Sleep Medicine

A "Sleep Specialist" is a physician who is fellowship trained in the subspecialty of sleep medicine and specializes in the clinical assessment, physiologic testing, diagnosis, management, and prevention of sleep disorders. Sleep specialists treat patients with sleep disorders including, but not limited to, snoring, obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, circadian rhythm sleep disorders, parasomnias, and sleep-related movement disorders such as restless leg syndrome.

More than 30 percent of individuals suffer from a sleep-related problem, which may include:

SEVERE SNORING

Not just a nuisance, it frequently fragments sleep and causes daytime fatigue. It may indicate more serious problems.

SLEEP APNEA

Recurrent interruptions in breathing throughout the night lead to major health consequences. Sleep apnea affects men and women of all ages and weights. Treatment can completely reverse sleep apnea and its daytime effects.

RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME

An uncomfortable feeling in the legs, this can make it difficult to sit still in the evening or to get to sleep once in bed. Restless Leg Syndrome may also cause excess movement throughout the night, interrupting the sleep of both the sufferer and bedmate. There is new information about the causes, and new treatments are available.

NARCOLEPSY

Daytime somnolence, sleep attacks, and sudden weakness with strong emotions and restless nights characterize this problem. It is diagnosed by clinical evaluation and specialized sleep lab testing. Research has led to the development of several new medications that can control this disabling condition. To date, about 50 percent of narcoleptics have not been diagnosed.

INSOMNIA

Poor sleep can be a primary problem, but it may also be caused by many other afflictions including abnormal sleep behavior, Parkinson's Disease, medical illness, hidden seizures and medications. A clinical evaluation and sleep study may identify the cause and remedy for not being able to achieve a restful night.

Sleep Disorders

A spectrum of health consequences including snoring and insomnia are just the beginning of the story. Sleep disorders can result in a wide range of problems:

• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Morning headaches
• Drowsy driving
• Poor concentration and work performance
• Loss of memory
• Worsening of depression
• High blood pressure
• Uncontrolled diabetes
• Nocturnal urinary frequency
• Persistent acid reflux
• Male impotence
• Menopausal fatigue/mood alterations
• ADHD in all ages
• Childhood learning impairments
• Poor recovery from heart problems
• Increased risk of coronary artery disease