Polygraphy

Sleep polygraphy is a non-invasive test that monitors heart function and breathing during sleep. It is used in the diagnosis of sleep disorders, the most important of which is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), i.e. interruption of breathing during sleep.

Snoring negatively affects the quality of sleep, it is prevalent in the older male population, but it also affects women. In addition to being an obstacle to sleep, especially for your loved ones, snoring can also be a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea.

It is estimated that a seventh of the world’s population, or approximately 1 billion people, suffer from obstructive sleep apnea.

You can have obstructive sleep apnea without even knowing it. According to research, almost 90% of people with sleep breathing disorders are not diagnosed.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a common and often unrecognized medical problem , so simple tests such as sleep polygraphy play an important role in detecting this disorder.

Sleep disorders are generally more common in men, in menopausal women and in people over 30 years of age. Despite this, obstructive apnea can also occur in childhood.

Obesity is one of the risk factors for developing obstructive sleep apnea. Obesity and OSA are mutually dependent. OSA can cause weight gain, so obesity can occur as a symptom in people with OSA.

Sleep breathing disorders have a negative impact on concentration during wakefulness and can lead to serious health consequences.

Lack of sleep leads to less productivity at work, school and in everyday tasks. It may happen that you fall asleep at the wheel while driving due to lack of sleep.

According to the results of the study, patients with OSA are almost 2.5 times more likely to be drivers in a traffic accident, compared to a control group of other drivers in the general population.

In addition to daytime sleepiness and a drop in concentration, untreated obstructive sleep apnea can have a positive effect on the development of concomitant diseases.

Over time, OSA increases the risk of developing hypertension (high blood pressure), heart disease, stroke, diabetes and premature death.

In case of proper diagnosis, obstructive sleep apnea is successfully treated by changing lifestyle habits and applying various treatment methods.

The gold standard in the diagnosing OSA is sleep polygraphy . The great advantage of polygraphy is that the test is carried out in the comfort of your home using a portable device. It is a simple, non-invasive test that alone can be enough to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea.

Polygraphy is done using a portable device that you use at home while sleeping. In order for the test to be successful, our doctors will explain in detail how the device is used.

During polygraphy , heart rate, blood oxygen levels, airflow and breathing are measured.

The portable sleep polygraphy device contains 3 probes: a chest strap, a nasal cannula and a probe in the form of a finger clip. Before testing, we will explain the procedure in detail and show you how each of the probes is used and how the device is turned on or off.

This may sound a bit complicated to you, but using the device is really easy. We recommend that you watch a video about the polygraphy device before testing to get an impression of the procedure.

Put on a chest strap before going to bed. The device will start automatically.

In a few seconds, the belt icon will light up. If it lights up with a yellow light, the belt should be fastened to the chest using adjustable straps. The band is successfully adjusted when the icon lights up green.

Connect the nasal cannula to the device and slide it under your nose, behind your ears and adjust it to make it as comfortable as possible. The cannula icon will light up green.

Place the clip-shaped probe on your finger (preferably the index finger of your left hand). The finger probe icon will illuminate green. When all probes have been successfully applied, the indicators will light up green and will gradually turn off automatically over the next few minutes, and then you are ready to go to sleep. In the morning when you wake up, disconnect all probes from the device. The device turns off on its own after 30 minutes of inactivity, and you can turn it off by pressing a button for a long time.

For the most accurate results, it is necessary to attach a nasal cannula to the cheeks and a probe in the form of a clip for the hand using a medical tape (micropore).

If one of the probes moves during the night, the indicator of that probe on the device will glow yellow for 10 minutes. If you wake up and are unsure that all the probes are properly attached, you can check their status by pressing the button on the front of the device.

In the morning after testing, the polygraphy device must be returned to the Lohuis Filipović Polyclinic, where the data will be analyzed and interpreted by our sleep specialists. Based on these results, we will propose a reunion to discuss various treatment options.

The Multidisciplinary Center for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Sleep Problems of the Lohuis Filipović Polyclinic brings together internationally recognized sleep specialists – somnologists.

Our team of doctors will diagnose your sleep problems with the help of state-of-the-art tests that include polygraphy, polysomnography, and sleep endoscopy.

We believe in the value of a good and quick diagnosis and the offer of the right, concrete and individual therapeutic method appropriate to the individual case.

Obstructive sleep apnea is characterized by interruption of breathing during sleep due to partial or complete closure of part of the upper respiratory tract.

Breathing interruptions generally last 10 seconds or more. The quality of sleep is significantly impaired, the person is not able to reach the stage of deep sleep and wakes up tired and sleepy in the morning.

Symptoms and signs of disturbed sleep occur during sleep, but also during wakefulness, so we can divide them into day and night symptoms of OSA.

NOCTURNAL SYMPTOMS OF SLEEP DISORDERS:

DAYTIME SYMPTOMS OF SLEEP DISORDERS:

Sleep disorders can occur at any age, even in children. Nevertheless, the occurrence of obstructive sleep apnea is significantly associated with age, gender and constitution.

The number of people suffering from OSA disorders is growing all over the world. An important reason for the increase in patients is the increase in obese people in the world. Namely, obesity is the main risk factor for the development of OSA.

Obesity is a major burden on general health, and is especially associated with the development of sleep disorders. According to research, a body mass index of more than 29 kg/m² increases the risk of developing OSA tenfold .

Age is also a significant risk factor, being more likely to develop OSA after the age of 30. Approximately 936 million adults aged 30 to 69 have mild to severe obstructive sleep apnea, and 425 million adults between the ages of 30 and 69 have moderate to severe form worldwide.

The incidence of OSA is also related to gender, it occurs more often in men and in menopausal women. Although male sex and obesity are clear risk factors, a moderate or severe degree

OSA is not uncommon in women, thin or old people.

In addition to the above risk factors, the following conditions also pose a significant risk : the presence of apnea in the family, congenital narrowing of the opening between the oral cavity and pharynx, enlarged tonsils and adenoids (third tonsil) in children, smoking, alcohol consumption, thick neck.

For all the previously mentioned groups, and especially middle-aged or older men, we recommend doing polygraphy. This simple and non-invasive test that you can do in the comfort of your own home reveals the presence of obstructive sleep apnea.

According to the test results, our expert somnologists will recommend therapeutic procedures tailored just for you. Start treatment as soon as possible and finally get enough sleep.