Everyone has an occasional restless night, experiences fitful sleep and wakes up the next morning still tired. But if these sleepless nights are persistent, it could mean you’re suffering from on of a number of fairly common sleep disorders. Actually, one in every four Americans suffers from some form of sleep disorder. Maybe because these symptoms are so common, many people choose to suffer with them as an inconvenience. But sleep disorders, while common, are potentially serious. Left untreated, they can cause a variety of health problems, including heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke.
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The good news is that sleep disorders can be treated. Many people who have been treated at a sleep laboratory can’t believe they suddenly feel so good and have so much energy.
Sleep Disorders
There are more than 80 recognized sleep disorders. Some of the common ones are:
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Sleep Apnea
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Insomnia
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Narcolepsy
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Restless Legs Syndrome
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Nightmares
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Sleep Terrors
While each disorder is treated somewhat differently, most can be treated successfully.
Symptoms
Symptoms of a sleep disorder could include:
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Moderate to sever snoring (30 percent of men and women experience this symptom)
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Waking up tired after sleeping all night
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Frequently waking up with a headache
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Falling asleep during the day while at meetings and driving, etc.
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Always feeling sleepy
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Loss of sex drive
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Having a hard time falling asleep
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Waking up with a feeling of fatigue in your legs
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Experiencing terrible nightmares soon after falling asleep
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Stopping breathing or waking up gasping for breath
If you or someone in your family experiences some of these symptoms frequently, you may have a significant sleeping disorder. The only way to know for sure is to be evaluated by a physician with expertise in treating sleep disorders.
The Evaluation Process
At The Sleep Center at Southwest General, four rooms are devoted to sleep studies. These rooms feature tasteful, soothing furnishings to assist in promoting a restful night’s sleep. They are located in a quiet, secluded areal within the secure facilities of Southwest General.
Patients are asked to go about their normal daily routine the day of the sleep study. In the evening, they come to The Sleep Center, whenever their basic vital signs are monitored by a technician trained in sleep studies. The patient is asked to get ready for bed in a relaxing environment. Electrodes are gently placed on key points on the head, chest, legs and fingers. From there, it’s off to “Dreamland” as the patient begins a night’s sleep. During the night, the technician monitors their sleep patterns, including brainwaves, breathing, oxygen level, heartbeat, muscle movement and any abnormal events during sleep and notes them in the chart. Sometimes, it may be necessary for the technician to wake the patient to check for other behaviors upon waking or resuming sleep. Otherwise, that patient sleeps through the night, undisturbed. No drugs are used in the testing, and the monitoring devices are painless. Sometimes a breathing device is provided during sleep as a treatment for sleep apnea.
In the morning, the patient can enjoy a light breakfast and a shower, if desired.
A full report is processed by the technician, reviewed by the physicians who manage The Sleep Center and provided to the patient’s primary care physician.
Treatment
The treatment recommended depends upon the symptoms, the type of sleep disorder and its severity. Treatment options include airway pressure appliances, medication, lifestyle changes, weight loss, surgery and dental appliances, among others. The treatment selection is made by both patient and physician. Sometimes more than one treatment procedure is utilized to bring satisfactory relief.
Payment
Because sleep disorders can have serious effects on your health, most insurance policies will pay for at least one visit to a sleep lab.
About the Physicians
The medical director of The Sleep Center at Southwest General is Dr. Babu M. Eapen, who is a board-certified specialist in pulmonary and critical care medicine as well as sleep disorders. He and his partners have been acknowledged nationally as outstanding physicians in respiratory care. They have been instrumental in working with Southwest General in its respiratory care program that has been consistently recognized for its quality.
Appointments
A patient must be referred for a sleep study by a physician. To make an appointment or for more information, call 440-816-6030. Patients who do not have a primary care physician can call Health Connection at 440-816-5050.