Tag Archive for: sleep disorder treatment

What Types Of Sleep Disorders Can Be Treated With Sleep Medicine?

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Sleeping difficulties affect more than 75 percent of Americans between the ages of 20 and 59. Poor sleep or difficulty falling asleep can result from a number of factors including stress, poor health, obesity and outside influences. When sleep issues continue to occur on a regular basis and interfere with daily life, they may indicate a sleep disorder. A continued lack of sleep can affect productivity, concentration, mood and overall health.

What are my treatment options?

Knowing how to treat sleep disorders is half the battle. While some less prevalent sleep complications can be easily treated with lifestyle changes such as meditation or avoiding caffeine throughout the day, others require more specialized diagnosis and treatment, which is the case with most chronic sleep disorders. Many people with sleep disorders choose to seek out medical professionals in the sleep medicine field to assist with their sleep disorders treatment.

What is sleep medicine?

Sleep medicine is one way to treat many chronic sleep disorders. Sleep medicine is a practice where trained specialists—or sleep doctors—can assist patients who suffer from disorders or conditions that affect their ability to fall asleep, stay asleep or experience restful sleep. Physicians trained in the field of sleep medicine can research, diagnose, treat, prevent and manage complications surrounding sleep.

What types of sleep disorders can be treated with sleep medicine?

Sleep medicine physicians can treat many sleep disorders and diseases, including:

–        Obstructive sleep apnea

–        Insomnia

–        Narcolepsy

–        Restless Leg Syndrome (RSL)

–        Sleepwalking

–        Central sleep apnea

–        Circadian rhythm disorders

–        Nightmares or night terrors REM behaviors disorder

–        Parasomnias

–        Teeth Grinding

What are some symptoms of sleep disorders?

The first step in treating a sleep issue is recognizing the tell-tale signs of a sleep disorder. Don’t just write your lingering sleep issues off as “too much caffeine” or being “overstressed.” If believe your sleep issues are related to something beyond too much caffeine or stress, you may want to talk to you doctor about seeing a sleep medicine specialist. Some common signs of a sleep disorder are:

–        Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep

–        Daytime fatigue

–        Exhaustion

–        Irritability or anxiety

–        Falling asleep during the day

–        Urge to take naps during the day

–        Lack of concentration

–        Depression

How are sleep disorders diagnosed? 

Sleep specialists use several researched methods to diagnosed sleep-related issues, including questionnaires, apnographs, overnight sleep studies, screening devices, home sleep studies, polysomnograms and more. Once a sleep disorder is diagnosed, a sleep physician can treat using tailored methods for wellness.

Don’t allow chronic sleep deprivation and exhaustion negatively affect your life any longer. If, like many Americans, you have chronic sleep issues, talk to your doctor about sleep medicine. After specialized treatment from sleep medicine professionals, you may find you have more energy, concentration and productivity than you know what to do with!

Restless Leg Syndrome Myths You Can Kick To The Curb

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Restless leg syndrome, also known as Willis-Ekbom Disease, is a very common syndrome that affects 1 out of 10 Americans. Despite this, the disorder is often disregarded for a variety of reasons and often goes undiagnosed and even unrecognized in many people.

Restless leg syndrome — or RLS — is characterized by uncomfortable sensations within the legs, causing an irresistible urge to move them. Usually, the symptoms worsen in the evenings, at night, or during periods of inactivity. Many of those who suffer from restless leg syndrome experience disturbances in their sleep or inability to fall asleep, therefore, the condition is considered a sleep disorder.

Despite the myths you may have heard about restless leg syndrome, there is sufficient evidence to classify it as a serious sleep disorder that can lead to an increased mortality rate, depression, reduced quality of life, chronic tiredness, and an ability to interact well due to lack of sleep. Here are some common restless leg syndrome myths that you can kick to the curb.

Restless Leg Syndrome Myth #1: RLS Isn’t A Real Sleep Disorder:

Having to constantly move or jerk your legs may be seriously uncomfortable and counterproductive in falling asleep, but it’s not what most people think of when they hear the term “sleep disorder”. Many patients with RLS believe they are just anxious, hyperactive, or not sufficiently tired. This is likely due to the lack of (and at times negative) attention the disorder garners.

Restless Leg Syndrome Myth #2: RLS Is Trivial:

Many consider restless leg syndrome to be an insignificant condition that is more an inconvenience than anything else. Others regard the compelled movement in the legs as “natural” and therefore not necessarily a medical condition. Despite these beliefs, insomnia caused by restless leg syndrome can have real and intense effects on patients down the line.

Restless Leg Syndrome Myth #3: RLS Is In Your Head

Unfortunately for patients with restless leg syndrome, many have been told their symptoms are in their head rather than the result of an actual medical ailment. This potentially stems from the inability of patients to properly describe the sensations they feel in a meaningful way that would spark medical diagnosis from a sleep specialist.  Patients may also delay obtaining a diagnosis because they aren’t sure they’d be believed.

Restless Leg Syndrome Myth #4: There Is No Treatment For RLS

Another misconception about restless leg syndrome is that there is no good sleep disorder treatment aimed at relieving or treating the symptoms. This isn’t true. There are both homeopathic and prescription treatments for people with restless leg syndrome. Additionally, there are life changes you can make today to improve your sleep naturally.

If you or someone you know is having trouble sleeping or falling asleep due to indescribable sensations within the legs that cause an uncontrollable need to move them, make an appointment at Pulmonary Associates of Brandon and speak with a specialist who can help.