Sleep Disorder and Treatment at Mission Hospital
Sleepy? You're not alone...
An estimated 46 million Americans suffer from serious, chronic sleep problems - many of them undiagnosed. A sleep disorder can be defined as any condition that affects an individual's ability to obtain a restful and restorative night's sleep. A sleep disorder not only affects quality of life, it can have serious health consequences as well, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and weight gain.
At Mission Hospital, our Sleep Center is staffed by board-certified sleep physicians, pulmonary specialists, a psychologist, and registered polysomnographic technologists who have decades of combined experience with sleep disorders and treatment.
The most common sleep disorders seen in patients include:
- Circadian Rhythm Disorders
- Insomnia
- Narcolepsy
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- Parasomnias
- Restless Legs Syndrome
Treatment varies from patient to patient but may include behavioral and lifestyle changes, stress counseling, medication, education, dental appliances, or nasal surgery for people suffering from sleep apnea.
Circadian Rhythm Disorders - This includes a variety of disorders of the sleep-wake cycle such as jet lag syndrome, delayed and advanced sleep phase syndrome (waking or sleeping at undesired times) and shift work sleep disorder. Treatment can include sleep hygiene education, lifestyle changes and bright light therapy.
Insomnia- Insomnia refers to the inability to fall asleep or remain asleep and can range from mild to chronic in its intensity. Causes vary and include sleep disturbances triggered by shift work, poor bedtime habits, stress, life-changing circumstances, or mental or physical illnesses. Treatment depends on the diagnosed cause of the insomnia. For example, if the cause of insomnia is anxiety, a combination of medication and psychotherapy may be in order. If the cause is something physical, such as gastroesophageal reflux (heartburn), medications or lifestyle changes may be recommended.
Narcolepsy- This condition is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, sleep paralysis, hypnagogic hallucinations (dreamlike images that occur at sleep onset), and brief episodes of muscle weakness or paralysis precipitated by strong emotion, such as laughter or surprise. Patients experience uncontrollable sleep attacks during inappropriate occasions. Currently, there is no cure. However, symptoms can usually be managed through medication, behavioral treatment and management of the patient's environment.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea - This condition is characterized by excessive snoring and involves the frequent collapse of the breathing passageway during sleep, with partial or complete blockage resulting. Corrective treatment may include sleep-position training, lifestyle changes, oral appliances that keep the airway open at night, and/or a nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) device that uses air pressure to splint the airway open during sleep.
Parasomnias- Parasomnias are disruptive phenomena that occur during sleep or are exaggerated by sleep. These include stomach acid reflux syndrome, nocturnal asthma, sleepwalking/talking and nightmares. Parasomnias occur most often in children and are a cause for alarm only if the behaviors are violent or may cause injury, are disturbing to other household members or result in excessive daytime sleepiness. In adults, these disorders can arise from other conditions such as sleep apnea. The course of treatment depends on the diagnosed underlying cause.
Restless Legs Syndrome - This condition is marked by crawling or tingling sensations in the legs while awake and an irresistible urge to move the legs during rest. After ruling out any possible underlying causes such as diabetes, doctors may prescribe lifestyle changes and/or medication. This syndrome is frequently associated with periodic leg twitches during sleep, which may disrupt or fragment sleep.
Contact the Mission Sleep Center
You don't need to suffer with poor quality sleep or daytime sleepiness. If you have any questions, feel free to call us at 828-213-4670 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
You can also fill out our secure Online Pre-Screening Form and a Sleep Center Representative will contact you about your concerns.
The Sleep Center does accept self referral but always talk to your Primary Care Provider about what is best for you. If you already have an appointment for a sleep study, be sure to print and fill out the Sleep History Questionnaire and bring it your appointment.
