Cullman Primary Care's Sleep Disorders under the leadership of Dr. Mark Tafazoli.  Sleep is essential to physical and mental well being. It is a restorative process and allows a person to be healthy and productive. Adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep a night, yet millions suffer from sleep disorders that deprive them of necessary rest. These disorders are more than an annoyance. They may pose significant medical problems such as strain on the heart and lungs that lead to high blood pressure, heart attack or stroke.

DISORDERS

More than 80 sleep disorders have been identified. These are divided into four major categories:
Problems with falling asleep and staying asleep

Also known as insomnia, these problems are brought on by disturbances in the regular wake/sleep pattern. Causes may include psychological factors such as anxiety and depression, respiratory difficulties, limb movements during sleep or physiologic disorders such as hyperthyroidism.

Problems staying awake

Often referred to as sleepiness, these problems include sleep apnea and narcolepsy (uncontrollable sleepiness). Normal lifestyle is disrupted because sleep is fragmented, and since the person may fall asleep at any time, accidents and other life-threatening results may occur.

Sleep disruptive behaviors

These disorders, known as parasomnias, are associated with sleep and the different phases of sleep itself, such as nocturnal seizures, sleepwalking, night terrors and bed wetting.

Problems maintaining a regular sleep schedule

The body never really adjusts to shift work. Lifestyles that require an irregular sleep/wake pattern, such as alternating shift work or frequent cross-country flights (jet lag) fall into this category. People affected by these disorders have chronic difficulty in falling asleep at conventional times.

SLEEP APNEA

One of the most serious sleep disorders is sleep apnea. An individual with this condition literally stops breathing during sleep. This may happen hundreds of times a night, causing a person to awaken slightly to resume breathing. Such fragmented sleep is not appropriately restful. Sleep apnea may lead to high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, weight problems or other health problems or accidents.

Symptoms:
Excessive snoring
Awaking with a headache
Awaking without feeling refreshed
Daytime sleepiness
Awaking gasping for breath
Sudden body movements during sleep
Weight gain
Treatment:
Once a proper diagnosis of sleep apnea is made, treatment varies based on the condition's severity.

REFERRAL AND EVALUATION

Patients suffering from sleep disorders are referred to the Sleep Disorders Center by their physician.

In many cases an overnight evaluation is needed to learn what is causing the sleep/wake disturbance. The patient's brain waves (electroencephalogram), heart rate (electrocardiogram), snoring, respiration, leg muscle activity and oxygen saturation levels are monitored.

The recording techniques are noninvasive (external) and all electrodes are applied on the skin surface of the areas recorded. The entire recording procedure is painless.

After the electrodes have been applied, the patient will spend the night in a comfortable bed in the Sleep Disorders Center, and sleep will be monitored throughout the night.

Treatment

Most sleep/wake disorders can be treated or managed effectively once they are accurately diagnosed. The extensive nighttime evaluation, in combination with the daytime evaluation when necessary, provides complete information for diagnosis of most sleep/wake disorders.

Once a sleep study is completed, your physician will be able to discuss treatment recommendations. One of the functions of the Sleep Disorders Center is to serve as a resource to the medical community by providing awareness of the latest developments in this rapidly changing field and contributing to advances in the sleep disorders treatment.

Insurance

Most insurance carriers offer insurance coverage for sleep disorder studies. Because the policies of insurance companies differ, prospective patients should ask about coverage before scheduling an appointment with the Sleep Disorders Center.

If you are being robbed of sleep, contact Dr. Mark Tafazoli's office at 256-775-1090.