Sleep Center in Laredo, Texas

Of the nearly 70 million Americans who are problem sleepers, about half have a chronic disorder that keeps them from getting the restorative sleep they need according to the Centers for Disease Control. And many are completely unaware that something’s wrong.

If you sleep poorly, snore, have morning headaches or are fatigued or excessively sleepy during the day, you could have a sleep disorder. And while that can leave you tired and irritable, lack of sleep can also put a strain on relationships and affect performance at work or school.

The Sleep Center at Doctors Hospital of Laredo is the only hospital-owned and operated sleep study, diagnostic and treatment center in the Laredo area. The Center offers board-certified, physician-supervised care, well-trained technologists and well-equipped, comfortable facilities to help patients resolve their sleep-related issues and get a better night's rest. The medical professionals at the Sleep Center at Doctors Hospital are trained to diagnose and treat more than 80 sleep disorders including:

• Snoring
• Sleep apnea
• Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS)
• Restless legs syndrome (RLS)
• Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD)
• Parasomnias, including sleepwalking, night-terrors and nocturnal eating disorders
• Hypersomnia, Insomnia (trouble falling or staying asleep)
• Narcolepsy ("sleep attacks"during the day)

What to Expect During a Sleep Study 

A sleep study, also called polysomnography, records body functions and sleep cycles as you sleep in order to diagnose sleep disorders. Patients typically stay overnight at a sleep center where they can be monitored. On the morning after the study, patients are woken up and leave the center early enough to get to work and go about a normal day.

In preparation for the study, a technician places electrodes on a patients chin, scalp, and the outer edge of the eyelids. They will also attach monitors to the patient's chest to monitor heart rate and breathing. The electrodes and monitors record signals while awake and during sleep including:

• Air flow in and out of your lungs as you breathe
• The level of oxygen in your blood
• Body position
• Brain waves (EEG)
• Breathing effort and rate
• Electrical activity of muscles
• Eye movement

The study rooms at the Sleep Center at Doctors Hospital are equipped with big, comfortable beds and specially decorated to help patients feel at home. They also have private bathrooms so patients can shower at night before starting the study or the next morning. The Center offers flexible scheduling, six days a week so you can complete your study, have breakfast at the facility and go right to work. Most insurance plans are accepted at the Sleep Center.

The Sleep Center at Doctors Hospital follows American Academy of Sleep Medicine standards. Every aspect of your care is carefully managed using specially designed software unique to our practice. For example, our private networking software allows your physician the option of monitoring your sleep study online, in real-time mode, so any potential problems can be quickly addressed. After your sleep study, your results are compiled the next day and forwarded to your physician.