What’s Sleep Medicine?

When people think of sleep problems, they usually focus on things like insomnia and sleep apnea. But those common disorders are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to issues that can interfere with quality sleep — and that’s where sleep medicine comes in.

Our team at Northwest Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine in Algonquin, Illinois, specializes in this medical subspecialty. If you have signs of a sleep disorder, here’s how sleep medicine can help.

How to recognize a sleep disorder

Spotting the signs of a sleep problem can seem tricky unless someone brings it to your attention — like a partner complaining of excessive snoring, gasping, or choking while you sleep. 

But there are telltale signs that indicate a lack of quality sleep, such as:

• Frequent accidents
• Difficulty performing or meeting deadlines
• Mood changes 
• Excessive daytime fatigue
• Trouble staying awake while driving or at work
• A growing need to nap
• Going to bed earlier than usual
• Problems falling asleep
• Waking in the middle of the night
• Physical and mental fatigue upon waking
• Not being able to move when you wake up
• Restlessness, nightmares, or vivid dreams

If any items on this list sound familiar, sleep medicine can provide answers.

Sleep medicine basics

More than one-third of Americans admit to not sleeping well. If you’re one of them, sleep medicine can help get you back on track.

Sleep medicine is a highly specialized field that analyzes all the factors that can impact sleep, from breathing, brain, and nervous system disorders to mental health conditions.

Conditions that can impact sleep quality include:

• Breathing disorders, like sleep apnea
• Insomnia
• Narcolepsy
• Restless leg syndrome
• Parasomnias, including nightmares and sleepwalking
• Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD)
• REM behavior disorder
• Medical conditions, like asthma or heart disease
• Mental health conditions, like anxiety or depression
• Certain medications
• Genetics

Sleep disorders can even develop because of lifestyle habits, like working the night shift, experiencing stress, or consuming alcohol or caffeine before bedtime.

Fortunately, our specialists at Northwest Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine can identify what’s causing your disorder and outline a personalized strategy to help.

What to expect from sleep medicine

Our team takes multiple steps to diagnose sleep problems.

First, we discuss your symptoms, review your medical history, and perform a physical exam. Based on this information, we might also order diagnostic tests, like bloodwork or pulmonary function tests.

Another common tactic for identifying sleep disorders involves keeping a diary capturing your habits, such as when you go to bed, fall asleep, and wake each day.

However, it’s essential to document additional details, such as:

• Perceived sleep quality
• Number of times you woke up (and how long the episodes lasted)
• Number and duration of naps
• Consumption of alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco, along with how much and when
• Daily exercise, including type, duration, and time of day
• Medications or supplements you took and when

This information can provide valuable clues to guide your diagnosis and treatment strategy.

Finally, we could recommend an at-home or in-clinic sleep study to gather real-time data while you sleep.

Treating sleep disorders

Treatment for sleep disorders varies based on the cause. In some cases, making lifestyle changes, learning relaxation techniques, and improving sleep environment and sleep hygiene do wonders for restoring quality z’s. 

However, other sleep disorders require medical intervention, like CPAP devices or medication. Sleep medicine can also determine if you have an underlying condition requiring treatment, such as pulmonary disorders like asthma.

Could you have a sleep disorder? Schedule a visit with our experts at Northwest Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine by calling or booking online today.