Sleep issues and disorders are extremely common. According to the CDC, 70 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep problems. These issues include conditions like insomnia, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, snoring, REM sleep behavior disorder, and more! If you struggle to fall asleep or stay asleep, the first step is to get an accurate diagnosis.
If you struggle with sleep-related issues, it’s time to go to Gingras Sleep Medicine. Sleep doctor Jeannine Gingras will listen to your symptoms, perform a physical exam, and record a thorough medical history to either make a diagnosis or set up a sleep study.
Step One: Medical History & Symptoms
Before any diagnosis is made or any treatment is administered, patients will meet with Dr. Gingras to review the basics. There will be a series of questions regarding medical history as well as symptoms.
Once that information has been assessed in conjunction with the medical exam, the doctor will either diagnose the condition and provide treatment options, or conduct a sleep study for more information.
Step Two: The Sleep Study
Have no fear – the sleep study process is probably one of the easiest medical tests you will ever go through, because all you have to do is sleep!
At Gingras Sleep Medicine, we have sleep laboratories that mimic your at-home sleep environment. Patients feel comfortable and safe in our rooms with queen-size memory foam beds, TVs, and Wi-Fi. Think of it as a night at a hotel!
Inside the sleep lab, there is also state-of-the-art equipment to monitor for different disorders like sleep apnea. Before falling asleep, you will be hooked up to various monitors that will keep track of your brain activity, heart rate, blood oxygen levels, eye movements, etc. The equipment will also tell doctors how long it takes for you to fall asleep.
Once the night is over and the data are collected, Dr. Gingras will review it. Based on the results, a diagnosis and sleep disorder treatment plan will be provided. At your sleep study follow-up appointment, Dr. Gingras will share the results with you and let you know the next steps.
Common & Successful Sleep Disorder Treatments
Cutting Back or Avoiding Alcohol, Tobacco, Sedatives, or Sleeping Pills
The above-mentioned substances all have effects on your sleep cycles. Without you even realizing, those few glasses of wine you had with dinner might be contributing to your insomnia.
When meeting with Dr. Gingras, be honest about the types and amounts of substances you are putting into your body each day. In many cases, avoiding these substances can cure sleep issues without further treatment needed.
Adenoidectomy or Tonsillectomy
Typically a treatment for Childhood Obstructive Sleep Apnea, these two surgical procedures are done to remove swollen/inflamed adenoids and tonsils. Tonsils are small, round pieces of tissue located at the back of the throat, while adenoids are located in the nasal cavity. The inflammation of these two organs can cause sleep issues, such as sleep apnea and snoring. The tonsils and adenoids can obstruct breathing, causing patients to wake up many times during the night due to breathing pauses.
Not only does sleep apnea significantly affect the quality of sleep, but the temporary breathing pauses can lead to other medical conditions, like high blood pressure, heart issues, and diabetes. If your doctor discovers that your adenoids and/or tonsils are inflamed, removal is the best course of action.
The procedure can be done at your local hospital. Patients often get to go home the same day of their procedure but depending on the case, some will spend the night in the hospital.
While the recovery from the procedure is not fun, the pain is short-lived, and the operation can cure your sleep apnea and greatly improve your quality of life.
CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure)
Sleep apnea is not always caused by swollen tonsils and adenoids, and these patients often need other forms of treatment. The CPAP machine is an excellent way to treat sleep apnea.
The machine is attached to a mask that goes over your nose and mouth while you sleep at night. The machine provides mild air pressure to keep your airways open while you sleep, thus preventing those nightly pauses in breathing.
Initially, many patients dread having to wear this mask every single night. Test it out during the day when you are awake and watching TV, reading, relaxing, etc. That way, you can get used to the machine so that it is easier to deal with at night. The best part about CPAP treatment is that you will start to notice positive results within a few weeks.
Cognitive Therapy
Did you know that therapy is sometimes recommended for sleep disorder treatment? If it is found that there is nothing physically wrong with your body, often the sleep issues can be caused by what is going on in your mind. For example, someone suffering from anxiety can struggle to fall asleep or stay asleep at night due to racing thoughts.
Additionally, depression and insomnia often go hand-in-hand. According to Dr. Perlis, the director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program at the University of Pennsylvania, “What we’ve come to understand is that insomnia and depression are two distinct but overlapping disorders.
Research shows that by treating both simultaneously, doctors have a better shot at improving a patient’s sleep quality, mood, and overall quality of life.” When mental health is coinciding with sleep issues, doctors will often recommend cognitive therapy. This type of therapy is great for addressing the root of the anxiety and/or depression and paving a path forward to healing.
Sleep Disorder Treatment
Unfortunately, sleep disorders are common, but luckily, we have many ways to treat them. After getting a formal diagnosis, the next step is starting a sleep disorder treatment plan. Your team of doctors will help address any underlying health issues, as well as figure out a treatment method to help get you sleeping again. For more information about sleep disorders and treatment options, contact Gingras Sleep Medicine today.