Sleep Disorder Program
Restful sleep is very important to your health – not too much or too little sleep but just the right amount. It’s estimated that two out of every five Americans have a serious sleep disorder. Sleep disorders can interfere with the ability to fall asleep, maintain sleep or cause excessive daytime sleepiness. These disorders, which can affect all types of people at all ages, stem from a wide variety of causes.
Common Sleep Disorders
Apnea
Periods of not breathing, as frequently as several hundred times during sleep. Causes of apnea include a blockage of the upper airway and diseases of the central nervous system. Apnea victims may experience excessive daytime sleepiness, high blood pressure, rapid weight gain, morning headaches, personality changes, impotence, signs of heart failure or enlargement and heavy snoring. They may also have sleep attacks during the day, similar to those associated with narcolepsy.
Insomnia
The inability to sleep. About 70 million Americans experience fragmented and disrupted sleep. Causes of insomnia include stress, breathing disorders, temporary pain and misuse or overuse of sleeping pills. Daytime symptoms often include headaches, hypertension, and concentration/memory difficulties.
Narcolepsy
Sudden and uncontrollable attacks of excessive sleepiness during the day. This disorder causes an individual to sleep at inappropriate times such as while driving, eating or in meetings. Common complaints include frequent, vivid nightmares or hallucinations upon falling asleep, sudden muscular weakness when angry, surprised or amused and momentary paralysis upon awakening.
Parasomnia
Somnambulism (sleep-walking) nightmares and night terrors.
Nocturnal Myoclonus and “Restless legs” Syndrome
Multiple arousals during sleep, excessive daytime drowsiness, aching muscles upon awakening and crawling or restless sensations in the legs. This condition is often mistaken for insomnia.
Other Disorders
Seizures, bruxism (grinding of teeth) and other conditions that cause improper sleep patterns.
Admission Procedure
A physician referral is needed for the Florida Hospital Waterman Sleep Disorder Program. The program recommends a referral from a primary care physician to a consultant for sleep medicine. This consultant will be a neurologist or a pulmonologist with special training in sleep disorders.
You will be asked to complete a questionnaire concerning your medical, psychological and sleep history. This information will be reviewed by the consulting physician and then he or she will complete an extensive sleep history and physical. At that time a recommendation for evaluation, treatment, and/or diagnostic sleep studies will occur.
Laboratory testing usually takes place between 7:30 pm and 7:30 am. Once you are admitted to the program you will spend one or two nights in the sleep laboratory. For a more conducive sleep setting, we encourage you to bring your own pajamas, robe and favorite pillow.
A specialized professional, called a polysomnographer, will use the most advanced diagnostic equipment to record and monitor your sleep patterns, heart activities, breathing and body movements. Afterward, your treatment will be under the direct supervision of your consulting and/or primary care physicians.
For more information about the Sleep Disorders Program at Florida Hospital Waterman, please call 1.888.SLEEP92