Sleep Center
UnityPoint Health - Marshalltown Sleep Center
Having trouble getting a good night's rest? Do you or someone you know have trouble getting a good night's rest or staying awake and alert during the day?
You may be suffering from a sleep disorder. You're encouraged to contact your doctor to inquire about sleep testing at UnityPoint Health – Marshalltown. The sleep center inside our new hospital provides sleep studies (polysomnography). It's a study to determine if there are abnormal breathing episodes while during sleep.
During the sleep study, your breathing, oxygen levels, heart tracing and the different levels of sleep are recorded. A qualified sleep technician performs the test and monitors your sleep through the night. A doctor who specializes in sleep medicine will interpret the test and make recommendations. The results are then sent to your personal physician. Your physician will determine the best way to help you, if you have a sleep disorder.
Sleep Studies
For most patients, a sleep study is a key diagnostic component of a sleep disorder evaluation. A sleep study, also called a polysomnogram (PSG), measures your brain wave activity, eye movements, muscle contractions, heart activity, breathing and blood oxygenation during sleep. The information we collect during your study is reviewed and analyzed by our sleep specialists.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pack as you would for an overnight hospital stay, as you'll be in one of the beautiful sleep rooms at our new UnityPoint Health hospital in Marshalltown. For the benefit of your privacy and comfort, please bring appropriate and comfortable night clothes (such as a night gown, t-shirts and shorts, or pajama top and bottoms). Other patients and staff members will be in the general testing area. Review the recommended checklist below to ensure that you have everything you might need.
Recommended check list:
- Comfortable night clothes (pajamas or t-shirt and shorts)
- Toiletries and make-up
- Change of clothes
- Medications
- Special pillow or blanket (if desired)
- Reading material
- Snack
After you change into your sleepwear, the sleep technologist will place a number of non-painful sensors (also called electrodes) on your head, chest area and legs. The areas where the sensors will be attached are cleaned and the electrodes are attached with special gels and paste. (The gels and paste are harmless, however, if you have sensitive skin, please alert your sleep technologist prior to attaching the electrodes.)
Elastic belts with sensors will be placed around your chest and abdomen. Airflow sensors will be placed under your nose and a finger clip will be applied to monitor your oxygen levels. All of the sensors will be connected to a small portable box that transmits signals to the sleep monitoring and recording equipment that is in a nearby control room.
