INSOMNIA
Insomnia is characterized by difficulty falling asleep and maintaining sleep. Insomnia may be transient, meaning it lasts a few days, or chronic, which can last for weeks or months. This condition is often caused by daily stress, depression, panic, poor sleep hygiene, caffeine, alcohol, chronic pain, asthma, shift work or jet lag.
NARCOLEPSY
Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder in which you experience sleepiness attacks, dreaming while awake. You may fall asleep suddenly, even while eating, walking or driving. Narcolepsy can also cause hallucinations.
OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA (OSA)
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) means that breathing stops during sleep due to the collapse of the upper airway. This repeated airway collapse leads to apneas, arousals and low blood oxygen levels. OSA can cause excessive daytime sleepiness and is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and driving accidents.
RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME
Restless leg syndrome is characterized by a strong urge to move your legs associated with crawling sensations in the legs. These uncontrolled movements can cause frequent arousals and disruption in your sleep.
SHIFT WORK DISORDER
About 10 percent of people who work outside the traditional 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. workday experience difficulty sleeping when sleep is desired, needed or expected. Symptoms include excessive sleepiness when you need to be awake and insomnia when you need to sleep.
AT-HOME SCREENING
At-home screening from the Sleep Center enables you to perform your sleep test at home. You’ll be given equipment to bring home and shown how to use it at the Sleep Center. Once you have completed your test, return the equipment to the Sleep Center. Your results will then be reviewed by one of our board-certified sleep medicine doctors.
INPATIENT SLEEP STUDY
For those who wish to undergo sleep testing at the Sleep Center, we provide a luxurious room to make your sleep as comfortable as possible. Sensors are placed on your scalp, chest and legs to monitor various aspects of your sleep, including airflow, brain waves and oxygen levels. A board-certified sleep medicine doctor interprets the results of your sleep study.
BILEVEL POSITIVE AIRWAY PRESSURE (BPAP)
A BPAP is similar to a CPAP, however, instead of applying constant pressure in your airway, the BPAP builds to a higher pressure when you inhale and lower pressure when you exhale. This treatment can help create steady breathing patterns during sleep.
CONTINUOUS POSITIVE AIRWAY PRESSURE (CPAP)
A CPAP gently blows air from a mask on the nose into the back of your throat. This keeps your airway open during sleep. Regular CPAP use has been shown to improve daytime function, reduce driving accidents and improve blood pressure and heart function.
MEDICATION
Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter or prescription medications to help you get to sleep or improve the quality of your sleep.
ORAL APPLIANCES
Oral appliances, such as mouth guards, may be useful for some sleep disruption sufferers. These devices are designed to keep your throat open during sleep.
SURGICAL OPTIONS
Surgery is generally only used as an option when other treatments have failed to correct your sleep disruption. Surgery for sleep apnea is intended to enlarge the airway either through your nose or throat. For severe, life-threatening sleep apnea, it may be necessary to create a new air passageway through surgery, a procedure called a tracheostomy.