The bane of the bedroom, snoring decreases the sleep quality of hundreds of millions of Americans and their bed partners.
Snoring results from vibration of tissues in the nose, mouth or throat as air passes through during the act of breathing.
Snoring has been associated with an increased risk for stroke.
Most cases of snoring are easily treated; there are a variety of treatment approaches. We will work with you to find the best and most effective therapy.
OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA (OSA)
OSA is a killer; severe obstructive sleep apnea raises the risk of death by 3-fold or more.
OSA results from narrowing of the tissues of the upper airway, causing air to be partially or completely blocked from flowing through the throat to the lungs and back out.
This blockage has serious consequences, including decreased oxygen levels, increased CO2 and other waste gas levels, swelling of the extremities, increased blood pressure, stress on the heart, to name a few. Many OSA sufferers are tired and sleepy during the day.
OSA is surprisingly common, affecting 20 – 30% of adults in the United States. Most affected individuals are unaware they have the disorder. Approximately 10% of adults have severe OSA.
OSA is also present in children, affecting as many as 1 – 5%.
There are many effective treatments for OSA. Our team of specialists will work closely with you to find a successful individualized treatment approach.
INSOMNIA
The most common sleep disorder, insomnia affects 30 - 50% of Americans at some point in their lives. 10% of Americans will have a serious bout of insomnia this year.
Like pain, insomnia is a symptom – the underlying cause is not always obvious and can often be difficult to discern.
Insomnia has a large variety of causes; our job is to sort out what is the cause or causes of your insomnia, leading to the most appropriate treatment recommendations.
CIRCADIAN RHYTHM DISORDERS
These are disorders of the biological clock, causing a lifelong tendency to be awake until late at night or to become sleepy too early in the evening.
Circadian rhythm problems often emerge during puberty, resulting in decreased school performance.
Any disorder affecting the biological clock in the brain can cause disruption in the sleep-wake cycle
Examples include strokes, brain tumors and head trauma
These disorders are best managed with a combination of medication and behavior modification. We are skilled at designing individualized treatment plans to improve disrupted sleep patterns.
RESTLESS LEGS SYNDROME (RLS)
Symptoms are usually creepy-crawly or achy sensations of the limbs or other body parts that go away temporarily by stretching or movement.
RLS is the most common movement disorder; even though the name of the disorder refers to the legs, symptoms can affect almost any body part, including the head, neck, trunk and arms.
RLS is considered a sleep disorder because symptoms often are worst in the evening and at night, interfering with getting to sleep or staying asleep.
About 10% of Americans are affected by RLS at least occasionally;
About 10 – 20% of RLS sufferers have severe symptoms that interfere with activities of daily living.
Severe RLS has been associated with increased risk for high blood pressure, depression and anxiety.
Our clinic has a great track record for treating even the toughest RLS symptoms. We offer many treatment options.
NARCOLEPSY
Narcolepsy is a serious and potentially disabling condition that causes severe daytime sleepiness interfering with function and also causes poor sleep at night.
About one in a thousand Americans is affected; the prevalence of narcolepsy is similar to that of MS or Parkinson’s disease.
Many patients with narcolepsy experience temporary weakness of the limbs or other body parts when stressed or emotional. This condition is called cataplexy.
While a cure has not been found, there are many effective treatments available.
PARASOMNIAS
Parasomnias are abnormal behaviors during sleep of which the sleeper is unaware.
Parasomnias can be quite bothersome; examples include sleep talking, sleep terrors or recurrent nightmares.
Some forms of parasomnia can be dangerous and include:
Violent behaviors, such as striking out or thrashing
Complex behaviors, such as leaving the house, even driving while asleep
Most parasomnia behaviors are readily treated by a sleep specialist.
OTHER SLEEP DISORDERS
There are over 70 known sleep disorders. Our team of highly trained sleep specialists has the broad experience necessary to clinch the correct diagnosis and to implement the best possible customized treatment, no matter how simple or complex.
