Sleep apnea is characterized by short pauses in breathing during sleep, mostly due to a collapse of certain structures in the upper respiratory tract. These breathing pauses or "apneas" generally last between 10 to 30 seconds. This phenomenon can occur several times during sleep, resulting in a decrease of oxygen in the blood, severe sleep deprivation and cardiac overload.
Most people that suffer from sleep apnea do not realize it. The main signs and symptoms are: snoring, excessive fatigue, sleepiness, irritability, headache, hypertension, etc.
Any person, regardless of age, can suffer from sleep apnea. It is essential to detect sleep apnea without delay because this disease can cause serious health problems such as memory loss, heart problems or stroke.
The SleepStrip screening test, available at Physimed, is a simple and reliable solution for the detection of sleep apnea. This electronic device is equipped with three miniature probes to monitor breathing during one night in your natural sleeping environment. The internal microprocessor calculates the episodes of apnea and hypopnea for the duration of the test. At the end of the test, the result, represented by a number, appears on the display part of the SleepStrip. If the result is positive, and the patient has other risk factors (obesity, hypertension, family history of sleep apnea, male over 40 years, etc.), a more comprehensive evaluation is necessary and patients will be referred to a doctor specializing in sleep apnea.
If you believe that you suffer from sleep apnea, feel free to ask one of our doctors to prescribe you a SleepStrip screening test.
If you have a prescription for a SleepStrip screening test, you can call 514 747-8185 to book an appointment. We will quickly forward your results to your physician.
Phone:
514 747-8185
