About the Sleep Disorders Center:
The St. Elizabeth Sleep Disorders Center was established to assist your family physician in the diagnosis and treatment of problems with your sleep or ability to remain awake.

Sleep Disorders

Sleep is a very important part of our lives. How well we sleep has a direct bearing on how we feel and our health. There are various sleep problems. Some people have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep at night, while others find it difficult to remain awake during the day.

The most common sleep disturbances include insomnia, sleep apnea, periodic limb movements and shift work. There are many other types of sleep disturbances, including narcolepsy, sleepwalking, sleep terror and bedwetting. These problems can affect the ability to function normally and some may even be life threatening.

What Do We Do?
A team of qualified and trained professionals using state-of-the-art diagnostic medical equipment monitor patients referred to the St. Elizabeth Sleep Disorders Center. The equipment (called a polygraph) is used to record many physiological parameters including:

Eye Movement Chin Muscle Activity Heart Rate Brain Waves Airflow (nose and mouth) Abdomen and Chest Wall Movement Oxygen Saturation Leg Muscle Activity

Special Tests We Perform:

Polysomnography Multiple Sleep Latency Test Penile Tumescence Test (for erectile dysfunction)

Common Sleep Disorders:
Sleep Apnea

Sleep Disorders

People with sleep apnea stop breathing again and again during the night. Mild cases may not cause any health problems. In more severe cases, though, symptoms may include excessive daytime sleepiness, high blood pressure, impotence, serious and sometimes fatal cardiac arrhythmias, morning headaches, poor memory and personality changes.

Periodic Limb Movements
These minor twitches of the arms or legs may not be obvious, but their impact on your sleep quality can be great. Many of these muscle twitches disturb the sleeping brain causing fragmented non restful sleep. People with this disorder are very tired when awake, with no obvious explanation.

Insomnia
Difficulty going to sleep or difficulty remaining asleep are most often related to stress, anxiety, or aging. Insomnia also can be caused by physical problems such as sleep apnea or periodic limb movement. It may result from overuse of sleep medications, alcohol or drug abuse. Insomnia is often treatable once its causes have been identified.

Other Disorders:

The following disorders can also be evaluated at St. Elizabeth Sleep Disorders Center.

Night Terrors
Night terrors usually occur between 4 and 12 years of age and disappear during adolescence. A night (or sleep) terror usually starts with an anguished scream. The sleeper appears to be in great distress, but is very difficult to arouse. It usually takes several minutes to gain full consciousness. If wakened, the person remembers a sense or terror or dread and a feeling of helplessness, but can seldom recall the experience.

Nightmares
Nightmares are frightening dream experiences which can later be recalled. They may occur at any age

Sleepwalking
Occasional sleepwalking episodes are considered normal in children, however, frequent sleepwalking in adults is more serious. Since sleepwalking can be dangerous, sleepwalkers need to be protected by reducing the risk or falling or other dangers. this disorder can be aggravated by stress, anxiety, a lack of sleep, and increase alcohol consumption.

Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a serious, potentially disabling disorder estimated to afflict more than 250,000 Americans.

It usually begins in young adulthood and is a lifelong neurological disorder. The most common symptom of narcolepsy is excessive daytime sleepiness. There is no known cure for narcolepsy to date, however, medications help patients stay alert during the day and to function normally through daytime activities.

Diagnosis & Treatment:
The Sleep Disorders Center at St. Elizabeth Medical Center is an outpatient diagnostic facility. At the request of your family physician the Center will perform a comprehensive evaluation to aid in diagnosing disorders of sleep or wakefulness.