Sleep Disorders

It is estimated that 50 to 70 million Americans suffer from a chronic sleep disorder that may adversely affect not only their quality of life but also their health and even longevity. Proper diagnosis and effective treatment of sleep disorders contribute significantly to optimal management of your health. There are over 80 types of sleep disorders, but the most common is sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition. A sleep study is used to determine whether a person has sleep apnea or another type of sleep disorder.

More Than Just Snoring

Sleep apnea occurs when the soft tissue at the back of your throat collapses and blocks your airway, causing you to frequently stop breathing or to breathe shallowly while you sleep. When this happens, your oxygen levels drop and your sleep is disrupted so that you start breathing again, but this can have serious health consequences. Apneas can disturb an individuals sleep hundreds of times a night without their knowledge.

Serious Health Risks

Individuals with untreated sleep-disordered breathing have a higher risk of:

• Heart Attack or Death
• Irregular Heartbeat
• Stroke
• High Blood Pressure
• Car Accidents
• High Blood Glucose Levels and Insulin Resistance

Successful Treatment Can:

• Reduce the risk of stroke, heart and blood pressure problems
• Decrease blood glucose levels by decreasing insulin resistance
• Improve the symptoms of GERD (reflux)
• Reduce feelings of daytime fatigue and sleepiness
• Improve the patient and their bed partners quality of life

Primary Sleep Disorders

Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition that is far more common than generally understood. Sleep apnea occurs in all age groups and both genders. It is more common in men, although it may be under-diagnosed in women and young African-Americans. It is estimated that as many as 12 million Americans have sleep apnea. MORE INFORMATION

Insomnia
If you experience difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or enjoying a restful night's sleep, you may be suffering from insomnia. Insomnia is defined as the perception or complaint of inadequate or poor-quality sleep because of one or more of the following:

• difficulty falling asleep
• waking up frequently during the night with difficulty returning to sleep
• waking up too early in the morning
• non-refreshing sleep

Insomnia is a common symptom in the US. The Institute of Medicine estimates that between 50 and 70 million Americans have chronic sleep problems. MORE INFORMATION

Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a chronic, neurological sleep disorder with no known cause. It involves the body's central nervous system. Narcolepsy is a genetic disorder, but what causes narcolepsy is not yet known. MORE INFORMATION

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sleep disorder in which a person experiences unpleasant sensations in the legs, which are described as:

• creeping
• crawling
• tingling
• pulling
• painful

These sensations usually occur in the calf area, but may be felt anywhere from the thigh to the ankle. One or both legs may be affected. For some people, the sensations are also felt in the arms. People with RLS have an irresistible urge to move the affected limb when the sensations occur. MORE INFORMATION