The Sleep Center

The Sleep Center at the American Hospital Dubai was inaugurated in July 2003. Our state-of-the art facilities are designed to provide a comfortable sleeping environment where patients receive optimal care. We are dedicated to serving the needs of patients suffering from sleep disorders. The leadership of the center is under the direction of Physicians who specialize in assessment, diagnosis and treatment of individuals suspected of sleep disorders.

Facts And Statistics

Sleep medicine is a young discipline. However, approximately 150 different sleep/wake disorders are already known. Sleep disorders can lead to significant health problems and reduced quality of life and they affect infants, children and adults alike. Everyday examples highlight the significance of sleep disorders: the person who snores so loudly that they disturb the sleep of others; the person who stops breathing frequently during the night; the baby who stops breathing and has to be rushed to the emergency room; the person who falls asleep on short drives or in social situations, or who has difficulty staying awake at work or school; the person who has difficulty sleeping night after night and loses hope that sleep will be normal again. These are common examples of patients who suffer from sleep disorders. These conditions can have devastating effect on the lives of those affected such as:

• Hypertension (high blood pressure), heart failure, heart disease, strokes, and sexual dysfunction can all be linked to sleep disorders. Patients with some sleep disorders are 23 times more likely to suffer Heart Attack (myocardial infarction).
• More than 38,000 cardiovascular (heart related) deaths can be attributed to sleep apnea each year. The Department of Transportation in the USA estimates that lack of sleep plays a role in 200,000 automotive accidents per year.

Sleep Related Disorders (SRD) has become an important branch of medicine and screening for it is part of the routine history and physical process. The incidence of SRD are estimated from 5%-25% of the male population, with this figure being a bit lower in women. In adults over 60 years of age the incidence increases significantly, with one report indicating 37% of this population.

Common Sleep Disorders

Have you been told that you snore loudly? Do you wake up feeling tired after a full night's sleep? Are you sleepy during the day? If so you may have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). OSA occurs when a person repeatedly stops and starts breathing during sleep. Sleep apnea can be a severe medical condition significantly affecting sleepers from infancy to adulthood.

Classic symptoms of OSA usually involve one or more of various signs:

• Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia)
• Loud snoring
• Observed episodes of breathing cessation during sleep
• Abrupt awakenings with shortness of breath
• Depression
• Morning headache or nausea

Commonly, other people such as a spouse, relative, or friend report these symptoms. The sleeper is usually unaware of any problem. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs due to a blockage of the airway from a variety of causes. The severity of sleep apnea can range from mild snoring, to life threatening conditions, including increased risk of stroke, heart complications, and a greater risk of vehicle accidents. If you have OSA your doctor may refer you to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor (otolaryngologist) to rule out any blockage in your nose or throat. An evaluation by a Heart doctor (Cardiologist) or a doctor who specializes in the nervous system (Neurologist) may be necessary to look for causes of central sleep apnea.

Narcolepsy is a medical disorder causing patients to become so sleepy that it is difficult to stay awake for normal daytime functions. Narcolepsy may also be associated with the inability to move upon awakening, vivid dreams which occur outside the regular sleep period, and difficulty maintaining muscle tone during emotional times such as anger or laughter.

Insomnia the inability to fall asleep, stay asleep or waking up very early occurs in almost everyone occasionally. However, when the insomnia persists nightly for longer than two weeks, this may signal a more serious problem. Depression and anxiety which can cause insomnia, can be treated. In addition, the use of alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, or certain medications may also disrupt sleep.

Treatment

The good news is that most patients with sleep disorders respond well to the treatment. The professionals at the Sleep Center at the American Hospital Dubai work closely with other medical & surgical specialists who are experts in using the most advanced techniques in the field of sleep disorders.

In The Sleep Center

After a referral for a sleep test by your physician the person arrives at the Sleep Room in the late afternoon. Depending on the scope of the study, it takes about 20 to 45 minutes to complete the sensor assembly. A complete sleep study requires that sensors be placed on various sites on the body such as the chin, the legs and the torso. Once the sensors are in place the person can go to sleep.

The Morning After

Once the study is complete when the person wakes up in the morning, the technician removes all the sensors and electrodes and the person can take a shower and have breakfast and is then free to go home after a short interview with the clinician. If the study was performed at home (sleep screening test), the patient often removes the sensors himself and must return the equipment to the Cardiopulmonary Department. Regardless of the type of study, the data is stored on a computer and the clinician will utilize diagnostic software to analyze the data and print out a report with the results of the study. Based on the analysis and reports, the clinician determines the diagnosis and recommends treatment solutions, if necessary.

Please Note:

• Clinic Bookings for diagnostic tests are done in the Cardiopulmonary Department. When scheduled for a Polysomnography Study or a Sleep Screening Test please come to the Cardiopulmonary Department at the scheduled time.
• Do not alter your sleeping pattern prior to coming for a Sleep Study or Sleep Screening. Sleeping arrangements are available if you desire your spouse or parent to stay in the room with you during the study.
• Bring your sleep diary (if you have been given one) when you come for your sleep study.
• Bring comfortable sleeping clothes and if the study is to be performed on a child and they have a favorite toy they should bring it with them.
• Shampoo your hair early in the day and please do not utilize any creams or gels on your hair that day.
• Have your normal meal prior to coming. You will be sleeping at your normal time unless a daytime test is needed. You will need to arrange for transportation home after the test which will be completed early morning on the following day.

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