Sleep center in Portsmouth

Nearly one-third of American adults experience sleep problems. Left undiagnosed, restless nights can have a serious and long-term impact on your health. The sleep specialists at Portsmouth Regional Hospital's Sleep Diagnostic Center can diagnose your sleep problem and help you get the good night's sleep you need.

For more information on our sleep center, call our team at (603) 334-2012. A physician referral is required for treatment in our Sleep Diagnostic Center.

Sleep study options

Sleep studies are simple, painless and effective ways to diagnose and begin treatment for sleep disorders. Sleep studies are most often performed on an outpatient basis in our home-like rooms.

During a sleep study at our facility, a polysomnographic (sleep) technician will attach electrodes to your head, chest and legs to monitor nighttime sleep stages, respiratory airflow and effort and leg movements.

However, depending on your symptoms, you may be able to have your sleep patterns screened at home.

We offer the following types of sleep studies and screenings:

  • Home screenings: Your sleep specialist may recommend portable sleep monitoring be done in your home. A home care provider will teach you how to use the monitoring device and attach the sensors.
  • Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)/Bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) titration studies: This involves putting a mask over your nose during sleep, providing pressure from an air blower that gently forces air into the nasal passages to improve the flow. If you are anxious about beginning CPAP or BiPAP, you may be able to do a brief nap study at our Sleep Diagnostic Center prior to an overnight study. This will ensure the mask fits properly and helps you get comfortable using it.
  • Multiple sleep latency test (MSLT): MSLT consists of four to five naps, observed over an eight to 10-hour daytime period. An individual is given a 20-minute nap opportunity every two hours and then instructed to stay awake between naps. Monitoring occurs throughout the test to record any sleep that occurs.
  • Maintenance of wakefulness test (MWT): This test measures your ability to stay alert and awake, as opposed to how quickly you fall asleep. It helps determine how well you're responding to sleep disorder treatment and whether it's helping you overcome sleepiness. The MWT is conducted during the day and typically involves multiple sessions. It's required by the Federal Aviation Administration for pilots and others in the transportation industry with sleep disorders.

Sleep disorders we diagnose and treat

Our sleep specialists and neurological care experts offer care for the following:

  • Sleep apnea: Sleep apnea is characterized by frequent brief stops in breathing or shallow breathing during sleep.
  • Insomnia: Insomnia involves difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or getting quality sleep.
  • Excessive snoring: Excessive snoring is habitual snoring that increases in volume.
  • Excessive daytime sleepiness: Excessive daytime sleepiness involves a persistent drowsy feeling and a general lack of energy, even during the day after an adequate or even prolonged nighttime sleep.

Any sleep disorder condition can greatly affect your quality of life. If you can answer "yes" to any of the following questions, you may be experiencing a sleep disorder:

  • Do you snore loudly?
  • While sleeping, do you stop breathing or gasp for breath?
  • Do you fall asleep during the day, even after a good night's sleep?
  • Do you lie awake for more than half an hour before falling asleep?
  • Are you having trouble at work or school because of sleepiness?
  • Do you kick while sleeping or have trouble keeping your legs still at night?
  • Do you wake up at night and are unable to go back to sleep?