EVALUATION
At Midtown Neurology, P.C., the providers will obtain a detailed history of the sleep complaint: how long the symptoms have been present, what has been done to treat them, what impact the problem has on the patient's life, and any related complaints. The provider will then perform a neurological exam to look for any other problems in the nervous system.

Depending on the complaint, an overnight sleep study may be performed. This involves an overnight stay in a sleep lab with monitoring of breathing, brain waves, heart rate, and leg movements.

DIAGNOSES
Insomnia: Insomnia can be caused by several different problems. Depression and anxiety are frequent causes. Pain is also often a factor. Sometimes, restless legs syndrome, an urge to move the legs at night, can cause insomnia. Most often, no underlying cause can be identified.

Excessive sleepiness:
Obstructive sleep apnea is a frequent cause of excessive sleepiness. This is a disease in which the airway becomes obstructed during sleep, resulting in cessation or reduction of breathing. Often, the inability to breathe will awaken the patient and this may occur many times during the night, resulting in poor sleep. Risk factors for this condition include obesity and sinus problems. In addition to the sleepiness, this condition can result in high blood pressure, heart failure, and strokes; therefore, it is important to get it diagnosed and treated.

Narcolepsy is an uncommon but important cause of excessive sleepiness. Patients often also exhibit a tendency to lose muscle tone or even pass out with laughter or other strong emotion; this is called cataplexy. They may also experience paralysis upon awakening and hallucinations as they are falling asleep.

Often excessive sleepiness results from not getting enough sleep at night because of the demands from work, family and various stress factors.

We also treat a variety of other sleep problems, including restless legs syndrome, nightmares, night terrors, and sleep walking.

TREATMENTS
Insomnia often responds to treating the underlying cause. If none can be identified, changes in sleep habits such as not watching television in bed and adopting a regular bedtime can be effective. There are also medications that are often quite effective in producing a good night's sleep.

Obstructive sleep apnea can be treated with CPAP (continuous positive air pressure), which involves providing a constant air pressure through a mask over the nose to "splint" the airway open during sleep. Occasionally, referral for surgery is also needed.

Restless legs syndrome can usually be treated with medication. Narcolepsy (including cataplexy) can also be treated with medication.

Whatever the diagnosis and treatment, we at
Midtown Neurology, P.C. will follow up with the patient to assure that our intervention produces a good response.

Call 404-653-0039 to schedule your consultation.