Sleep Medicine became its own medical sub specialty a number
of years ago. Currently training in a
medical school fellowship program is needed to attain board-certification in
this field. At the present time The Center for Sleep Medicine
has ten doctors who are board certified in sleep medicine who diagnose and
treat the following sleep disorders.
Chronic Insomnia
This
is described as difficulty falling or staying asleep. Normal daily life can be
impacted by the sleep deprivation resulting from chronic insomnia. Sleep
professionals at The Center for Sleep Medicine use Cognitive Behavioral
Treatment for insomnia.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea occurs when a person
experiences a cessation in breathing while asleep. Apnea is a greek word meaning “no breath”. CPAP Therapy and Oral Appliances are commonly
used to treat this disorder.
Narcolepsy
It is a
rare sleep disorder that is treated at The Center for Sleep Medicine. Narcolepsy is a syndrome that can be
characterized by chronic daytime sleepiness, accompanied by hypnologic
hallucinations, sleep paralysis and cataplexy.
Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)
RLS is a disorder of the nervous system which affects the legs
leading to an urge to move. Restless Leg Syndrome may
also affect other parts of the body as well.
Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders
Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder describe a category of sleep problems in which the
primary factor is the timing of sleep and wake states. A person with a circadian rhythm disorder
may have difficulty sleeping at a time they need to sleep, difficulty rising
when they need to rise, and difficulty maintaining alertness when they need to
be awake. Circadian rhythm disorders are often problematic because of the
profound effects on daily functioning; which may include work or school
absenteeism, impaired work performance, impeded social schedules and stress on
relationships and depression.
According to Harvard Medical School 7,500 people a year are
killed in car crashes resulting from drowsy driving caused by sleep
deprivation. Another 250,000 people are
injured in such crashes. Why wait to become a statistic when help to treat your
disorder is available at The Center for Sleep Medicine.
