SLEEP MEDICINE
Do You Struggle with Snoring or Poor Sleep?
You may be one of the millions affected by Sleep Apnea — a serious sleep disorder that can harm your health if left untreated.
What is Sleep Apnea? Sleep Apnea is a condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. The most common type is:
– Loud snoring.
– Episodes in which you stop breathing during sleep.
– Gasping for air during sleep.
– Awakening with a dry mouth.
– Morning headache.
– Difficulty staying asleep, known as insomnia.
– Excessive daytime sleepiness.
– Difficulty paying attention while awake.
– Irritability.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
OSA occurs when the throat muscles intermittently relax and block your airway during sleep, often resulting in loud snoring, gasping, and poor-quality rest. Common Symptoms of OSA:
-Loud, chronic snoring
-Gasping or choking during sleep
-Excessive daytime sleepiness
-Morning headaches
-Trouble concentrating
-Mood changes or irritability
-Insomnia or restless sleep
Our Diagnostic Process
At Southern California Sleep Disorders Specialists, we use advanced tools and certified sleep specialists to diagnose and treat sleep apnea:
1. Sleep Consultation – Discuss symptoms and history with our sleep experts
2. Home Sleep Study or In-Lab Polysomnography – Easy and accurate testing options
3. Diagnosis & Treatment Plan – Personalized solutions, including CPAP, oral appliances, or lifestyle changes
Advanced Treatment Options
We offer we use gold-standard tools and personalized treatment strategies to help you breathe and sleep better.
Comprehensive Sleep Testing: Polysomnography (PSG)
We offer daytime and nighttime Polysomnography — the gold standard for diagnosing a range of sleep disorders, including Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), narcolepsy, REM behavior disorder, and periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD).
Overnight (Nocturnal) Polysomnography
An in-lab sleep study that monitors brain activity, breathing, heart rate, oxygen levels, and body movements while you sleep.
Conditions Diagnosed:
– Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
– Central Sleep Apnea
– REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
– Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)
– -Parasomnias (sleepwalking, night terrors)
– Sleep-related movement disorders
Daytime Polysomnography
We provide daytime PSG for individuals who cannot test at night or who work night shifts, as well as for specific clinical indications.
Who It’s For:
– Shift workers who sleep during the day
– People with circadian rhythm disorders
– Patients needing follow-up studies (e.g., CPAP effectiveness)
– Elderly patients with flexible routines
Daytime PSG offers the same diagnostic power as a nighttime study, but tailored for your schedule.
What’s Measured During Any PSG:
– EEG (brain waves) – to track sleep stages
– EOG (eye movements) – to identify REM sleep
– EMG (muscle tone) – to detect limb movements or REM atonia
– ECG (heart activity)
– Airflow and respiratory effort
– Blood oxygen saturation
– Snoring sounds
– Body position
CPAP & BiPAP Therapy
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) and Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP) are frontline treatments for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). These devices use gentle air pressure to keep your airway open during sleep.
CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure)
Delivers one constant stream of air
Most effective for moderate to severe OSA
Reduces snoring, daytime fatigue, and long-term cardiovascular risk
BiPAP (Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure)
Provides two levels of pressure: one for inhaling, another for exhaling
Often used for patients who find CPAP uncomfortable
Suitable for central sleep apnea, complex apnea, or those with underlying respiratory conditions like COPD
Home Sleep Apnea Testing (HSAT)
Don’t want to spend the night in a lab? We offer Home Sleep Apnea Tests — simple, comfortable, and accurate.
What to Expect:
A compact monitor is worn while you sleep at home
It measures breathing patterns, oxygen levels, heart rate, and airflow
Ideal for patients with a high risk of moderate to severe OSA
Convenient, fast, and insurance-friendly
Results interpreted by a board-certified sleep physician
MSLT (Multiple Sleep Latency Test)
Used to diagnose narcolepsy or idiopathic hypersomnia, the MSLT measures how quickly you fall asleep in a quiet environment during the day.
How It Works:
Performed after a full overnight sleep study (PSG)
Consists of 4–5 nap opportunities spaced two hours apart
Sleep latency (time to fall asleep) and REM onset are recorded
Abnormally short sleep latency with early REM onset may indicate narcolepsy.
MWT (Maintenance of Wakefulness Test)
The MWT is often required for safety-sensitive professions (e.g., pilots, drivers) or to monitor treatment effectiveness for OSA or narcolepsy.
Purpose:
Measures your ability to stay awake in a quiet, dark environment
Typically consists of four 40-minute trials across the day
Used for DOT clearance, FAA exams, and treatment compliance assessments
Why Choose Southern California Sleep Disorders Specialists?
Accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) Board-certified sleep specialists In-lab and at-home diagnostic options Personalized, tech-supported treatment plans Ongoing patient education & support
