Sleep Medicine
Getting enough sleep is vital for our overall health. However, simply sleeping for 7–9 hours each night isn’t enough—the quality of our sleep matters, too. If you find yourself waking up frequently throughout the night, or if you’re waking up tired and unrefreshed, you may have a sleep condition.
To learn more about the quality of your sleep, we encourage you to make an appointment at Signature Sleep by Hilary. We’re proud to offer professional sleep medicine services in Rockledge, FL. Call us today!
What Is Sleep Medicine?
Sleep medicine is a branch of healthcare that focuses on diagnosing and treating various sleep conditions. Sleep doctors and specialists aim to optimize a patient’s sleep health by addressing sleep disorders and other issues related to sleep. These problems include sleep apnea, insomnia, teeth grinding, snoring, and more.
While sleep physicians come from various healthcare specialties, they all have professional training in sleep medicine. Some of these specialists are even neurologists who study how the brain works during sleep. Several other specialists have training in sleep medicine, including cardiologists, pediatricians, psychiatrists, and pulmonologists.
What Does Sleep Medicine Treat?
Sleep medicine is used to treat a wide variety of health problems. These issues can affect your energy, focus, concentration, and even your mood.
Take a look at the following conditions treated by sleep medicine:
- Advanced sleep phase syndrome
- Bruxism (teeth grinding)
- Central sleep apnea
- Complex sleep apnea
- Delayed sleep phase
- Idiopathic hypersomnia
- Insomnia
- Jet lag disorder
- Multiple system atrophy (MSA)
- Narcolepsy
- Night leg cramps
- Nightmare disorder
- Nocturnal epilepsy
- Non-24
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Parasomnia
- Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea
- Periodic limb movement disorder
- Pickwickian syndrome
- REM sleep behavior disorder
- Restless legs syndrome
- Shift work sleep disorder
- Sleep arousal disorder
- Sleep starts
- Sleep talking
- Sleep terrors (night terrors)
- Sleep-related breathing disorders
- Sleepwalking
- Snoring
As you can see, sleep medicine can treat a wide variety of ailments. Here at Signature Sleep by Hilary, our skilled and knowledgeable sleep specialists would be happy to diagnose your sleep concerns and get you on the path to better health. Call us today to make an appointment!
Signs of Sleep Issues
While sleep conditions can cause symptoms, knowing you have a sleep disorder isn’t always easy.
If you suffer from any of the following, consider reaching out to a sleep specialist:
- Trouble staying asleep throughout the night
- Problems falling asleep
- Snoring, gasping, or choking during sleep
- Issues with mobility upon waking
- Daytime tiredness
- Problems focusing and concentrating
- Changes in mood
- Trouble with managing emotions
- Consistently having falls or accidents
- Failing to meet deadlines or performance goals at work
It’s important to note that the problems listed above don’t always indicate you have a sleep disorder. We encourage you to visit your doctor to rule out any other health conditions.
Testing for Sleep Problems
If you visit a sleep medicine specialist, they may run blood tests to look for anything that could be affecting your sleep. Secondly, they may ask you to fill out a questionnaire. This detailed document asks several questions about your sleep and health history. Last but not least, you may be prescribed a sleep study, which measures your bodily functions while you sleep. This test examines your heart rate, breathing habits, oxygen levels, sleep stages, and more.
Common Sleep Medicine Treatments
Sleep disorders are treated in a variety of ways. One of the most common treatments involves using a CPAP machine, a remedy for sleep apnea. This device works by sending air directly into your airways, helping to improve your sleep.
Another way to treat these ailments is through improved sleep hygiene. You may be encouraged to create a healthy sleep environment, limit the use of screens before bed, and avoid stimulants like caffeine too close to bedtime.
There are other ways to treat sleep problems, including medications, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), oral appliances, and even surgery.
Reliable Sleep Medicine Services in Rockledge, FL
If you think sleep troubles are negatively impacting your health, Signature Sleep by Hilary is here for you. We have an experienced team of sleep specialists who are focused on solving your sleep problems.
Make an appointment today to solve your sleep issues once and for all!