We don't sleep until our patients do.

Sleep Disorders
A sleep disorder is any problem that affects your ability to sleep at night. Sleeping disorders can keep you from falling asleep or from sleeping soundly through the night. This disruption in sleep can cause difficulties staying awake and functioning during the day

Causes of Sleep Disorders
Sleep disorders arise from physical as well as emotional causes. Patients most at risk for problems with sleep are menopausal women, elderly and those with medical conditions such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes and obesity.

Signs and Symptoms of Sleep Disorders:

• Snoring
• Waking up feeling tired or fatigued
• Tossing and turning at night
• Difficulty staying awake during the day
• Falling asleep at inappropriate times (e.g. driving, social situations, work, etc.)

Types of Sleep Disorders
The most common type of sleep disorder is insomnia, the difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, waking up too early or waking up feeling sluggish.

Sleep apnea is a condition in which people stop breathing during sleep. The most common form of sleep apnea is obstructive where the upper airway closes off and prevents the person from getting enough oxygen during the night. Typically, sleep apnea is associated with loud snoring.

Some people suffer from movement disorders. It is very common for people to have difficulty staying asleep because of involuntary movements, often from the legs, that occur during sleep. This can often be associated with a medical condition called restless leg syndrome. The repetitive movement can disturb the continuity of sleep and leave a person feeling tired and sluggish.

Narcolepsy affects 1 in 2,000 people in both sexes and allraces, according to the Narcolepsy Foundation. This neurologiccondition affects a person’s ability to remain awake during the daytime. Patients with narcolepsy will often fallasleep without warning, sometimes in dangerous situationssuch as driving. Although there is no cure for narcolepsy,proper evaluation can lead to specific treatments that canremarkably improve a patient’s life.

Often times, people suffer from sleep schedule disturbances. People who work night shifts or who have irregular workhours may experience difficulty with sleep as a result ofchange in their sleep-wake routine. This can cause problems staying asleep and remaining awake during the day.

These are the types of sleep disorders that can be observed and monitored in the Sleep Disorders Center at Sunrise. However, it’s important to note that all sleep disorders require sleep laboratory evaluation. Assessment with a sleep specialist can help identify what type of testing, if any, is most appropriate for the diagnosis and management of a sleep disorder.