Are You Dreaming?

After a relaxing activity to wind down from a busy day, you rest your head on a comfy pillow a few minutes before drifting off to sleep. Eight hours later, as the sun peeks through the curtains, you wake up feeling rested and ready to start your day. For many Americans, this kind of restful sleep is itself just a dream.

At Piedmont HealthCare, when we say "We're in It for Life," that means we're your partner, working with you to improve all aspects of your health, during waking and sleeping hours. We hope this month’s blog on sleep disorders will help you make the dream of a good night's sleep a reality.

Insomnia

Insomnia is one of the most common sleep disorders, and it is mostly related to other problems including stress and depression. Insomnia does not necessarily refer to sleep duration, but to quality of sleep and how, then, one is able to function throughout the day. Symptoms include:

• Difficulty falling asleep
• Maintenance of sleep
• Depression and other mental illnesses
• Poor concentration and focus
• Memory loss
• Impaired motor coordination
• Irritability and impaired social interaction

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is another sleep disorder, occurring when breathing is disrupted during sleep. Groups at risk of sleep apnea include men, obesity and people over 40. It should be considered a serious disorder, as untreated sleep apnea can cause hypertension, stroke or heart failure. Symptoms include:

• Waking up with a sore/dry throat
• Snoring
• Occasionally waking up with a choking or gasping sensation
• Sleepiness during the day
• Morning headaches
• Forgetfulness, mood changes and a decreased interest in sex
• Recurrent awakenings or insomnia

Restless Leg Syndrome

This syndrome, commonly referred to as RLS, is a disorder of part of the nervous system affecting movements of the legs. Physicians group RLS in the sleep disorder category because it affects sleep. Symptoms include:

• Strange sensations in legs, usually described as an uncomfortable “pins and needles” feelings or creeping and crawling sensation
• An irresistible urge to move legs to relieve the sensations

Diagnosing and Treating Sleep Disorders

To diagnose a sleep disorder, your Piedmont HealthCare physician will ask a few questions to better understand the reason you have to count sheep at night. He may ask about your sleeping habits, stress, illnesses, medicines you take and your lifestyle in general. He may conduct a sleep study to monitor your sleeping patterns. Treatments include adjusting your lifestyle to devote more hours to sleep, taking medication, reducing caffeine intake before bedtime and adjusting your exercise routine. 

Who at Piedmont HealthCare can help?

Your primary care physician would be a great place to start. He may refer you to one of our sleep medicine specialists – Dr. Dharmen Shah, Dr. Peter Alford or Dr. Ahmed Elnaggar. Refer to our physician directory for help finding the Piedmont HealthCare physician who can best meet your healthcare needs.

Sources:  Dr. Dharmen Shah of PHC and www.webmd.com