Sleep Disorders, Sleep Studies & You
Do you or a loved one have sleep apnea? Learn more about the condition and other sleep disorders below. If you have or suspect you have a sleeping disorder that's keeping you from living your life to the fullest, contact Premier Sleep where we put sleep disorders to rest.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a disorder of breathing during sleep. Typically it is accompanied by loud snoring and consists of brief periods throughout the night in which breathing actually stops. People with sleep apnea do not get enough oxygen during sleep. There are two major types:
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the most common type of sleep apnea and is due to an obstruction in the upper airways during sleep. This can be a result of many factors, including inherent physical characteristics, excess weight and alcohol consumption before sleep. Bed partners notice pauses approximately 10 to 60 seconds between loud snores.
- Central Sleep Apnea is caused be a delay in the signal from the brain to breathe. With both obstructive and central sleep apnea, you must wake up briefly to breathe, sometimes hundreds of times during the night. Usually, there's no memory of these brief awakenings.
What is Narcolepsy?
Some people, no matter how much they sleep, continue to experience an irresistible need to sleep. People with narcolepsy can fall asleep while at work, talking or driving a car. These sleep attacks can last anywhere from 30 seconds to over 30 minutes.
Narcolepsy victims may also experience periods of cataplexy (loss of muscle tone) ranging from a slight buckling at the knees to a complete ragdoll limpness throughout the body. Narcolepsy is a chronic disorder affecting the brain, where sleep regulation and wakefulness take place. Think of it as an intrusion on your dreaming sleep (REM) that results in waking.
The prevalence of narcolepsy affects about 0.03% of the general population. Its onset occurs at any time throughout life, but its peak onset is during the teen years. Narcolepsy is mostly hereditary, although some environmental factors contribute to its cause.
What is Restless Leg Syndrome?
Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a discomfort in the legs which is relieved by moving or stimulating the legs. The feeling is difficult to describe and commonly referred to as a crawling, tingling or prickling sensation. Medications have been found useful in controlling RLS.
What are Nocturnal Seizures?
Nocturnal Seizures are an uncommon manifestation of a seizure disorder, and not much is understood about them. Sleep deprivation usually induces seizures, so an electroencephalogram (EEG) while sleep-deprived makes it easier to see where the problem area is in the brain.
Other Sleep Disorders
There are hundreds of sleep disorders. Some of the more common of these other sleep disorders include:
- Insomnia
- Bruxism (teeth grinding)
- Sleepwalking
- Sleep Tremors
- REM behavior disorder
- Nocturnal eating
- Insomnia
- Restless Legs/Period Limb Movement Disorder
If you have any questions or think you may have a sleep disorder, get in touch with our experts today.
Take Our Free Sleep Disorder Quiz
Check out this list from Premier Sleep Disorders Center and determine if one or more of the symptoms apply to you and then go over the list with your doctor.
- Do you snore?
- Are you sleepy during the day?
- Are you overweight?
- Do you awaken in the morning with headaches?
- Do you have high blood pressure?
- Are you irritable, fatigued or experiencing difficulty concentrating?
- Do you find it hard to stay awake when driving, reading a book, watching TV, or during meetings?
- Do you ever wake up gasping or choking, or have a racing heart or skipping a heartbeat during the night?
- Do you have a sensation of movement in your legs even when you know they are not moving?
- Has anyone ever watched you sleep and told you that you hold your breath, snore, or often move when you are sleeping?
We're happy to help. If you have questions about sleep testing and would like to learn more, please reach out to us.
If you are looking to have a screening and consultation done, please reach out to one of our sleep specialists by clicking the button below.
A Sleep Study: What Is It and How Does it Work?
Polysomnography refers to a method of evaluating multiple physiologic variables. By convention, this term has become associated with overnight evaluations involving sleep state determination.
Premier Sleep Disorders Center utilizes computerized polysomnographic equipment which collects and stores up to 16 channels of digital physiologic data per bed. Registered Polysomnographic Technologists set up the patients and monitor all night recordings. Reports are generated and data from these recordings is reviewed by a Registered Polysomnographic Technologist. After this review, the report is given to the appointed medical director. He reviews the record for technical competency and sleep-related pathology, performs an interpretation, and consults with the referring physician.
Premier Sleep Disorders Center performs both nasal CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) and BiPAP (Bi-Level Positive Airway Pressure) titrations on patients diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Registered Polysomnographic Technologists perform these titrations in the sleep laboratory. The pressure is titrated until all respiratory events including snoring are alleviated.
The sleep center evaluates a wide range of sleeping disorders including the parasomnias, insomnia, and narcolepsy on adolescent through adult populations.
Sleep Tips for Healthier, Better Sleep
- Plan regular hours of sleep time. Have a regular, routine time you go to bed and get up each day, even on weekends.
- Avoid stimulants and drugs that disturb sleep. Caffeine and nicotine are prime culprits as are some cold remedies and over the counter diet aids.
- Exercise in the late afternoon or early evening, but avoid strenuous exercise just before bedtime.
- Don't go to bed either hungry or immediately after eating a large meal. A light snack or a glass of warm milk before bedtime may be appropriate.
- Avoid alcohol in the evening. Although alcohol causes sleepiness, it disrupts sleep later, often causing early morning awakenings.
- Sleep in the right setting. The bedroom should be as dark and quiet as possible, with a comfortable temperature.
- Use the bedroom only for sleeping. There should be no reminders of work or other stresses—for instance, no desk where bills lie stacked.
- Set aside time before you go to bed to mentally unwind.
Do's and Don'ts of Sleep
- Do follow your doctor's instructions.
- Do take your medication exactly as prescribed.
- Do tell your doctor if you are engaged in shift work, or if you are required to travel regularly across time zones.
- Don't ignore your bed partners if they report loud snoring or repetitive leg movements.
- Don't assume that poor sleep is a normal function of aging.
- Don't focus on sleeping difficulties. Develop a mental attitude that expects to get a good night.
Contact Premier Sleep Disorders Center with questions or to make an appointment and we’ll be happy to help you. Otherwise, learn more about the services we do.