Sleep Care in Ottawa

It isn’t always obvious you have a sleep disorder. If you suspect you have a sleep disorder, you should talk openly with your family. If they’ve noticed any of these signs, it may be time to talk with your doctor:

• Continual sleepiness during waking hours
• Difficulty falling or staying asleep
• Falling asleep unintentionally
• Loud snoring, particularly when you also have pauses in breathing or sharp, snorting noises
• Sleepwalking, talking or other behaviors when you're asleep
• Twitching or restlessness in your legs during sleep
• Waking up with shortness of breath or choking during the night

One of the best ways to find out what's causing sleep problems is to do an overnight sleep study or sleep test, also called polysomnography. This lets our sleep specialists measure your eye movements and the activity of your brain, muscles and heart while you sleep, which helps us determine the cause of your sleeplessness.

During an overnight study at our sleep lab in Ottawa, a sleep technician attaches small electrodes to your skin on different areas of your body. The electrodes send information about what’s happening in your body while you sleep. We also keep track of your breathing, blood oxygen level and heart rate during the sleep test. Your sleep technician will keep an eye on you during the night and make sure you're safe and comfortable throughout your tests.

But not all of our sleep testing is done in the lab. We also use at-home sleep testing for sleep apnea via a portable device that measures your breathing while you sleep. Other types of testing may include:

• CPAP/BiPAP/ASV titration helps your doctor find the amount of air pressure that works best for you if you need breathing therapy during sleep.
• Maintenance of Wakefulness Tests (MWT) measure how long you stay awake when you’re in a quiet environment during the day.
• Multiple sleep latency tests (MSLT) measure how often and how quickly you fall asleep during the day.

When you come for an overnight sleep test, we want you to feel at home. Our Ottawa sleep lab’s comfortable, private rooms may feel more like a hotel room than a technologically advanced sleep monitoring room. But there’s a lot more to our home-like feel. The Sleep Disorders Center at AdventHealth Ottawa, formerly Ransom Memorial Health, is accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). We use advanced sleep monitoring equipment and the latest approaches to diagnose sleep disorders, including obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, sleepwalking, restless legs syndrome, and narcolepsy.

Our lab is staffed by trained sleep technicians who make sure you’re cared for throughout your test. You can sleep comfortably knowing that you’re in the highly competent hands of an expert sleep care team.

A good night’s sleep is vital to your physical, emotional and spiritual health. Although sleep problems are common, what works for someone else may not be what works for you. At our Ottawa hospital, sleep disorder experts create a treatment plan that centers around your specific situation and needs. You can get expert care for a full range of sleep disorders, including:

• Circadian rhythm disorders and shift work
• Daytime sleepiness and fatigue
• Insomnia
• Narcolepsy
• Parasomnias, such as sleepwalking, nightmares and night terrors
• REM behavior disorder
• Restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movements
• Sleep apnea
• Snoring

Because you deserve a restful night’s sleep, our specialists will review your sleep test results with you as quickly as possible. Whether it’s stress or a condition like sleep apnea that’s keeping you awake at night, together, we’ll form a plan that lets you sleep soundly and feel ready to embrace each new day.

Your sleep disorder treatment may include one or more approach, such as:

Breathing-assistance therapies
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) or adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) devices help you breathe more normally when you’re asleep.

Medicine
Sometimes prescription medicines like sleep aids or antidepressants can help you sleep better.

Sleep habit guidance
When you have healthy sleep habits, they can help you fall asleep and stay asleep. You’ll learn good sleep hygiene practices to improve sleep, such as exercising regularly, avoiding caffeine and other stimulants later in the evening, and following a regular bedtime routine.