Sleep Disorders Specialist
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Tidewater Neurology
Neurology Specialists located in West Ashley, Charleston, SC, Mt. Pleasant, SC & Goose Creek, SC
You could develop one of more than 100 sleep disorders, but no matter which one you have, they all deplete your energy, disrupt your day, and diminish your performance. The team at Tidewater Neurology specializes in sleep studies to diagnose the specific disorder, and then they create customized treatments that target your health needs. If you're desperate for a good night's sleep, call the office in Mt. Pleasant, Goose Creek, or the West Ashley area of Charleston, South Carolina, or request an appointment online today.
Sleep Disorders Q & A
What are the most common sleep disorders?
The four top sleep disorders are:
Insomnia
Insomnia refers to having a hard time falling asleep, waking too early, and waking frequently or staying awake during the night.
Restless legs syndrome (RLS)
RLS causes uncontrollable urges to move your legs and odd sensations in your legs. The problem strikes when you lay down to rest and continues during the night.
Sleep apnea
When you have sleep apnea, you briefly stop breathing 5-30 times or more every hour while you sleep. You don't usually wake up, but each apnea episode disrupts your sleep.
Obstructive apnea develops when the tongue and soft tissues in your throat cover the airway. Central sleep apnea occurs when your brain doesn't send signals to the muscles that control breathing.
Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy causes sleep attacks that make you suddenly fall asleep during the day. Some people with narcolepsy also experience cataplexy, which is a sudden loss of muscle strength and control.
What symptoms occur due to sleep disorders?
Most sleep disorders have specific symptoms. For example, narcolepsy causes sleep attacks, obstructive sleep apnea is known for loud snoring, and parasomnias (another group of sleep disorders) cause behaviors like sleepwalking and sleep eating.
However, all sleep disorders interrupt your sleep cycle. The lack of quality sleep leads to problems such as:
- Excessive tiredness during the day
- Headaches
- Irritability
- Memory loss
- Difficulty concentrating
- Mood changes
People with sleep disorders easily fall asleep when they sit down during the day or worse, while driving.
How are sleep disorders diagnosed?
The only way to diagnose a sleep disorder is with a sleep study. If your symptoms suggest obstructive sleep apnea, you may do a home sleep study by wearing sensors that record your breathing and blood oxygen levels.
Other sleep disorders need a supervised sleep study at the clinic. That allows your provider to get more detailed information. In addition to measuring breathing and blood oxygen, a supervised sleep study monitors your heart activity, brainwaves, and eye, arm, and leg movements.
How are sleep disorders treated?
Your provider creates a customized plan based on the type of sleep disorder and the severity of your symptoms. Examples of possible treatments range from medications, nerve stimulation, and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) to cognitive-behavioral therapy, improving your sleep habits, and losing weight.
If you have questions about your sleep or need help with a sleep disorder, call Tidewater Neurology or book an appointment online today.
