Awake to the Seriousness of
Sleep Disorders
Sleep apnea, a condition in which the patient stops breathing for short periods during sleep, is one of the principal conditions treated by Dr. Streff and the sleep lab staff. Nationally, men are more prone to sleep apnea and other sleep problems than women. However, in this area, the MMC sleep lab has been treating roughly equal numbers of women and men.
Dr. Streff theorizes that the overall tendency for more men to be treated may indicate that male symptoms, such as snoring, tend to be more pronounced. It also may be that women, who generally make the family healthcare decisions, tend to overlook or minimize their own health issues. But even if a man has the sleep disorder, treatment definitely has a beneficial effect on his female sleep partner.
“A woman sleeping with a snoring man can get back one-quarter of her sleep if he gets treated,” says Dr. Streff. “So it really can affect both partners; the person with the sleep apnea and the person who sleeps with him or her. In some cases the symptoms are so severe that couples sleep in separate rooms, and treatment can make it possible for them to share the same room again.”
Besides sleep apnea, other sleep disorders include narcolepsy (sudden and uncontrollable deep sleep), restless leg syndrome (jerking of leg muscles during sleep) and other involuntary muscle movements during sleep, and insomnia. Insomnia affects at least 10% of the U.S. population. It can have sleep apnea as a root cause. Also, what appears to be insomnia may in fact be sleep apnea. Each of these conditions has its own method of treatment.
The principal treatment for sleep apnea is known as c-pap, or continuous positive airway pressure. Patients wear a breathing mask over the nose and mouth while sleeping, which is connected to a bedside machine that maintains the continuous airway pressure and helps control breathing stoppages that prevent a good night’s sleep. Sometimes surgical approaches are also needed.
“Sleep apnea is often caused by an upper airway blockage or other problem,” says Dr. Streff. “In addition to breathing stoppages, we often see loud snoring and daytime sleepiness resulting from the restless sleep patterns of sleep apnea patients.
“As we age, we tend to gain weight,” he adds. “Most people notice it on an outward basis—they expand outward. But when you gain weight, you also expand internally. The same is true of sagging. We notice sagging on the outside, but don’t consider that we sag internally as well. Both expanding and sagging can cause obstruction of airways in the nose, mouth, and throat.
“Left untreated, sleep apnea can contribute to other serious complications, including heart problems, high blood pressure, stroke, reflux disease, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, impotency, and fast irregular heartbeat. Many patients with sleep disorders understandably experience daytime drowsiness or fatigue due to insufficient sleep, which can lead to motor vehicle accidents and other problems.”
Sleep Apnea Linked to Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome, a serious condition involving multiple metabolic abnormalities, such as combinations of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity, has recently been linked to sleep apnea, Dr. Streff reports. A recent study published in the May 2007 issue of Chest concluded that sleep apnea patients showed a significantly higher percentage of multiple metabolic maladies.“The good news is that treatment is available and effective,” says Dr. Streff. “It’s important for patients and their doctors to know that this is a local service they can access close to home. Diagnosis and treatment can mean less chance of significant health problems associated with undiagnosed sleep apnea.”
The sleep lab is outfitted to the latest treatment standards. It features two sleeping rooms that have a home-like ambiance, rather than a clinical atmosphere. Each has a bathroom, and a small kitchen allows patients using either room to prepare snacks. People can bring their own pillows and other items that will make them more comfortable. Technologists monitor and record tests in a separate room.
“The sleep lab at Memorial Medical Center is ideal in that it has a very comfortable, homey atmosphere with no ‘medical’ feel,” notes Dr. Streff. “This helps put people at ease and contributes to good diagnoses and good results for patients.”
If you are referred to the sleep lab, the technologists will conduct tests on your normal sleep schedule. If you work at night and try to sleep during the day, your testing will follow that pattern.
During an overnight (or daytime) stay at the lab, technologists will collect data and monitor a variety of functions while you sleep. The results are used to diagnose problems and help determine the best course of treatment.
For information on the sleep lab at
Memorial Medical Center, consult
your physician or call
Experiencing Sleep Problems?
If you are experiencing sleep problems, address them with your physician and discuss whether specialized diagnosis and treatment should be considered. If so, your doctor will write an order for a sleep study. The sleep study results are analyzed by Dr. Streff, who makes the diagnosis and recommends treatment. That recommendation goes back to your doctor, who orders the equipment used in the treatment. Follow up on your progress can be with the sleep specialist or your own doctor.Physician Profile: Gregory Streff, DO
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Facts About Sleep Apnea
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