The word Apnea comes from the Greek word “pnuemos” which means “breath”.  In sleep apnea, breathing is irregular, shallow, or absent.  Snoring is a common symptom of decreased air flow due to narrowing of the airway and creating turbulence which produces vibration of the throat tissue.  By definition, snoring is abnormal breathing as no one snores when they are awake.  Over the years, it has been shown that sleep apnea, if left untreated, can be a risk factor for development of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. It can disturb the sleep process that is involved with memory and concentration as well as effecting mood.  It is a very common condition that may be present in one of every four adults.  It occurs in all age groups affecting young and old, big and small, male and female.  Even healthy and fit athletes can have sleep apnea.  It’s easy to diagnose and easy to treat without the need for medication or surgery.  Most people notice a definite difference in the quality of their lives once they have had the sleep apnea treated.  The Sleep Medicine Center has extensive experience with all forms of sleep apnea, having treated over 10,000 patients since 1995.  Our staff is well trained to help you with all of your questions and needs.  If you have questions regarding sleep apnea, feel free to call and talk with one of our certified staff members.

For more information on Sleep Apnea go to http://www.sleepapnea.org/learn/sleep-apnea.html

RLS is another common sleep disorder characterized by irritating symptoms in the legs which occurs mostly at night or when inactive.  The sensations may be like feeling bugs crawling on your skin or prickly sensations which improve with movement.  The cause is a deficiency in Dopamine circuits in the spinal cord and the treatment is usually with medications used for Parkinson’s disease only at lower doses.  Sometimes it is associated with low iron levels in the blood and requires iron supplements.

For more information concerning RLS can be found here http://www.rls.org/

It is important to make sure that your child gets enough sleep and sleeps well. The value of sleep can be measured by your child’s smiling face, happy nature and natural energy. A tired child may have development or behavior problems. A child’s sleep problems can also cause unnecessary stress for you and the other members of your family.

For more information on Pediatric Sleep Disorders you can read more here http://yoursleep.aasmnet.org/topic.aspx?id=8

The term narcolepsy is used to describe a group of people affected by excessive sleepiness. It also includes features of dreaming that occur while awake. Narcoleptics are often refreshed by short naps. However, after two or three hours, they feel sleepy again. At times, people with narcolepsy can fall asleep suddenly. These “sleep attacks” can happen while eating, walking or driving.

For more information concerning Narcolepsy go to http://yoursleep.aasmnet.org/disorder.aspx?id=5

Insomnia is a common condition that affects most people at one time or another in their lives.  It’s not uncommon to have insomnia with situational stress, loss of a loved one, or after a traumatic experience.  Usually it is a transient condition that improves after some time.  In some people, however, insomnia can become a chronic condition that may need help in diagnosing the causes and treatments.  Some conditions like Restless Leg Syndrome are treated with medications.  At other times, it requires a change in one’s sleeping habits or schedule and sometimes another problem like sleep apnea can cause awakenings and difficulty maintaining sleep.  A complete evaluation can help to identify the causes and help with directing treatment and improving your sleep quality.

For more information about Insomnia go to http://yoursleep.aasmnet.org/disorder.aspx?id=6

Jet lag is a circadian rhythm sleep disorder that is also called time zone change syndrome. It involves a mismatch in the timing of your natural tendency to be asleep and the time when you are naturally awake. It occurs due to travel by airplane across many time zones. The long trip quickly puts you in a place where you need to sleep and wake at a time that is different than what your internal body clock expects.

For more information on Jet Lag go to http://yoursleep.aasmnet.org/disorder.aspx?id=9