Sleep disorders can affect the quality of sleep, negatively impacting your overall health and quality of life. Sleep deprivation can hinder your ability to operate machinery and drive safely, increasing your risk of other serious health problems.
What are the Signs of Sleep Disorders?
The most common sign of a sleep disorder is excessive daytime sleepiness. If you have a sleep disorder, sleeping partners may notice you frequently move during sleep or that your breathing is irregular. It can be challenging to fall asleep and to stay asleep. People with sleep disorders will sometimes lack concentration or will be irritable, anxious, or depressed. Your doctor should evaluate your symptoms.
There are different types of sleep disorders, but some of the most common include:
- Insomnia, where you find it difficult to fall asleep and to stay asleep throughout the night.
- Sleep apnea is where breathing is frequently interrupted during sleep, partially awakening the sufferer, sometimes hundreds of times a night.
- Narcolepsy is a condition that creates extreme sleepiness during the day, and sufferers may fall asleep suddenly during the daytime.
- Restless leg syndrome is a sleep movement disorder and can create an uncomfortable sensation and an urge to move your legs when you try to fall asleep.
- Nocturia or frequent nighttime urination can disrupt sleep. It may result from hormonal imbalances or diseases of the urinary tract. It is essential to seek immediate medical advice if pain or bleeding accompanies this problem.
- Parasomnias are a group of sleep disorders that cause abnormal movements and behaviors, including nightmares, sleepwalking and sleep talking, teeth grinding and clenching, and bedwetting.
Sometimes, a sleep disorder may signify another medical problem, which your doctor can resolve after diagnosing and treating the underlying cause. If another condition doesn’t cause a sleep disorder, a combination of lifestyle changes and medical treatments can typically treat it.
It is essential to see a physician or our midtown internal medicine doctor to receive a diagnosis and treatment if you suspect you may have a sleep disorder.
Diagnosing Sleep Disorders in Midtown NYC and New York’s Upper East Side
Initially, internal medicine NYC physicians will perform a physical exam, and we will need to know your symptoms and medical history. Specific tests can help to diagnose sleep disorders, and which include:
Sleep Study
A sleep study, or polysomnography, aims at evaluating your body movements, brainwaves, and oxygen levels while you sleep and determine how badly something disrupts it. It can be beneficial when diagnosing sleep apnea and the degree of its severity.
Electroencephalogram
An electroencephalogram is a test that assesses the brain’s electrical activity and can detect any problems.
Blood Testing
A blood test can help diagnose any underlying health problems.
Once NYC primary care physicians have a diagnosis, we can determine which sleep disorders treatment will best suit your needs.
Medical Sleep Disorders Treatment
Medical treatments for sleep disorders may include sleeping pills, medications for any underlying health issues, melatonin supplements, and allergy or cold medication.
If you have any questions or want to make an appointment with our award-winning, best internist NYC and primary care physicians in Midtown or Upper East Side, please call Manhattan Primary Care doctors.
Insomnia Treatments
We tailor insomnia sleep disorders treatments to meet your specific needs. For example, if the underlying causes are anxiety and depression, primary care physicians in New York may prescribe anti-anxiety or antidepressant medications. Your doctor prescribes medications to help you sleep as needed. Your doctor will decide on the best treatment for you.
Sleep Apnea and Teeth Grinding and Clenching Treatment
A nightguard is a common method of treating sleep apnea. This device helps you breathe more easily during sleep.
More severe forms of sleep apnea can require a device called a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine and which consists of a mask that you wear during sleep and which pumps pressurized air into your airway, helping to hold it open.
People who clench and grind their teeth may need to see their dentist for a custom night splint to prevent the teeth from contracting during sleep.
Restless Leg Syndrome
You can use medications to treat restless leg syndrome, but behavioral therapy may also be appropriate.
Lifestyle Changes
Often, simple lifestyle changes can significantly improve your sleep quality, primarily when used in conjunction with medical sleep disorders treatment. It is critical to ensure you have a healthy and nutritious diet that includes plenty of vitamins and minerals. Sleep disorders sometimes result from stress, so try to reduce your stress levels and anxiety by exercising. Practice good sleep hygiene by ensuring your bedroom is a calm and welcoming environment and isn’t too hot.
Get into the habit of having a regular nighttime routine and limit your use of electronic devices before bedtime. If you must use a phone, laptop, or e-book reader, use a blue light filter to reduce the disruption to your sleep patterns. Limit your caffeine intake during the late afternoon or evening and decrease tobacco and alcohol use. Before bedtime, eat a smaller, low carbohydrate meal. It is vital to make sure you go to sleep and awaken at the same time each day as this can improve your sleep quality significantly, even though it may be tempting to sleep in at weekends.
Sleep disorders / Insomnia Symptoms
Symptoms can include:
- Sleepiness during the day
- Forgetfulness
- Irritability
- Low energy
Insomnia sometimes stems from mental health problems, such as depression or anxiety. Your doctor should evaluate your symptoms for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.
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