General patient-education answers — for Dr. Patel to review and adjust.
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a condition in which breathing repeatedly stops or becomes very shallow during sleep, usually because the airway collapses. Each pause wakes the brain just enough to restart breathing, so sleep is broken all night without the person knowing. Common signs are loud snoring, a partner noticing pauses in breathing, waking with a headache or dry mouth, and being sleepy during the day. Untreated, it raises the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and diabetes. It is very treatable.
What happens during an overnight sleep study?
You sleep in a private room in our sleep lab while a technologist monitors you from another room. Small sensors on your scalp, face, chest and legs record brain waves, breathing, oxygen level, heart rate and movement. Nothing is painful, and you can move and get up to use the bathroom. In the morning the sensors come off and you go home; Dr. Patel reads the study and the office calls you to go over the results.
What is a home sleep test?
A home sleep apnea test is a small device you wear for one night in your own bed. It records breathing, oxygen and effort but not brain waves, so it is used when sleep apnea is the main question and you are otherwise healthy. Our staff show you how to put it on, you return it the next day, and Dr. Patel reads the results.
What is CPAP, and do I have to use it forever?
CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) is a small machine that gently blows air through a mask to hold your airway open while you sleep. Most people feel noticeably better within a few weeks once the mask fits well. Whether you need it long-term depends on the cause of your apnea; weight change, surgery and other treatments sometimes reduce the need, and that is something to discuss with Dr. Patel at follow-up.
What is a pulmonary function test?
A pulmonary function test (PFT) measures how much air you can move in and out of your lungs, how fast, and how well oxygen passes into your blood. You breathe into a mouthpiece while a technician coaches you. It takes about 30 to 60 minutes, and it is how we diagnose and track conditions like asthma, COPD and pulmonary fibrosis.
Should I stop my inhalers before a breathing test?
Sometimes — it depends on the test and on your medicines. Do not stop anything on your own. When your test is scheduled, the office will tell you exactly which inhalers to hold and for how long.
Do I need a referral?
Some insurance plans require a referral from your primary care provider and some do not. Call the office at (304) 431-7000 and we will check your plan before you come in.
What is black lung?
Coal workers' pneumoconiosis — black lung — is scarring of the lungs from breathing coal dust over years. It causes cough and shortness of breath that get worse over time. Dr. Patel evaluates miners and other dust-exposed workers with breathing tests and imaging; the office can also tell you what documentation is needed if you are pursuing a claim.