Struggling with Poor Sleep Quality? See a Sleep Doctor.

Good sleep promotes good health and quality of life. Sadly, sleep disorders are one of the most common complaints people struggle with.

As a sleep specialist, I want you to know help is available. We offer a sleep clinic at Regional One Health’s East Campus to help with problems like sleep apnea, insomnia, hypersomnia, and circadian rhythm disorders.

Sleep apnea is a very prevalent sleep condition, affecting roughly 1 in 15 Americans. Risk increases as you age, and other risk factors include sex, obesity, large neck or tonsils, family history, and health issues like heart and kidney failure, opioid use, high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, and recent stroke.

Untreated sleep apnea can lead to serious conditions like hypertension, uncontrolled diabetes, stroke, heart damage, and even heart failure. It can also cause bothersome symptoms like daytime sleepiness, early morning headaches, or constantly feeling tired.

If this sounds like you, ask your healthcare provider about seeing a sleep specialist.

We’ll use a medical history, questionnaire, and scoring system to see if you qualify for a sleep study. Most people qualify for an at-home sleep study, though some patients may need to spend a night in the sleep lab.

During a home sleep study, you wear a device with sensors when you go to bed. Upon waking up, you’re prompted to confirm the test is complete. Data from your sleep is uploaded, and your sleep specialist reviews it to reach a diagnosis.

Sleep apnea can be mild, moderate, or severe. Treatment is based on severity.

The most common treatment is a CPAP machine. With a CPAP, you wear a mask that connects to the machine via a tube. The machine delivers a continuous flow of filtered, pressurized air through the tube into the mask, which keeps the airway open so breathing is more regular. You will receive CPAP education and specific CPAP settings based on your sleep study data.

For patients whose sleep apnea causes daytime tiredness, getting a CPAP can be life-changing as you feel better when you start using the machine for a few weeks. If your sleep apnea is causing weight gain, hypertension, difficulty managing diabetes, etc., the CPAP’s impact may not be as immediate. However, you can expect major benefits over time.

While sleep apnea is the most common reason to see a sleep specialist, we also help with other sleep disorders like insomnia (difficulty falling or staying asleep), hypersomnia (excessive sleepiness during the day even with sleeping longer at night), and circadian rhythm disorders that occur when your internal clock is out of sync with the environment. They’re common among overnight shift workers and blind patients who can’t visually sense day and night.

There are medications designed specifically to treat these conditions. We help patients find the right prescription and dosage.

If you’re struggling with any of these issues, I encourage you to talk to your provider about a referral to a sleep specialist. Remember, proper sleep can improve overall health and your ability to function and enjoy day-to-day life, and you don’t have to suffer in silence.

Pralhad Sharma, MD, DABSM, FCCP, is a board-certified pulmonary, critical care, and sleep physician, who sees patients at our East Campus, 6555 Quince Road. For appointments, call 901.515.3150.