CARDIOLOGY

THE SLEEP LABORATORY – A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP FOR YOUR HEALTH

Snoring is perceived as a problem that we are usually made aware of by our partners. However, in addition to the annoying background noise, snoring can also have serious health consequences. In particular, when breathing interruptions occur as part of this sleep disorder.

Doctors refer to breathing interruptions as sleep apnea. In the long run, this can lead to increased blood pressure and thus increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke. In addition to snoring, a lack of sleep often results in a reduced ability to concentrate. In the long term, irregular sleep can lead to irritability, moodiness, and even depression. In our Department of Preventive Medicine, we can help you with sleep apnea. At the ETHIANUM, you will find a high-quality sleep laboratory that enables us to determine the causes of sleep disorders and develop a customised therapy. Our sleep laboratory rooms offer you the comfort of an upscale hotel. We take great care to ensure that you can organise your stay in the sleep laboratory in the same way as you would at home. From the best care to elegant furnishings, you can enjoy your stay. Whether you want to read, watch TV or check your e-mails: Everything is possible for you in our sleep laboratory. Because the more authentically you sleep, the more valid our medical evaluation is.

Preventive medicine at the ETHIANUM is headed by our expert in cardiovascular sleep disorders Dr. Felix Gramley, MD, PhD. Two other highly qualified sleep physicians work alongside him. Prof Frank Riedel, MD, is a specialist in ENT medicine and sleep medicine. The co-founder of the Rhine-Neckar ENT Centre has held the additional qualification ‘sleep medicine’ since 2006. In addition to his work at the ENT Centre and the sleep laboratory at the ETHIANUM, Prof. Riedel trains students at the Mannheim Clinical Faculty of the University of Heidelberg. Dr. Andreas Blum completes the team of ENT specialists. Dr. Blum is also a co-founder of the Rhine-Neckar ENT Centre. He has been working as a sleep medicine expert since 2007 and is also a member of the European Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Why is sleep apnoea so dangerous?

When you stop breathing, the alarm bells ring in your body. If this lasts longer than a minute in extreme cases, your body triggers the life-saving alarm function. In most cases, a loud snoring sound accompanied by arm or leg movements ends the breathing pause. Repeated wake-up reactions of the body, however, prevent restful sleep.

The 5-stage diagnosis plan for sleep apnoea

From the initial doctor-patient consultation (stage I) to symptom research using a questionnaire (stage II) and sleep monitoring with a mobile device (stage III) in your home. If these outpatient examinations do not provide any information about the type or cause of your sleep disorder, an overnight stay in our sleep medicine centre (level IV) is advisable. The knowledge gained about your sleep disorder can then be transferred to an individualised, targeted therapy (level V).

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