Sleep Disorders

Understanding Sleep Problems

More than 18 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders, though an estimated 95 percent go undiagnosed and untreated, according to the National Commission on Sleep Disorders. The good news is that most sleep disorders can be treated. For most people, treatment of their sleep disorder produces a profound improvement in quality of life.

If you have any of the following symptoms, you may have a sleep disorder. Multiple symptoms increase the likelihood of an underlying sleep disorder.

• I snore loudly
• I awaken gasping or choking for air
• I awaken in the morning feeling fatigued
• I have problems falling asleep or staying asleep (insomnia)
• My sleep is very restless
• My sleep is disturbed by unusual behaviors (nightmares, sleepwalking, dream enactments, tongue biting, bedwetting, etc.)
• I fall asleep while driving
• I have a creepy-crawly feeling in my legs, and kick my legs in my sleep

The Sleep Lab at San Jacinto Methodist Hospital offers diagnostic and clinical services to treat many sleep disorders. The most common disorder is obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). In addition narcolepsy (an overwhelming drowsiness or sleepiness during the day), insomnia (difficulty falling or staying asleep), parasomnias (conditions that affect the sleep process and cause disruptive sleep events like nighmares, sleepwalking, night terrors, confused state upon awakening) and limb movement disorders round out the spectrum of sleep problems.

Committed to Quality Sleep

The Sleep Lab at San Jacinto Methodist Hospital provides technical excellence in polysomnography. Polysomnography is a sleep study. It measures your sleep cycles and stages by recording brain waves (EEG), electrical activity of muscles, eye movement, breathing rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen saturation, and heart rhythm. Your sleep study will be interpreted by a sleep study medical expert. The Sleep Lab at San Jacinto Methodist Hospital is committed to providing outstanding clinical care for those with sleep disorders.

Our Sleep Lab follows all nationally accepted standards for the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders, and provides the highest quality of care.

Scope of Services

The Sleep Lab provides a wide spectrum of services for the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders.

• Diagnostic polysomnography (sleep study) attended by a technologist
• Positive airway pressure (PAP) titration attended by a technologist. Both continuous and bi-level titrations can be performed.
• Split night polysomnography. This is only for patients with severe sleep apnea. During the first portion of the night, the diagnosis is made. The PAP titration occurs during the second portion of the night. Not all patients meet the criteria needed for a split night study.
• Multiple Sleep Latency Testing (MSLT) and Maintenance of Wakefulness Testing (MWT)
• Patient education
• Positive airway pressure desensitization

Facilities

The Sleep Lab is located on the first floor of the San Jacinto Methodist Hospital’s Alexander campus in the Center for Rehabilitation and Stroke Care. Our twobed facility is designed much like a comfortable bedroom. Each room has lighting, a full-size bed and is sound insulated. In addition, the rooms are equipped with televisions. The rooms and bathrooms are handicap accessible. At the patient’s request, hospital beds can be provided.

Sleep Studies

The Sleep Lab conducts comprehensive sleep studies to meet the needs of each patient. During each study, a technologist will track data from state-of-the-art computer-based recording systems. Within five business days after completion of the studies, reports are available to the patient’s physician.

The Sleep Lab works closely with other services at San Jacinto Methodist Hospital, conducting combined evaluations with other specialists.

Referrals & Appointments

Patients requesting a sleep evaluation need a referral from a licensed physician. Each patient referral must be accompanied by a recent patient history and a physical examination. If requested, our staff physicians are available for consultation. We also provide for insurance approval and scheduling. These activities are coordinated with the referring physician’s office.

San Jacinto Methodist Hospital Sleep Lab
1700 James Bowie Drive
Alexander Campus
Baytown, TX 77520

To schedule an appointment please call 281-420-8500.

Download San Jacinto Methodist Hospital Sleep Lab brochure (pdf).