VGH Services
Respiratory Services
The Respiratory Therapy Department at Virginia Gay Hospital was established in 1983. It has grown from a two person department providing day coverage and on call coverage to an eight person department providing full 24 hour care. Our services have expanded to include the following.
Respiratory Therapy Services are available 7 days a week and 24 hours a day.
Phone: (319) 472-6216
Fax: (319) 472-6264
Outpatient Services Provided:
- Cardiac Rehabilitation
- Pulmonary Rehabilitation
- Sleep Studies
- Nocturnal Oximetry
- Pulmonary Function Testing
- Exercise Stress Testing
- Nuclear Stress Testing
- EKG
- Holter Monitor Testing
- Event Monitor Testing
- Arterial Blood Gases
Inpatient/Hospital Services:
- Acute Patient Services ( Chest Physical Therapy, Aerosol Therapy, Pep Therapy, Oxygen Therapy)
- Emergency Room Services
Sleep Studies
A sleep study, known as polysomnography, is required to establish the presence of any sleep disorders, including sleep apnea, leg movements, etc.
During a full sleep study the patient's brain wave activity is monitored to determine the various sleep stages. Other things measured include eye activity, heart rate, airflow from the mouth and nose, chest and abdomen movement, oxygen levels in the blood, body position, and muscle movements. This is all accomplished pain-free, with the use of patches and belts.
Sleep Apnea:
Apnea is from the Greek work meaning, "lack of air." It is estimated that 9% of all males and 4% of all females have some form of sleep disorder. One of the most common sleep disorders, and potentially life threatening, is sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is defined as the cessation of breathing for at least 10 seconds during sleep. This leads to a drop in oxygen in the blood, and an interruption in sleep patterns. Patients generally awaken and still feel tired no matter how much time they have spent in bed. This is known as Excessive Daytime Sleepiness, (EDS).
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness. Generally a "tired feeling" all the time or at inappropriate times.
- Morning headaches
- Loud snoring with periods of silence or "gasps"
- Dozing while driving
- Memory and/or judgment problems
- Irritability
- Personality changes
Sleep Apnea Questionnaire:
- Do you...
- Know that you snore or are told that snore?
- Often get sleepy in the daytime?
- Feel drowsy when driving?
- Wake up with morning headaches?
- Have frequent memory or judgment problems during the day?
- Experience frequent irritability during the day?
- Notice or are told you have a personality change?
- Wake up and/or make frequent trips to the bathroom during the night?
- Weigh 20% or more than your ideal body weight?
- Have a neck size 17 inches or greater (male) or 16 inches or greater (female)?
- Have high blood pressure?
- Have a decrease in sexual drive?
If you answer yes to any of the above questions, especially snoring (#1) with excessive sleepiness (#2) or drowsy when driving (#3), you may be experiencing the symptoms of sleep apnea, a serious sleep disorder problem. Please talk with your physician.
Risk Factors for Sleep Apnea Include:
- Obesity: 20% or greater of ideal body weight
- Large neck firth: 17 inches or greater in males, and 16 inches or greater in females
- Male gender
- Anatomic Abnormalities, such as large tonsils, adenoids, etc.
- Family history
- Alcohol or sedative use
- Lung disease
- Age: greater than 65
MOST SLEEP PROBLEMS ARE EASILY DIAGNOSED AND TREATED. THE PROCESS IS EASY AND PAIN FREE. YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO RETURN TO WORK THE FOLLOW MORNING.
