About the Sleep Center

Health First Sleep Center is proud of the high level of care and service provided.

• We have a professional staff of physicians and sleep specialists (adults and peds)
• Our technical staff includes all registered polysomnographic techonologists.
• 10-20 percent of our patients are children.
• Besides clinical and diagnostic services, we also offer public education, case management, extensive follow-up, and patient support.
• Accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Insurance coverage

Most insurance plans provide coverage for evaluation, diagnostic testing, and treating sleep disorders, subject to your deductible and copayment limits. You may need a referral from your primary care physician. After your initial evaluation, your insurance may also require pre-authorization if you need testing. If so, our staff can make arrangements for the authorization. If you want to check with your plan about what is covered, two points insurance plans must know are:

• All Health First Sleep Center tests are outpatient procedures.

Pre-testing evaluation

A Physician's referral is needed with a complete medical history, with an emphasis on sleep-related issues, and a physical examination. It's helpful if your spouse or a family member can be present during the interview to provide additional insight about your activities during sleep. If you need testing, we'll explain what test(s) we recommend and how they can help you.

Most patients are scheduled for an overnight sleep study (nocturnal polysomnogram -NPSG), but some patients may also need a daytime study (multiple sleep latency test -MSLT) in addition to the overnight study.

During testing

You'll be in a private room with a bathroom. A technician will explain the testing equipment and procedures, and connect a variety of sensors to you so we can monitor and record your breathing, sleep stages, muscle movements, eye movements, snoring, blood oxygen level, etc. while you sleep. Nothing about this process is painful. The room is dark and quiet, but a technician will be able to check on you with an infrared camera and microphone. We'll wake you up in the morning when the test is completed. If you need to stay for a daytime test, we'll provide breakfast and lunch for you.

Results and treatment

A physician who specializes in sleep medicine will interpret your tests, and a physician board certified in sleep medicine will also review the results. Typically the physician will follow up with you two weeks after testing to discuss the results and any recommendations. This may include another night in the Sleep Center to begin treatment, adjust your treatment, or check the progress of your treatment.

Follow-up

During the first nine months following your sleep testing, our case manager will contact you two or three times to see how you're doing. If you have any questions about equipment or care related to your sleep problem, please call us at (321) 868-5832.

Common disorders

Although there are several types of sleep disorders, they generally fall into two main groups, parasomnias and dyssomnias.

Parasomnias are abnormal behaviors that occur during sleep. Examples include:

• Sleep walking (Somnambulism)
• Sleep terrors
• Head banging (Jactatio capitis nocturna)
• Teeth grinding (Bruxism)

Dyssomnias interrupt the normal sleep/wake cycle. Examples include:

• Sleep apnea (obstructive, central or mixed)
• Restless leg syndrome
• Periodic limb movements of sleep
• Insomnia
• Narcolepsy

Sleep Apnea
The most common disorder, and one that can seriously affect your health, is sleep apnea. Apnea is when you stop breathing for at least 10 seconds while you're asleep and can occur up to hundreds of times per night. Usually, you don't know it's happening, but often your spouse or a family member has observed you snoring and gasping -two common symptoms of apnea.

During apneas, your body -especially your heart -is deprived of adequate oxygen. If it's caused by an obstruction, you struggle to breathe and eventually wake up, usually without recalling it, in order to reestablish breathing. Increased blood pressure and irregular heartbeats are often associated with apnea.

America's sleep epidemic

The National Commission for Sleep Disorders reported to the U.S. Congress that sleep disorders are a national epidemic. If you're wondering why, consider this:

• 100 million Americans have occasional sleep problems, with one-third having some form of chronic insomnia.
• 12 million Americans are affected by restless leg syndrome.
• 12 million Americans between 30 and 60 years of age are estimated to suffer from sleep apnea, which is more common than asthma. Left untreated, sleep apnea is associated with -
  1. Increased risk of stroke and heart attack
  2. Increased risk of accidental injury at home, work or while driving, caused by chronic sleepiness
  3. Hypertension (high blood pressure).

As a result, patients with untreated sleep apnea utilize twice the healthcare resources (both physician's office visits and in-hospital days) as compared to others in the same gender and age group.

• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 200,000 motor vehicle crashes per year are caused by drowsy drivers.

Cape Canaveral Hospital
701 W. Cocoa Beach Cswy
Cocoa Beach, FL 32931