Sleep Solutions

Sleep Solutions, a new sleep evaluation center located inside Strongsville’s Docere Medical and Aesthetics Center, monitors your body and brain functions while you enjoy a good night’s sleep in a home-like setting. Millions have Sleep Apnea—and don’t know it.

By: Ken McEntee
Date: 02/05/2008
In his famous spots for a motel chain that leaves the light on for you, Tom Bodett is fond of convincing the radio audience that rooms are all pretty much the same once you have your eyes closed. But if you’ve ever slept away from home—especially in a cold hospital room—you know that Tom wasn’t exactly right about that.

For millions of people, getting a good night’s sleep isn’t easy.

That’s why Sleep Solutions, a sleep evaluation center located in Strongsville’s Docere Medical and Aesthetics Center, was designed to feel as much as possible like your own bedroom.

Sleep Solutions conducts overnight sleep evaluations for patients who may have disorders like Obstructive Sleep Apnea, a condition in which a person’s airway collapses repeatedly through the night, temporarily preventing air from entering the lungs.

“Evaluating a patient in a cold clinical setting, like other sleep labs in the area, defeats the purpose,” explains

Dr. Jeff Viscomi, a medical advisor to Sleep Solutions. “To perform the evaluation you want the patient to sleep as normally as possible in an environment that mimics their home. Sleep Solutions at Docere is the perfect testing environment because it was designed to have the same warm welcoming feeling of your home.

It greatly enhances the reliability of our testing.”Set in a location overlooking the waterfall at Bonnie Park, Sleep Solutions does its evaluations in two plush private bedrooms with resort quality mattresses and televisions. Patients arrive at the Sleep Center between 8:30 and 10:00 p.m. and are encouraged to unwind and go to sleep just like they would at home—they may watch some TV or read a book.

“You can go relax by the fireplace or go to the kitchen for a snack,” says Dante Cipriani, owner of Sleep Solutions. “Just do whatever you normally do.”

In the morning you fill out a questionnaire and leave.

But remember—this is a sleep clinic, not a resort.

Sleep evaluations, which entail videotaping and monitoring of body and brain functions during sleep, are ordered by physicians for patients who are experiencing trouble sleeping due to aches or restlessness, and for those who may be suffering from a sleep disorder, but are completely unaware of it. A spouse might report snoring, or the patient may experience symptoms during the day, like sleepiness, irritability or waking up with a headache.

While snoring is the most common symptom of Sleep Apnea, others include restless legs, body jerks and gasping for air.

“You might make a sound like this: kghhh, kghhh, kghhhhh,” Dr. Viscomi demonstrates, challenging me to convert the disturbing utterances into printed words.

A specially trained and registered sleep technologist supervises the evaluation.

Sleep Apnea is a potentially life threatening disorder that has been linked to many serious conditions. For example, Dr. Jeff says, 80 percent of patients with uncontrolled high blood pressure have Sleep Apnea. Sixty percent of stroke patients have Sleep Apnea. Half of all patients with congestive heart failure have Sleep Apnea.

During Sleep Apnea, the airway is blocked and the patient is awakened momentarily. It can happen as often as 80 times per hour, disrupting the normal sleep cycle, depriving the patient of proper rest.

People diagnosed with Sleep Apnea usually are treated by sleeping with a mask that sends a light flow of air into their airways during sleep, preventing the collapse of the airways.

“The most common thing I hear from patients who are treated for Sleep Apnea is, ‘Wow, I have so much energy and I feel so great. I can’t believe I waited this long to
have this treated,’” says Dr. Jeff.

He adds that children often are misdiagnosed as having Attention Deficit Disorder when they actually have Sleep Apnea.

“Snoring, falling asleep in class, misbehavior, decreased concentration and energy level and irritability are often signs that a teenager might benefit from a sleep study,” Dante suggests.

When children or teenagers are scheduled for a sleep study, their parent may stay with them. The technician makes it fun and puts children at ease by playing games with them.

For those who work at night and sleep during the day, Sleep Solutions will accommodate you.

“Whenever you normally sleep, that’s when we want to test you,” Dante says.

If your doctor prescribes a sleep evaluation, you may schedule your stay with Sleep Solutions at Docere by calling 440-212-7677.

They’ll leave the fireplace on for you.

Sleep Solutions Sleep Disorder Center is located inside the Docere Medical and Aesthetics Center, overlooking the waterfall at Bonnie Park, at 10633 Pearl Road, in Strongsville. Call 440-212-7677 for more information.

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