Sleep CenterSt. Cloud Hospital Sleep Center provides testing, diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders for adults and adolescents. The Sleep Center is proud to have been the first accredited sleep center in Central Minnesota.

We adhere to the highest standards of care at our state-of-the-art facility, and we offer:

Who’s at risk for a sleep disorder?
Sleep apnea is the most common sleep disorder, and its symptoms are worse in middle-aged adults between 40 and 60 years old. However, it affects people of all ages, including a small percentage of children. The most common risk factors are:

Who should visit the Sleep Center?
If you (or someone you know) snore regularly or have one or more of the following symptoms, you may need a sleep study:

Sleep testing for adolescents
It is estimated that two percent of adolescents have obstructive sleep apnea. There have been recent studies showing a link between obstructive sleep apnea and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Treatment of obstructive sleep apnea in children has been shown to improve ADHD in many children.

What’s a sleep study (polysomnogram)?
After an initial consultation with your physician or a sleep specialist, you may be referred for a sleep study. A sleep study (polysomnogram) is a non-invasive, pain-free procedure typically done in a sleep center.

A sleep technologist records multiple biological functions during sleep such as brain wave activity, eye movement, muscle tone, heart rhythm and breathing via electrodes and monitors placed on the head, chest and legs. The data is recorded and interpreted by a board-certified physician.

Treatment may be given during the study and may include medication, oxygen or a continuous positive airway pressure therapy (CPAP) mask. A CPAP helps hold the air passages in the nose and throat open during sleep and eliminates snoring and pauses in breathing.

Should I do a home study or a study in a lab?
A sleep study performed in a lab continues to be the ‘gold standard’. This is because:
16 variables can be recorded
multiple disorders can be tested and diagnosed
studies are continuously monitored by a technician
equipment can be adjusted

Patient Instructions
What to expect
Once settled into your private room, an educational video will be viewed. The video discusses what obstructive sleep apnea and other sleep disorders look like. This is an opportunity to learn more about the procedure you will be having. Your technologist will assist you and answer any questions you may have. You will then be set up with diagnostic equipment where your technologist can monitor 16 channels of information while you sleep.

Your technologist will inform you about the potential application of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine that may be used to treat certain disorders during the night of the test if specific criteria are met. In some situations you may need to return to the Sleep Center for additional testing or treatment. Your doctor will discuss the outcome of your sleep study and make recommendations based on the diagnostic information collected during your overnight sleep study.

After waking you between 6-7 a.m. the following morning, a light breakfast will be provided.

To ensure a quality study

• Bathe and shampoo your hair before coming in for your appointment. Do not use styling gels, hair sprays, etc. after you shampoo
• Women: do not use any makeup, skin creams or conditioners on your body.
• Men: Shave prior to coming for your appointment. If you have a beard, shave the bare areas.
• Please plan to have your evening meal at home and avoid caffeine after 2 p.m.

Items to bring

• Overnight kit with toiletries, including shampoo.
• Medications normally taken before bed and the following day, including aspirin, antacids, insulin, etc.
• Your own pillow, for comfort.
• Sleepwear. We want you to be comfortable so if you are used to sleeping in your underwear, that’s fine.
• Insurance card; we need to make a copy for our records.
• Reading material, craft or other leisure activity.
• Please leave valuable jewelry and extra cash at home.

Insurance/Appointments
Most insurance plans cover sleep tests; however, patients may need to see their family doctor to get a referral to the Sleep Center if their insurance requires it. Check with your insurance to see what is required for you.

For appointments, please call us at (320) 251-0726.

Directions to the Sleep Center
Visit our Maps & Directions section for a map to the Sleep Center.

Sleep Support Group
Learn more about the Sleep Center's support group: A.W.A.K.E. (Alert, Well and Keeping Energetic)

Common Sleep Center Terms

• Multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) - This test consists of four to five naps during the day to determine excessive daytime sleepiness and narcolepsy.
• Rapid eye movement (REM) - Stage of sleep when dreams occur.
• Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) - This condition is diagnosed if, during an MSLT, the patient falls asleep in the first five minutes of the nap each time.
• Obstructive sleep apnea - This condition is diagnosed if the patient has a cessation of breathing during sleep.
• Narcolepsy – A condition which causes extreme daytime fatigue that now is thought to be caused by the absence of a central histamine agonist called hypocretin.
• Restless leg syndrome
• Periodic limb movement disorder
  
  

Accreditation The Sleep Center is nationally accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and is one of only eight such centers in Minnesota. St. Cloud Hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Sleep Center Medical Staff Learn more about the Sleep Center's board-certified physicians

Tools and Quizzes
Check out the National Sleep Foundation's resources:
Caffeine Calculator
Snore Score

Epworth Sleepiness Scale

How likely are you to doze off or fall asleep in the following situations, in contrast to feeling just tired? This refers to your usual way of life in recent times. Even if you have not done some of these things recently try to work out how they would have affected you.

Use the following scale to choose the most appropriate number for each situation:

To check your sleepiness score, total the points:

• 1 - 6: Congratulations, you are getting enough sleep!
• 7 - 8: Your score is average
• 9 and up: Seek the advice of a sleep specialist without delay

Helpful Resources
How to set up a healthy sleep environment
Insomnia
Sleep problems, ages 12 and older
Sleep studies
Sleep test
Home treatment for sleep problems

CentraCare Health System Sleep Services Available At:
St. Cloud Hospital
Long Prairie Hospital
Melrose Area Hospital