Sleep Medicine

Are you having trouble getting a good night’s sleep? Quality sleep is vital to your health. At Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital, we are dedicated to ensuring that you sleep well through essential health and wellness services. Let’s start with our sleep medicine program in Manistique.

Sleep medicine – or a sleep study – is the first step in determining how well you sleep and if you have sleep problems. Our sleep medicine expert, Dr. Sand, recommends a sleep study to diagnose sleep disorders. Based on the results of your sleep study, we can determine the next steps for treating your sleep issues, so you can start getting the rest you need every night.

What is a sleep study?

A sleep study, also known as a polysomnogram, is a test that runs while you are asleep. It’s designed to diagnose any sleep disorder by recording your brain activity and identifying your sleep patterns. Essentially, this means spending the night in a sleep lab so that a sleep medicine specialist can collect data about your sleep.

Your sleep study is designed to yield valuable information about your sleep patterns, such as the time you spend in light and deep sleep cycles, if you receive enough oxygen, and how often you wake up or your sleep is disrupted. One of the most common findings from a polysomnogram is sleep apnea, allowing a sleep medicine specialist to treat it.

Who needs sleep medicine?

Everyone needs adequate rest, which makes sleep medicine vital for all. It’s important to know how well you are sleeping and whether you have sleep disorders that need to be treated. However, if you are experiencing these symptoms, talk to your primary care provider:

  • You snore or gasp for air while you are sleeping
  • You have difficulty falling asleep
  • You have trouble sleeping through the night and without disruptions
  • You feel tired even after getting enough sleep
  • You are too exhausted to follow your daily routine.

Your primary care provider will likely refer you to a sleep medicine specialist in Manistique. During your consultation, they will first try to determine the nature of your sleep issues. You may be asked to keep a sleep diary to track how well you sleep.

If your sleep medicine specialist finds that your sleep problems may be due to a sleep disorder, they will order a sleep study. Your sleep study and other related tests may indicate common sleep disorders, such as restless leg syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, hypersomnia (i.e., sleepwalking) or insomnia. Based on these, you can proceed with the appropriate treatment.

HOSPITAL PHOTO GALLERY

What to know about in-home sleep study monitoring

With advancements in sleep medicine, sleep studies are now possible at home. A home sleep study is a convenient alternative to an in-lab study and is often recommended to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea. An in-home sleep study is also more likely to be affordable and comfortable, as it takes place in your home.

What You Need for an In-Home Sleep Study

In order to proceed with your sleep study at home, a sleep medicine specialist will provide you with required equipment. Your doctor will also provide instructions on how to use these devices. Make sure to follow them to ensure that your sleep data is accurately recorded. Keep in mind that a sleep study requires going to bed as you typically would. But before you do, you will need to connect the monitoring devices to your body

Facts About In-Home Sleep Studies

Before proceeding with your in-home sleep study, there are a few things you need to remember:

  • An in-home study will only monitor your breathing patterns to detect sleep apnea, not actual sleep quality, such as the cycles of light and deep sleep
  • Equipment for an in-home sleep study includes sensors placed on your finger to measure oxygen levels, as well as on your abdomen and chest, and a mask with tubes inserted in your nostrils
  • Most sleep studies happen just overnight—unless the results are inaccurate or inconclusive due to the sensors falling off
  • You may have sleep disorders other than apnea, which your sleep medicine specialist can diagnose through other tests.

Do’s and Don’ts before a sleep study

All a sleep study entails is going to bed with the intention of getting a good night’s rest. You simply need to follow your bedtime routine; however, you must remember some do’s and don’ts to ensure that your sleep study goes well and obtains accurate results.

Follow these do’s and don’ts before your sleep study:

Do’s

  • For an in-lab sleep study, bring everything you need for the night, such as clothes, toiletries, and prescribed medications.
  • Eat your dinner before going to the sleep clinic.
  • Wash and dry your hair before your sleep study, but without conditioners, gels, oils, and sprays to avoid interfering with electrodes.
  • Fill out all the required paperwork and inform the clinic ahead of time of any special needs.
  • Be patient as the monitoring equipment is set up, which can take up to an hour.

Don’ts

  • Nap during the day to avoid having trouble falling asleep during your sleep study.
  • Have nail polish on your index fingers to avoid interfering with the pulse oximeter reading.
  • Drink caffeine after lunch or a few hours before your sleep study.
  • Forget to take the sleep aid if prescribed by your sleep medicine doctor.

FAQs about Sleep Apnea

Get the answers to your questions on sleep apnea, the most common sleep disorder monitored during a sleep study.

1. What is obstructive sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a breathing problem that occurs in your sleep. It causes you to stop breathing for short periods throughout your sleep. This happens as your windpipe closes, which alerts the brain to wake you up and reopen the windpipe, but not without disrupting your sleep.

2. Can a CPAP machine help with sleep apnea?

A Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine is commonly prescribed for people with sleep apnea. The CPAP machine blows pressurized air into an air hose attached to a face mask worn during sleep. This mechanism keeps your windpipe open so that you can sleep without disruption.

3. Can an at-home sleep study detect obstructive sleep apnea?

You can opt for an at-home sleep study to detect sleep apnea. An at-home study is a convenient alternative to an in-lab session. However, note that your sleep medicine physician will only recommend doing your sleep study at home if they suspect moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnea and no other health conditions. An at-home sleep study may also be less effective at detecting sleep apnea.

4. What sleep medicine equipment is used to detect sleep apnea?

Your sleep study relies on several pieces of specialized equipment to accurately monitor your sleep and detect issues like sleep apnea. These include sensors placed on your head and throughout the body, elastic belts wrapped around your chest and abdomen, and a pulse oximeter on your finger. Your sleep medicine doctor may also recommend wearing a CPAP machine during the second half of the night to see if it improves your sleep.

Schedule a Sleep Study Appointment

If you have trouble sleeping or have suspected obstructive sleep apnea, visit Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital today. Our sleep medicine team can help you start with a sleep study in Manistique.

Our Sleep Medicine Specialist

Dr. Sand

Dr. SandIn addition to sleep medicine, Dr. Sand is also a board certified in family medicine. He earned a Bachelor of Science from Michigan State University, a master’s degree in School Psychology from the University of Detroit and a Doctor of Osteopathy from Michigan State University.  He began practicing sleep medicine at the Oscar G. Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility in Iron Mountain, where he served veterans for 12 years. He went on to provide sleep medicine services at Dickinson Community Healthcare System prior to joining Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital.

Call us at 906-256-6503 EXT 1 to get in touch with our scheduling department. Schedule your sleep study with our sleep medicine physician, Dr. Sand.

Services

Find A Provider Pay My Bill

Your Trusted First Choice

Hospital Photo Gallery - Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital
Hospital Photo Gallery - Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital
Hospital Photo Gallery - Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital
Hospital Photo Gallery - Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital
Hospital Photo Gallery - Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital
Hospital Photo Gallery - Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital
Rural Health Clinic Scheduling Office - Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital
Rural Health Clinic Scheduling Office - Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital
Rural Health Clinic Scheduling Office - Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital
Rural Health Clinic Scheduling Office - Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital
Rural Health Clinic Scheduling Office - Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital
Rural Health Clinic Scheduling Office - Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital
Hospital Photo Gallery - Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital
Hospital Photo Gallery - Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital
Hospital Photo Gallery - Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital
Hospital Photo Gallery - Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital
Hospital Photo Gallery - Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital
Hospital Photo Gallery - Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital
IMG_5598
3F8419B5-F11F-4FCF-A8A7-B3C6A037DD2F
Drone overview lake
Rural Health Clinic Exterior
1119_12v2
IMG_0146
ER-Waiting-Room
IMG_3672
IMG_0001
Atrium2
9351980530_462d2ee751_h
9351979310_473cf970ef_k
drone overview 1
62CADCEA-4F61-4799-AD6E-DCE843A20C9D
F30AA05E-024D-4FAA-AE5E-B6978B0BFB65
IMG_5603
IMG_0231 (1)
IMG_1413
PlayPause
previous arrow
next arrow

Read what Patients have to say about Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital

Everyone in the ambulatory care/outpatient surgery were great!! They all made me feel very comfortable and did a great job!!! thank you to the whole outpatient staff and Doctor Rayner..I would recommend Schoolcraft or patient to anyone in need of surgery

Reviewer: Jeremy Sitkoski

Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital Logo

5 out of 5 stars

The care that was provided by The nurses (Cindy, Felicia Ruth) and staff was exceptional. The entire staff was very friendly and made you feel welcome. We received a call from Felicia the next day to check on my husband to check his pain level and do a follow up. The surgery area from check in to check out was well organized, clean, and up to date. Thank you to all of you for what you do so well and everything beyond your normal duties.

Reviewer: Maureen DesChamps

Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital Logo

5 out of 5 stars

Helpful and caring from top to bottom ❣️
Dr Fanous is very personable and informative. I really like him alot.
Just amazing care staff is amazing 😊 Dr. Niemela is a amazing doctor and has the best nurse 😊 highly recommended
Was great
Dr Rayner is very good!
Dr Vix was great!! Personable & efficient!!
I give him a 5 out of 5! I'm not a Doctor type of person, but he made me feel comfortable right out the gate. Very friendly and professional! Got right to the point and really helped me figure out what was causing my pain! Excellent visit and Doctor!!
Very pleasant personality very informative!
DOCTOR Rayner Absolutely 💯 Great... Bedside manner fantastic.... Made a nervous Grandma at peace... Amazing outcome... Job well done. I recommend highly... Thank you...
Dr. Niemela diagnosed and did surgery on a tendon tear and bone spur on my foot. There had been pain for over a year with each step, and it was more severe as time went on, and even waking me throughout the night. The successful surgery eliminated the pain immediately! No pain to speak of, and the follow-up care was top notch. Thank you Dr. Niemela and staff! Photo one week after surgery.
Dr Stephen clear and chearful in his diagnoses, treatment and directions to the patient.
Very thorough & explains everything he’s doing. Chloe is very friendly checking up on me.
It's always a pleasant visit when see I Dr. Hoevee and this was no exception. And shout out to Clio who is also great!
Very thorough in explaining and seemed like he generally cared
Knowledgeable, Quick & Personable
Dr. Vix and Dr. Foltz are proactive and reactive. They jump into action and get you the care you need right away. There is no waiting periods regardless of shift change or time of the day. They are attentive and efficient. I only wish we had more physicians like them at transfer hospitals. We certainly receive the best care at SMH with the ER staff and nurses.
Always willing to listen and develop plan that works for me. Excellent care and explanations - very positive experience!
Cheryl Lohse
Dr. Steven A. Vix was great
Dr Vix is warm, compassionate professional.
I received excellent care from the three medical professionals that I saw that day. Kind, thorough and carefully checking to be certain that all my questions were answered.
We were just in the ER for my wife with back pain. Everyone was absolutely wonderful. All of the staff were in checking on my wife. This was one of the best hospital experiences we have ever had.
On time appointment. Staff attentive and helpful. No negative issues during the visit.
She was great answered all my questions