Sleep Disorders Specialist

What are sleep disorders?

Sleep disorders affect the amount and quality of sleep you get. Some common sleep disorders include:

Obstructive sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is where the soft tissues in the back of your throat relax when you fall asleep and block your windpipe. As soon as this occurs and you stop breathing, your brain wakes you, and you start inhaling again.

Each incident might last just a few seconds, but they typically happen multiple times during the night, constantly disturbing your sleep. The oxygen deprivation and broken sleep that results from having OSA can seriously affect your physical and mental health.

Insomnia

Insomnia is a problem where you can’t go to sleep or stay asleep for long enough. People with insomnia might feel so tired that all they want to do is sleep, yet they remain conscious.

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a condition in which you suddenly fall asleep during the day, even when you're doing something.

Restless legs syndrome

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a disorder where your legs are uncomfortable, and you feel compelled to move them, which stops you from falling asleep.

Nocturnal seizures

Nocturnal seizures happen because of changes in your brain’s electrical activity during certain stages of the sleep-wake cycle. They affect people with epilepsy, some of whom only experience seizures when they’re asleep. 

What problems do sleep disorders cause?

Anything that disrupts your sleep or prevents you from spending time in each of the stages of sleep can lead to a range of mental and physical problems. These might include:

• Daytime sleepiness
• Inattention
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Irritability
• Weight gain
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Type 2 diabetes
• Loss of libido

These and other problems develop because your body needs sufficient sleep to recharge itself, both physically and emotionally.

How are sleep disorders diagnosed?

Diagnosing sleep disorders can be a challenge – if you have OSA, for example, you won't be aware of how often you're waking through the night. Houston Neurological Institute has a full-service sleep center, so the experienced physicians can accurately assess the causes of your sleep problems.

The board-certified sleep experts provide sleep consultations, sleep studies (polysomnography), CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) studies, maintenance of wakefulness tests (MWT), and multiple sleep latency tests (MSLT), all with comprehensive follow up. Patients can also use at-home sleep monitors.

How are sleep disorders treated?

The treatment your provider at Houston Neurological Institute recommends for your sleep disorder depends on the cause and how badly it affects your sleep.

Treating OSA might require the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices that you wear at night to help keep your airway open. CBT-i (cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia), sleep education and hygiene, and medication are just some of the many therapies available for treating insomnia.

To find out why you're having problems sleeping, call Houston Neurological Institute today and inquire about the sleep center or book an appointment online.