Sleep Lab

Many Schoharie County residents are getting a better night’s sleep, thanks to Cobleskill Regional Hospital’s Sleep Disorder Center and Sleep Lab, which opened  in July 2006.

The comfortable four-bed Sleep Lab is located on the upper level, next to our newly renovated Ambulatory Care Center. It is staffed by an experienced technician, with support from a patient access specialist and a secretary. The Sleep Lab is open three nights per week for sleep studies, which are used to diagnose sleep disorders.  

According to the National Institute of Medicine, an estimated 50 to 70 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders (including sleep deprivation),  putting them at increased risk for hypertension, diabetes, obesity, depression, heart attack and stroke.

The most common sleep disorders diagnosed in sleep labs are sleep apnea, narcolepsy and periodic limb movement disorder. All of these conditions require sleep studies for diagnosis. Sleep apnea is a potentially dangerous condition caused by an obstruction of the airway during sleep. People with sleep apnea awake repeatedly during the night, often snoring loudly or gasping for breath. People with narcolepsy have trouble staying awake during the day and may suddenly fall asleep. People with periodic limb movement disorder have frequent, involuntary muscle spasms that prevent them from sleeping soundly.

For most patients, the first step is to visit their primary care physician. The primary care physician might then make a referral to a pulmonologist – a physician who specializes in lung disease. In Cobleskill, patients would consult with a Bassett Healthcare physician specialist who is board certified in pulmonary medicine and is a diplomate of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.  Many health insurance plans cover sleep studies, but it is always advisable to check in advance.

For more information, check the Bassett Healthcare website at www.bassetthealthcare.org or call 518-254-3231