Sleep Study and Apnea Testing

It's Sunday 5:03 AM — Closed

New Opening Hours

MON - FRI	6:30am - 6pm
SAT	7am - 5pm
SUN	7am - 3pm

(504) 364-1844

Book an appointment

New Opening Hours

Monday - Friday	6:30am - 6pm
Saturday	7am - 5pm
Sunday	7am - 3pm

It's Sunday 5:03 AM — Closed

Book an appointment

Phone: (504) 364-1844

315 Westbank Expy
Gretna, LA 70053

Gretna Medical Center

We have Spanish and Vietnamese speaking doctors.

(Clinica Medica)

Gretna Medical Center conducts sleep studies frequently for patients who are having any difficulty sleeping. If you have trouble sleeping, contact our office today to schedule a consultation.

About Sleep Studies and Apnea Testing

Sleep Study and Sleep Apnea testing are conducted at Gretna Medical Center on a regular basis. If you have trouble sleeping, we can help. Dealing with sleep apnea can have many negative repercussions on your health and your lifestyle. The snoring caused by sleep apnea can keep your partner awake at night, and the difficulty breathing can cause you to wake up constantly during the night. This results in poor quality of sleep, which can affect your work and even your social life. Thankfully, treatment is available for sleep apnea, and it involves a sleep study. The sleep study and treatment process has seven main steps.

Sleep is important to your body and mind in many ways. When you sleep, your body works to repair its organs and other systems. Your brain also forms new pathways while you sleep, which helps you remember information more easily. It is also safer to drive and operate heavy machinery when you've had a good night's sleep. For these reasons and more, sleep apnea and other sleep disorders can wreak havoc on all areas of your life, not just your nighttime routine. That is why sleep studies and sleep apnea treatments are so beneficial.

Step 1: Referral

You will likely get a referral for a sleep study from your general practitioner or family doctor if he or she is concerned that you may have sleep apnea. If you suspect you have sleep apnea and want to skip the middle man, you may be able to skip the referral and make an appointment for a sleep study on your own. This depends on whether or not your insurance requires you to get a referral first.

Step 2: Initial Evaluation

After the referral, you will set up an appointment with the sleep clinic for an initial evaluation. In this evaluation, the doctor will ask you about your symptoms and your sleeping habits. He may also perform a physical evaluation. It can be helpful to keep a sleep journal in the week before your evaluation so you can show the doctor exactly what has been happening. In your sleep journal, record what time you go to bed, what time you wake up, and any symptoms you experience in between.

Step 3: At Home Sleep Study

Either at your evaluation appointment or sometime thereafter, the doctor will give you an at home sleep study kit. This kit often includes a device to measure your heart rate, a way to measure your breathing, and a way to record it all. The doctor will give you instructions on how to use the sleep study kit. You will then be able to perform a sleep study from the comfort of your own home and your own bed.

Step 4: Recording Interpreted

Once you complete the at home sleep study, you will return the sleep study kit to the doctor's office. There, the doctor will review the recordings found on the sleep study device. He or she will interpret the data to determine whether or not you have sleep apnea or another type of sleeping disorder. You will make an appointment to discuss the results in detail.

Step 5: Diagnosis

After giving the doctor some time to review the data from your sleep study, you will come back to the office to discuss the results and to receive an official diagnosis. The doctor will tell you your diagnosis and explain the details of what it means for you. Whether it's sleep apnea or another sleep disorder, the doctor will make sure you understand the diagnosis. Feel free to ask any clarifying questions you have at this appointment to make sure you fully understand.

Step 6: Treatment

After giving you an official diagnosis, whether sleep apnea or otherwise, the doctor will discuss the various treatment options with you. Sleep apnea treatments can include sleep training, a CPAP machine, or surgery, among other things. After discussing the treatment options, you and your doctor will decide which treatment is best for your situation. This depends on many factors, including the severity of your sleep apnea. You will then follow through on treatment by using a device, doing exercises, or getting surgery.

Step 7: Follow Up Appointment

Once you have begun treatment, you will come in to the office for a post-treatment follow up appointment with the doctor. At this appointment, you will discuss how well the treatment is working. If the chosen treatment is not working well, the doctor may make adjustments to your treatment plan or suggest a new treatment altogether. If the treatment is working well, you will continue with it from there.