Center for Sleep Medicine
 Vassar Brothers Center for Sleep Medicine
200 Westage Business Center Drive
Suite 234
Fishkill, NY 12524
Phone: (845) 838-8160
Fax: (845) 838-8167
Our Business Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. Most insurance accepted.
Overnight sleep studies begin at 8:30 pm and 9:15 pm on Monday, Thursday, and Friday. For patients unable to have an overnight sleep study, Home Sleep Testing is available. Please speak with your physician or contact the sleep center directly for details.
It is estimated that 70 million Americans have some form of acute or chronic sleep disorders, yet most people may not even know it. Vassar Brothers Center for Sleep Medicine combines the latest generation sleep technology with the comforts of a hotel, providing a safe environment where patients undergo the highest quality and most accurate sleep studies available.
There are over 80 sleep disorders, however common sleep disorders include obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), insomnia, restless legs syndrome (RLS), periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) and narcolepsy. The most common sleep disorder is obstructive sleep apnea. Having a sleep study will help identify the cause of your sleepless nights.
What is a Sleep Study?
Sleep disorder diagnosis is based on clinical expertise, scientific knowledge, and accurately applied diagnostic studies. A polysomnogram is a non-invasive diagnostic procedure used by sleep disorder specialists to obtain information about your physiological status during sleep. A polysomnogram is also referred to as a sleep study.
During a sleep study your vital signs and physiology are recorded during a night of sleep. Measurements include brain activity (EEG), muscle activity (EMG), eye movement (EOG), heart activity (EKG), respiratory airflow, blood oxygen saturation, pulse rate, body position, and respiratory effort. Your test results are promptly evaluated by a sleep physician, who will forward them to your physician, along with a diagnosis and recommendations for treatment.
What to expect the night of your study?
Prior to your sleep study, you'll first meet with your physician who will take a medical history and perform a physical exam. You'll discuss the physical and emotional factors that could be affecting your sleep. This will help determine whether you can benefit from a nighttime sleep study.
On the evening of your study you will arrive at the center at your scheduled time. Once you have settled in, the technologist will offer you a light snack and then proceeds to connect you to the monitoring equipment via non-invasive electrode and leads gently adhered to the skin. The hookup procedure takes approximately one hour.
The study is conducted throughout the night while you sleep. In the morning, the patient is disconnected and free to take a shower. In most cases, you are able to leave for your normal routine early the next morning.
Topics in Sleep
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
OSA is experienced by sufferers as a lack of air flow throughout the night, which leads to frequent brief arousals. OSA is a serious, potentially life-threatening breathing disorder which affects an estimated 18-20 million Americans, equally as common as asthma and diabetes. Estimates suggest that up to 80-90% of individuals with sleep apnea go undiagnosed and untreated, which could make the actual statistic as high as 1 in 5. The average patient with untreated sleep apnea’s health care will cost an additional $1,336 over someone without the condition (or who has it treated).
Studies indicate a direct link between sleep apnea and hypertension, obesity, diabetes and stroke risk as well as many other serious health conditions when left undiagnosed and untreated. OSA occurs in all age groups and both sexes, but there are a number of factors that increase risk, including having a small upper airway (or large tongue, tonsils or uvula), being overweight, having a recessed chin, small jaw or a large overbite, a large neck size (17 inches or greater in a man, or 16 inches or greater in a woman), smoking and alcohol use, being age 40 or older, and ethnicity (African-Americans, Pacific-Islanders and Hispanics). Additionally, OSA seems to run in some families, suggesting genetics may also play a role.
OSA is characterized by the following signs and symptoms:
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Loud snoring followed by periods of non-breathing and snorting or gasping for air
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Repetitive arousals, often unnoticed during sleep
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Falling asleep at inappropriate times during the day, such as while driving, working or talking
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Early morning headaches
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Depression, irritability and sexual dysfunction
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Learning and memory difficulties
Insomnia
Insomnia is a serious sleep disorder. It can mean the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep throughout the night, or the tendency to wake too early before having gotten enough sleep. Insomnia is often used to describe the condition of waking up not feeling well rested or restored, and is the most common reported sleep disorder among Americans. According to the National Sleep Foundation, between 30 and 40 percent of adults say they experience some symptoms of insomnia within a given year.
Insomnia can range from mild to severe, acute (short-term sleeplessness) or chronic (insomnia that lasts for longer than a month), and can be a stand-alone disorder or a symptom of some other disease or condition, such as stress, drug use, or other health problems. People with insomnia often have day-time symptoms related to exhaustion, such as fatigue and decreased mental clarity.
Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)
RLS is marked by uncomfortable leg sensations that occur continually while the body is at rest. It may be a central nervous system disorder and occasionally is associated with iron-deficiency anemia, pregnancy or diabetes. Some researchers estimate that RLS affects as many as 5-15% of the U.S. population.
RLS is characterized by the following signs and symptoms:
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The urge to move the legs, which is often accompanied by uncomfortable sensations in the foot, calf or upper leg. (These sensations are usually described as a creeping or crawling feeling and may sometimes be experienced as a tingling, cramping or burning sensation.)
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The need to move the legs to relieve the discomfort by stretching, bending or rubbing the legs, tossing or turning in bed, or getting up and pacing the floor
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A worsening of discomfort when lying down, especially when trying to fall asleep at night
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A tendency to experience the most discomfort late in the day and at night
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Continuous nighttime sleep disruption
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Daytime fatigue
Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD)
PLMD is a disorder that consists of periodic movements of the legs, feet, and/or toes during sleep. People with PLMD are often not aware of these movements, and often complain of several symptoms, including: insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness, frequent awakenings from sleep, or unrefreshing sleep.
Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that affects the region of the central nervous system that regulates sleep and wakefulness. Symptoms of narcolepsy generally appear in the second decade of life. It affects an estimated 200,000 Americans, and is characterized by the following signs and symptoms (not all individuals with narcolepsy experience every sign or symptom):
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Sudden, uncontrollable episodes of sleep at inappropriate times, such as while having dinner, talking, driving or working
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Cataplexy: Sudden episodes of loss of muscle control, ranging from slight weakness (such as limpness at the neck or knees, sagging facial muscles, or inability to speak clearly) to complete body collapse during which the person may appear unconscious, but remains awake and alert (this can be precipitated by intense emotion, such as laughter or anger).
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Sleep Paralysis: Inability to talk or move when falling asleep or waking up
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Hypnagogic Hallucinations: Vivid, often unpleasant, dream-like experiences that occur while dozing or falling asleep
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Disrupted nighttime sleep with frequent awakenings
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Automatic Behavior: Performance of routine tasks without memory of the action
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Learning and memory difficulties
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