SLEEP SPECIALIST

Sleep Specialist

The PANACEA Centre provide state-of-the-art diagnostic services and treatment for the full range of sleep disorders.

Sleep Disorders

Left untreated sleep disorders can lead to increased risk for heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and motor vehicle accidents. If you suspect you or a loved one may have a sleep disorder, learn more about it here, and schedule a visit to be evaluated at PANACEA Sleep Centre.

SNORING

Snoring is a sound produced when one’s breathing is partially obstructed while sleeping. Snoring can be an indicator of sleep apnea, which should be diagnosed and treated by a physician. Nearly half of all adults snore sometimes. Snoring is considered a sleep disorder if it causes arousal from sleep or interferes with sleep quality of a bed partner. The bed partner of a snorer may be losing an average of one hour of sleep each night. Snoring can also be linked to high blood pressure. Lifestyle changes such as losing weight, avoiding alcohol close to bedtime, or sleeping on one’s side can help stop snoring.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

Loud or irregular snoring, pauses in breathing, excessive sleepiness, and frequent urination at night are all symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. OSA occurs when breathing stops completely or airflow is severely reduced. During sleep, the muscles in the throat become more relaxed. With OSA the person’s airway collapses. Arousals from sleep occur when the brain tells the body to wake up and breath. A person with OSA often does not remember waking up, but may experience sleepiness during the day because of the repeated disturbances. Aging, excess weight, family history, and narrow airway anatomy all increase the chances of having OSA. OSA is a fairly common problem, and can produce serious health risks. Overnight sleep studies are performed to diagnose OSA, and Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) and Bi-Level therapy (BiPAP) are the most effective forms of treatment.

Central Sleep Apnea

Central Sleep Apnea is similar to Obstructive Sleep Apnea in that there is a cease in airflow during sleep. Central Sleep Apnea sufferers may not have trouble keeping their airway open, but instead the body does not receive the stimulus to breathe and must wake up to resume breathing. Central Sleep Apnea is usually tied to a cerebral vascular condition, congestive heart failure, and/or age. Overnight sleep studies are performed to diagnose central sleep apnea.

Narcolepsy

People with narcolepsy experience excessive and overwhelming daytime sleepiness even after adequate nighttime sleep. A narcolepsy sufferer is likely to become drowsy or fall asleep, often at inappropriate times and places. Additionally, nighttime sleep may be fragmented with frequent awakenings. Other symptoms typically associated with narcolepsy are cataplexy, hypnogogic hallucinations, sleep paralysis, and automatic behavior. Narcolepsy usually begins when a person is in their teens or early twenties, and there is strong evidence that narcolepsy may run in families. Treatment for narcolepsy may include a combination of medication and behavioral treatments.

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)

Restless Legs Syndrome is characterized by unpleasant tingling, creeping, crawling sensations in the legs creating an urge to move them. These sensations occur when the person with RLS lies down or sits for prolonged periods of time. People with RLS may find it difficult to relax and fall asleep because of these strong urges to move their legs. RLS sufferers may feel sleepy during the day. The severity of symptoms varies from night to night and over the years as well.

Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD)

Periodic Limb Movement Disorder sufferers experience rhythmic jerking of the feet or legs, which interrupts sleep. Some people with PLMD may experience hundreds of such movements each night. These movements can wake the sufferers, disturb their sleep, and awaken bed partners. Treatment for these disorders is highly effective – 90% of those treated experience relief.

Parasomnia

Parasomnia includes a number of disruptive sleep events, or “disorders of arousal.” Parasomnias include sleep wailing, sleep terrors, nightmares, partial seizures, violent behavior during sleep, and REM behavior disorder (acting out dreams). Parasomnias can often be treated.

Insomnia

It is not unusual to have trouble sleeping from time to time, and not all insomnia requires treatment. Often due to stress, excitement, depression or life changes, insomnia usually goes away with the passing of the related event or feeling. Persistent or chronic insomnia is more serious and usually requires treatment. Not everyone needs the same amount of sleep, and insomnia is not defined by the number of hours of sleep a person gets or how long it takes to fall asleep. People with insomnia may have trouble falling asleep, wake up often during the night, have trouble going back to sleep, wake up too early in the morning, and/or feel their sleep is un-refreshing. Insomnia can cause problems during the day such as sleepiness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and irritability.

State-of-the-Art Equipment

To offer you the most comprehensive evaluation possible, the PANACEA Center are equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment to monitor brain, heart, respiratory and muscle activity during sleep. This equipment, combined with our physicians’ knowledge of the latest advances in sleep-related diagnostics and treatment, enables us to provide the best possible care.

Overnight Sleep Study

Sleep studies are painless and designed to encourage easy, normal sleep. When you arrive for your sleep study, a PANACEA Sleep Centre will carefully prepare you for the study and attach sensors to measure your breathing rate, oxygen levels, heart rhythm, brain waves, and the movements of your eyes, chin and legs while you sleep. The volume of your snoring will also be measured. Before going to sleep you will be introduced to a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) mask and machine. Halfway through the night, should the study reveal that you have moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, our technologist will wake you to implement CPAP and determine the best pressure needed to maintain an open airway while sleeping. Overnight sleep tests are completed by 6:00 to 7:00 am.

Home Sleep Testing

In the event that a home sleep test is desired, you will be provided with a Type III home sleep testing device. This is an at home, do-it-yourself kit with instructions provided. Following 1-2 nights of use you will return the device, which will then be scored and interpreted by a PANACEA Sleep physician and discussed at your follow-up office visit. This device is exclusively used for the evaluation of possible obstructive sleep apnea.