Sleep Unit

What is the Sleep Unit?

Sleep medicine is a specialty focused on the research, diagnosis, and treatment of sleep disorders, and is part of the field of neurophysiology. Sleep disturbances affect both physical and mental health and can lead to the development of certain pathologies in individuals with added risk factors.

There are many circumstances that can cause disruptions in sleep, which is why sleep disorder specialists collaborate with experts in neurology, psychiatry, psychology, otolaryngology, cardiology, or pulmonology to reach the correct diagnosis.

What Does the Sleep Unit Study?

The sleep unit at Quirónsalud focuses on research into the origins of sleep disorders to detect the physical alterations that cause them and, in this way, apply the specific treatment for each case. Key areas of study include:

• Pulmonology: Facilitates the treatment of airway obstruction causing apneas, through the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices.
• Otolaryngology: Responsible for the surgical treatment of upper airway anomalies causing apneas or chronic snoring.
• Psychology and Psychiatry: Diagnose and treat mental issues that cause sleep difficulties, such as atypical depression, and address psychological disturbances caused by physical sleep deprivation.
• Neurology: Focuses on the detection and treatment of neurological conditions negatively affecting sleep, such as headaches, Parkinson's disease, dementia, or epilepsy.

Who is it for?

This unit treats patients who have difficulty falling asleep, or those who, despite sleeping a reasonable number of hours at night, do not rest adequately, suffer from frequent awakenings, or experience excessive daytime sleepiness, indicating that their sleep has not been restorative.

Techniques, Procedures, and Diagnostic Methods

Scientific advancements and collaboration between various medical specialties have significantly improved diagnostic methods and techniques for treating sleep disorders. Some of the key procedures performed in this unit include:

• Polysomnography: A sleep study test that records the patient's respiratory and heart rates, blood oxygen levels, and brain waves while they sleep. It helps detect disorders such as apneas, narcolepsy, or insomnia.
• Respiratory Polygraphy: A diagnostic method that records cardiac and respiratory variables during sleep, typically confirming obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome.
• Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP): A machine that delivers air at a constant, gentle pressure through a mask worn over the nose during sleep to keep the airways open and prevent apneas.
• Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BIPAP): A device that provides air at two pressure levels, one for inhalation and one for exhalation, often used to treat apneas in patients with other respiratory conditions.