Bhubaneswar: As a remedial measure against sleep disorder, the Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) in Bhubaneswar has commissioned a dedicated ‘sleep lab’ for the first time in Odisha.
The dedicated level-1 sleep lab has been installed with 64 channels in KIMS to cater to the needs of the patients referred from departments like pulmonary medicine, ENT, cardiology, neurology, endocrinology, psychiatry, paediatrics, physiology and dental medicine for management of disorders like obstructive sleep apnea, obesity hypoventilation syndrome, insomnia, periodic limb movement disorders and parasomnia. A sleep board has also been created for multidisciplinary discussion in case of complex sleep disorder cases.
Sleep disorder is a symptom that should not be ignored as it may lead to serious medical conditions, cautioned the doctors at KIMS. Sleep disorder can cause multiple complication, with one study estimating that 50%-60% youths in the country are suffering from it.
With increased awareness, both the medical community and society as a whole can begin to address this disease and help relieve the negative sequelae that result from it, they said.
“Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the more prevalent one. It is an underrecognised and underdiagnosed medical condition with negative consequences on patients’ health and society as a whole. It affects 17% of women and 34% of men in the US, with similar prevalence in other countries,” the doctors said.
The causes of OSA include a narrow, crowded, or collapsible upper airway, a low threshold for arousal to airway narrowing during sleep, and unstable control of breathing. Common symptoms include snoring, awakening from sleep with a sense of choking, excessive daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, fitful sleep, lethargy and decreased libido.
“While the ‘gold standard’ of diagnosis is by polysomnography, a detailed history and focused physical examination may help uncover previously undiagnosed cases,” said the doctors.
Similarly, undetected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can lead to hypertension, diabetes mellitus, thyroid disorders, memory loss, heart disease, depression, and even death. OSA can both worsen existing medical conditions and influence the onset of new disease. Disturbed sleep patterns lead to increased levels of daytime somnolence which can cause days of missed work and increased levels of motor vehicle and occupational accidents.
“Several modalities exist for treating obstructive sleep apnea, including continuous positive airway pressure, oral appliances, and several surgical procedures. However, conservative approaches such as weight loss and alcohol and tobacco cessation are also strongly encouraged in the patient with obstructive sleep apnea,” they added.
