SleepTech—Expanding and Enhancing Sleep Medicine

From a practical standpoint, a sleep disorder can be any medical condition that interferes with your ability to sleep restfully on a consistent basis. Common sleep disorders include:*

Narcolepsy

A chronic neurological disorder that affects the region of the central nervous system that regulates sleep and wakefulness. Symptoms of narcolepsy generally appear in the second decade of life. It affects an estimated 200,000 Americans and is characterized by the following signs and symptoms (not all individuals with narcolepsy experience every sign or symptom):

Sudden, uncontrollable episodes of sleep at inappropriate times, such as while having dinner, talking, driving or working
Sudden episodes of loss of muscle tone, ranging from slight weakness (such as limpness at the neck or knees, sagging facial muscles, or inability to speak clearly) to complete body collapse (this can be precipitated by intense emotion, such as laughter or anger).
Inability to talk or move when falling asleep or waking up
Vivid, often unpleasant, dream-like experiences that occur while dozing or falling asleep
Disrupted nighttime sleep with frequent awakenings
Performance of routine tasks without memory of the action
Learning and memory difficulties

Sleep Apnea
A serious, potentially life-threatening breathing disorder which affects an estimated 20 million Americans. Recent large-scale studies indicate a direct link of sleep apnea and hypertension, obesity, diabetes and stroke risk as well as many other serious health conditions when left undiagnosed and untreated. More common in men than women, apnea is experienced by sufferers as a lack of air flow throughout the night. This leads to frequent brief arousals. Sleep apnea is characterized by the following signs and symptoms:

Loud snoring followed by periods of non-breathing and snorting or gasping for air
Repetitive arousals, often unnoticed, during sleep
Falling asleep at inappropriate times during the day, such as while driving, working or talking
Early morning headaches
Depression, irritability and sexual dysfunction
Learning and memory difficulties

Periodic Leg Movements in Sleep (PLMS)
A syndrome that consists of periodic movements of the legs, feet, and/or toes during sleep. People with PLMS are often not aware of these movements, and often complain of several symptoms, including: insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness, frequent awakenings from sleep, or unrefreshing sleep.

Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)
Is marked by uncomfortable leg sensations that occur continually while the body is at rest. It may be a central nervous system disorder and occasionally is associated with iron-deficiency anemia, pregnancy or diabetes. RLS is the basic cause of sleep deprivation for up to an estimated 4 million adult Americans. RLS is characterized by the following signs and symptoms:

The urge to move the legs, which is often accompanied by uncomfortable sensations in the foot, calf or upper leg. (These sensations are usually described as a creeping or crawling feeling and may sometimes be experienced as a tingling, cramping or burning sensation.)
The need to move the legs to relieve the discomfort by stretching, bending or rubbing the legs, tossing or turning in bed, or getting up and pacing the floor
A worsening of discomfort when lying down, especially when trying to fall asleep at night
A tendency to experience the most discomfort late in the day and at night
Continuous nighttime sleep disruption
Daytime fatigue

Circadian Rhythm Disruption
More than 25 million Americans have non-traditional work schedules, and many of these individuals have difficulty sleeping during the day and staying alert on the job at night. Shift workers' struggles are biologically based: Their sleep and work schedules conflict with their biological clocks. The biological clock or circadian rhythm is the fluctuation of sleep-wake states. This fluctuation is generally linked to the 24-hour, daily dark-light cycle. Shift workers attempt to sleep when their bodies tell them to be awake, which often results in chronic sleep loss. Shift workers are more likely than people who keep "traditional" work schedules to experience:

Memory and concentration difficulties and impaired job performance
Stomach problems (especially heartburn and indigestion)
Menstrual irregularities
Colds and flu
Weight gain
High blood pressure and heart problems
Workplace and automobile accidents

Determining whether or not you may suffer from a sleep disorder is as easy as taking this simple quiz:

1.	Are you extremely sleepy during the day?	Yes	No	11.	Have family or friends complained about disturbing changes in your personality?	Yes	No
2.	Do you fall asleep during work, dinner, or while entertaining friends?	Yes	No	12.	Do you occasionally forget about tasks you've already finished?	Yes	No
3.	Do you snore loudly at night?	Yes	No	13.	Do you sometimes see things that aren't there (hallucinations)?	Yes	No
4.	Do you stop breathing for short periods at night?	Yes	No	14.	Do you have trouble maintaining attention and concentrating?	Yes	No
5.	Do you wake up frequently at night?	Yes	No	15.	Do you have "spells" when you unexpectedly drop things?	Yes	No
6.	Are you restless at night (do you hit, kick, or slap your bed partner)?	Yes	No	16.	Do you ever feel unable to move (or paralyzed) just before you fall asleep or wake up?	Yes	No
7.	Do you walk in your sleep?	Yes	No	17.	Do you have insomnia?	Yes	No
8.	Do you wet the bed?	Yes	No	18.	Do you have a problem with impotence?	Yes	No
9.	Do you have morning headaches?	Yes	No	19.	Have you gained more than 10 pounds in the past year?	Yes	No
10.	Are you confused when you wake up and have great difficulty "getting going"?	Yes	No	20.	Do you wake up in the middle of the night with heartburn?	Yes	No

This test is informational only and does not take the place of medical advice. If you've answered yes to more than five questions, talk to your physician or call us and we will direct you to our nearest location.

* Source: The National Sleep Foundation (NSF), an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to improving public health and safety by achieving public understanding of sleep and sleep disorders, and by supporting public education, sleep-related research, and advocacy.

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