Last night thousands of people didn't sleep well and they probably won't again tonight. It is estimated that over 25 percent of Americans suffer from some sort of sleep disorder or disturbance.

While many of these are minor, some can have serious repercussions ranging from excessive daytime sleepiness to hypertension, heart disease and even death. Fortunately, most sleep disorders are treatable once they are diagnosed.

The Sleep Disorders Center has two private patient rooms and staffed by full-time sleep specialists dedicated to helping people overcome sleep apnea, narcolepsy, chronic insomnia and other sleep disorders. Patients receive an extensive evaluation by a sleep specialist and may be asked to spend a night or two at the Sleep Disorders Center for testing. A sleep study is performed throughout the night in a private room, complete with equipment to monitor sleep patterns, breathing, heart activity and body movements.

Specifically, the goals of the Crittenden Regional Sleep Disorders Center are to:

• Provide high quality, accessible Sleep Medicine consultative expertise and appropriate diagnostic testing to the physicians and patients of our service area.
• Increase the recognition of sleep disorders as real contributors to health risk by physicians.
• Educate the public on the risks of sleep disorders and symptoms that justify referral to a physician.

Sleep Disorders

The following is a brief description of a few common sleep disorders, as well as methods for detecting and treating them.

Sleep Apnea

Heavy snoring can signal health problems, one of which is sleep apnea. People with sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly throughout the night, sometimes hundreds of times. The person's sleep is repeatedly interrupted, but he often does not recall awakening.

Sleep apnea is usually caused by an obstruction or narrowing of air passages. The disorder can cause excessive daytime sleepiness, fatigue, personality changes, morning headaches, hypertension, impotence, irregular heart rhythm and even death. Because it occurs during sleep, this condition can go undetected by the patient. Often a spouse will notice the warning signs, which include:

• Pauses in breathing that can last to 90 seconds
• Loud, snoring, snorting or gasping for breath
• Restless sleep or sudden body movements when breathing resumes
• Excessive sweating during sleep

Treatment for sleep apnea varies according to the symptoms and severity of the problem. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines that deliver positive pressure through nose and/or mouth to keep airways open may be prescribed in many instances. Selected patients may benefit from types of oral mouthpieces, or surgical and radio frequency techniques which reduce tissue in the airway.

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder which causes irresistible sleep attacks. While the disorder affects each person differently, it is often marked by sudden attacks of sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, muscular weakness, hallucinations and attacks of rapid eye movement (REM).

Sometimes narcolepsy patients exhibit automatic behavior, performing tasks without consciously thinking and then being unable to recall details of having done the task.

Because these attacks can happen anywhere and at anytime, they can be very dangerous. Narcolepsy is diagnosed using a combination of the patient's history, and the findings from both a nighttime sleep study and a series of nap studies conducted for the following day.

Narcolepsy is usually treated with carefully administered stimulants to prevent the sleep attacks, along with educational support.

Insomnia

The inability to fall asleep or stay asleep can be transient, lasting a few days or weeks, or chronic, lasting months to years. Transient insomnia is caused by emotional upsets or stress and will usually go away once the problem lessens. Chronic insomnia is more often caused by medical, neurological or psychiatric problems which should be evaluated and treated.

Insomnia patients are generally treated by their regular physicians and only infrequently require specialized studies. Other specialists such as internal medicine physicians, psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and geriatric specialists may become involved in the care of patients suffering from insomnia.

Why Go To A Sleep Disorders Laboratory?

Anyone persistently exhibiting any of the following symptoms or conditions is a candidate for evaluation by a physician trained in sleep medicine:

• Snoring loudly or being awakened by your own snoring
• Awakening with choking or gasping for breath
• Breathing stoppages in sleep
• Excessive sleepiness during the day
• Sleeping at inappropriate times (while driving, talking, playing, etc.)
• Temporary weakness of body or speech muscles occurring with excitement, anger or other strong emotions
• Sleep walking, talking or flailing
• Nightmares or disturbing dreams
• Sleep-related seizures
• Repeated movements of the legs during sleep
• Difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep
• Awakening too early or difficulty awakening
• Dissatisfaction with the amount or quality of sleep

We Can Help

Today's technology is helping millions of people overcome these and other sleep disorders.

The Crittenden Regional Sleep Disorders Center is equipped with the latest diagnostic tools and staffed by trained technicians and physicians.

Your first visit involves an extensive evaluation by a sleep specialist to determine if further, specific testing is need. You may be asked to spend a night or two at the Sleep Disorders Center for testing. A sleep study is performed throughout the night in a private room, complete with equipment to monitor sleep patterns, breathing, heart activity and body movements.

During your stay every effort will be made to maintain your regular sleep routine and make you as comfortable as possible. Once a diagnosis is made, our pulmonologist will recommend specific treatment options for your sleep disorder.

The Sleep Disorders Center is located in Crittenden Regional Hospital, 200 Tyler Ave. and is staffed by somnographers and a pulmonologist who serves as the Sleep Disorders Center's medical director.

For more information about the Crittenden Regional Sleep Disorders Center, call (870) 735-1500.

Services are available through physician referral.

Crittenden Regional Hospital Sleep Disorders Center
200 Tyler Ave.
West Memphis, Arkansas 72301
870.733.3815