Sleep Disorders and Treatments

Do you ever wonder why you feel worse after a night's sleep? Does your bed partner's snoring keep you from sleeping? Or perhaps you may be one of the 80,000 individuals falling asleep while driving each day.

Chances are you are one of the 70 million people in the United States who suffer from a sleep disorder which results in fragmented sleep, severe daytime sleepiness and can lead to higher rate of death due to heart disease. Listed below are the most commonly seen sleep disorders at St. Bernards Sleep Center.

Sleep Apnea

Daytime sleepiness may result from a disturbance of breathing during sleep which cuts off oxygen to the brain and usually includes loud snoring. Bed partners may notice pauses in breathing throughout the night, but patients are mostly unaware of the problem. Some of the symptoms of obstructive apnea are outlined below:

Symptoms-Awake

• Excessive sleepiness
• Weight gain
• Confusion/memory loss
• Morning headaches
• Personality changes, depression
• Fatigue

Symptoms-Asleep

• Loud irregular snoring
• Sudden body movements
• Excessive sweating
• Awakening gasping for air
• Frequent awakenings

Sleep apnea is best diagnosed at a sleep center or lab during an oversight sleep study, or "polysomnogram". Continuous Postive Airway Pressure(CPAP) treatment includes wearing a mask or other nasal device to keep the airway open so the patient can breathe. Surgery is a treatment option for sleep apnea when noninvasive treatments such as CPAP have been unsucessful.

Nocturnal Myoclonus

Myoclonus is characterized by frequent jerking motions throughout the night, primarily in the legs. It is common for individuals to have an isolated jerk or two during the transition from wakefullness to sleep. However, if this continues periodically, in a repetitive manner throughout the night, then it can result in the same type of fatigue and sleepiness as described above.

Medications such as Dopamine Agonists and Benzo Diazepines are available to treat Nocturnal Myoclonus sleep disorders.

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy, an often misunderstood sleep disorder, is characterized by frequent irresistible "sleep attacks" that normally last from 1-15 minutes each. Although you do not have to have all the symptoms to be diagnosed as narcoleptic, they are as follows:

• Excessive sleepiness while awake
• Cataplexy - abrupt occurrences of muscular weakness. This is often triggered by a change in emotion such as laughter, fear, suprise, or rage.
• Sleep paralysis - usually lasting from 1-10 minutes. This is a state in which you find yourself unable to move just as you are falling asleep or awakening from sleep.
• Hypnogigic hallucinations - these are dreamlike states that occur between the transition from wakefullness to sleep, or vice versa. This is often accompanied by sleep paralysis and can be a frightening experience.

Making lifestyle changes can help manage the symptoms as well as maintaining a consistent sleep schedule. Taking a combination of medications along with short naps during the day is also helpful.

Don't Ignore a Sleeping Problem

Sleep disorders can be the symptom of a more serious health problem. As with any medical condition, consult with your physician if you think you may have a sleep disorder.

 
By Jeffrey O. Cohen, M.D.

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This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Clopton Clinic disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.

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