Sleep Medicine

Healthy Sleeping Habits for Improved Health

Catholic Health sleep medicine specialists know a restful sleep helps you stay healthy. Poor sleeping habits, and disorders like sleep apnea, insomnia and restless leg syndrome, directly impact quality of living and overall health. With sleep centers across Long Island, we're here to help you get the rest you need.

View our sleep center locations for adults and children

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea, the cessation of breathing during sleep, is one of the most common sleep disorders. Contributing factors include an enlarged uvula or swollen tonsils, a nasal obstruction or certain facial attributes.

Each episode can last ten seconds or more and has been known to happen hundreds of times a night without you even being aware. Snoring is usually the first sign and occurs due to the vibration of excess tissue in the pharynx. Other signs include:

Choking and sweating
Chronic fatigue
Difficulty losing weight
Fibromyalgia
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Nighttime gasping

Untreated sleep problems can lead to:

Diabetes
Glaucoma
Heart attacks
High blood pressure
Daytime sleepiness
Decreased job performance
Irregular heart rhythms
Memory loss
Moodiness
Poor concentration
Stroke
Traffic accidents
Weakened immunity

Sleep Studies & Tests

PSG (Polysomnographic) Diagnostic Sleep Study

Overnight diagnostic sleep study. During the sleep study we will measure your sleep by recording:

Air flow in and out of the lungs during breathing
Blood oxygen level
Body position
Brain waves (EEG)
Respiratory effort and rate
Body Movements
REM eye movements
Heart rate
Snoring
Stages of sleep and wake

CPAP Titration Study

This study is used to calculate the therapeutic settings of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) needed to alleviate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and is done after the diagnostic study confirms a sleep apnea diagnosis.

Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT)

The MSLT is an objective diagnostic tool that is used to measure excessive daytime sleepiness.

This test is performed during the day immediately following an overnight sleep study and consists of four or five 20-minute nap opportunities set two hours apart. During the test, your brain waves, muscle activity and eye movements are monitored and recorded.

The entire test normally takes about seven hours over the course of a day. You must stay awake between each nap period.

Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT)

The MWT is a daytime sleep study that measures your ability to stay awake and alert during the day. The MWT can also indicate to your physician how well CPAP therapy treatment is working for you.

Home Sleep Apnea Test (HST)

HSTs offer an advantage of testing you right in your own home. This process provides you a more natural sleeping environment with less instrumentation.

Testing is limited to diagnosing sleep apnea. It is not as comprehensive as an in lab sleep study. Therefore, your physician may require an in lab diagnostic sleep test based on your sleep history, any co-morbidities or other special considerations that make a home sleep test a non-option.

New Device Solves Long Islander's Sleep Apnea

Sound Beach resident Ryan Owens was concerned that his sleep apnea could lead to serious health problems. He met with Catholic Health Otolaryngologist Lee Shangold, MD, who recommended Inspire, an FDA-approved sleep apnea treatment that works from within the body with the click of a button.

Now, for the first time in years, Ryan is sleeping soundly.

“For me, this was about finding something that would allow me to have the best health possible and not keep my wife and kids awake at night," said Ryan.

Read Ryan's story and learn more about Inspire