Sleep Disorders

Sleep plays an important role in our lives and has a strong impact on the quality of our lives. With proper sleep, we wake up feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to perform the activities of our daily lives.

Quantity and quality are important in getting a good night’s sleep. We need to allow ourselves enough time to cycle through the stages of sleep that are necessary for muscle repair, memory consolidation, and hormone regulation that affects growth and appetite.

Treatments for sleep disorders include behavioral training, weight loss, the avoidance of sedative drugs and smoking, surgical and medical interventions, and the use of therapeutic appliances such as continuous and bi-level positive pressure devices.

If you suspect you have a sleep disorder, discuss your symptoms with your health care provider to establish a plan for diagnosis and treatment.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep. There are several classifications of sleep apnea: Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Central Sleep Apnea, Mixed Sleep Apnea and Complex Sleep Apnea.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the most common form of sleep apnea. It is estimated that 1 in 5 Americans suffer at least a mild form of this sleep disorder. Signs and symptoms of OSA include snoring, gasping and choking during sleep, and restless and non-refreshing sleep. If left untreated, OSA can cause high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases, memory problems, weight gain, impotence, and headaches. In addition, untreated OSA can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and work-related and motor vehicle accidents.

Central Sleep Apnea is a disorder in which your breathing starts and stops repeatedly during sleep because your brain does not send the proper signals to the muscles that control your breathing. This condition is different than Obstructive Sleep Apnea and may be a result of a condition such as heart failure or stroke. Sleeping at high altitude may result in Central Sleep Apnea.

Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome

Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS), a term coined in 1993 by Dr. Guilleminault at Stanford University, is a condition in which chronic daytime sleepiness is caused by the increased effort of breathing and the nighttime arousals that occur as a result of snoring and the increased effort. In UARS, breathing does not actually cease or significantly diminish as in sleep apnea, but the build-up of internal pressure caused by UARS can be very disruptive to sleep.

Periodic Limb Movement Disorder

Periodic Limb Movement Disorder PLMD) is similar, yet distinct from, Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS). Both can be referred to as nocturnal myoclonus, describing frequent and /or involuntary muscle spasms, and both are treated similarly.

While RLS affects people generally while at rest, PLMD affects those suffering this disorder while asleep. PLMD is characterized by limb movements ranging from shallow, continual movements of the ankles and feet, to wild, flailing movements of the arms and legs. Abdominal and facial movements can be a result of PLMD as well, but, generally, the legs are most affected. Movements typically occur for 0.5 seconds or greater, with intervals of five to 90 seconds.

Getting Help

If you feel you suffer from a sleep disorder, discuss your signs and symptoms with your health care provider. Dr. Ross Michel, our board-certified sleep specialist at REM Diagnostics, Inc., is available for consultation. Dr. Michel can be reached at: Central Coast Chest Consultants at (805) 543-4407.