per hour is considered Mild
15+ considered Moderate
30+ considered Severe (from T. S. Johnson MD, Sleep Apnea - The Phantom of the Night, page 211)

A sleep study uses a pulse oximeter, a device with a red light that clips on your finger. It measure oxygen levels in your blood by noting the color; oxygenated blood is bright red, blood with hemoglobin desaturation is darker red.

Comprehensive Sleep Lab Orientation in Print

There are two chapters on sleep testing and understanding your report in the book Sleep Apnea – The Phantom of the Night by TS Johnson MD et al.

Short Sleep Lab Orientation DVD or Online Video

“Introduction to the Sleep Lab” Order from https://www.cpap.com/productpage/cpaptalk.com-introduction-to-the-sleep-lab.html Allow time for delivery or view online at http://www.cpaptalk.com/cpaptalk-cpap-video-movie.php?videos=video&VGID=58

Tips for Wearing a Mask and Using CPAP for the First Time

• Expect elaborate headgear, face straps, and stiff, bulky plastic nose pieces that make you look like an astronaut.
• While the sleep technician puts the mask on you, breathe through your mouth.
• Before you are hooked up to the CPAP machine, ask the technician to let you feel the airflow from the hose on your hand. It’s surprisingly breezy. It will feel much less breezy when felt through a mask.
• You won’t need it, but to make you more comfortable psychologically, ask the technician to show you how to quickly remove the mask and how to disconnect the mask from the hose or CPAP machine. The technician will show you how to call him or her during the night.
• While sitting up, spend a few moments “practice breathing” through the mask with CPAP turned on. It works! You can do it. You can even fall asleep while wearing it.

Want more? See the blog peer coaching articles on Evaluating Your Sleep, Sleep Study Tests, Introduction to Sleep Apnea, More Sleep-Related Web Sites, and CPAP Machine Choices at http://smart-sleep-apnea.blogspot.com .

Not written by healthcare professionals. The information and opinions offered are not intended or recommended as a substitute for professional medical advice. © Mile High Sleeper, May 2006. Permission to use for free educational purposes.

Back to Index

Our Collective Wisdom
Our Collective Wisdom articles represent points of view gathered from real life CPAP experience. If you have an article you would like posted, please click the Add Article link below. We welcome all kinds of articles: new topics, revisions to existing topics, and rebuttals of current articles. We ask that you please follow the established format.