Sleep Disorders

High blood pressure ... stroke ... heart attack ... diabetes ... automobile accidents ... poor sleep can be more serious than you dreamed...

A good night’s sleep is essential to maintaining good health.  Most adults have trouble sleeping from time to time, but as many as 40 million Americans suffer from a chronic sleep disorder.

Sleep Disorders Are Serious

Our bodies and brains need restful sleep to perform well.  Studies show that poor sleep strains the heart and is linnked to high blood pressure, heart failure, stroke and other serious diseases.

People who are tired are at higher risk of accidents at work and while driving.  Symptoms of a sleep disorder include:

• Snoring
• Daytime sleepiness
• Dozing off when you don't mean to
• Waking too early
• Trouble falling or staying asleep
• Depression
• Headaches
• Irritability
• Trouble concentrating
• Memory loss
• Sexual dysfunction

About Sleep Disorders

The most common sleep disorder is obstructive sleep apnea.  A child or adult with this condition goes through the following cycle hundreds -- even thoiusands -- of times every night:

• Stops breathing during sleep
• Wakes up just enough to start breathing again
• Falls back to sleep

This cycle prevents getting enough oxygen during the night, which strains the heart, and the person feels tired all day.

Other common sleep disorders include:

• Restless leg syndrome (RLS) -- uncomfortable sensations in the legs and sudden leg jerks that disrupt sleep
• Narcolepsy -- an uncontrollable urge to sleep during the day, even when it's dangerous to do so (for example, while driving)
• Insomnia -- trouble falling asleep at a regular time each night for more than a few nights
• Parasomnias -- may include nighttime chest pain, night terrors, nightmares, sleep walking, bedwetting and teeth grinding

People who suspect they may have a sleep disorder are encouraged to undergo a comprehensive sleep study by physicians who are board certified in sleep medicine.

About The Western Pennsylvania Hospital Center for Sleep Disorders

The Western Pennsylvania Hospital Center for Sleep Disorders has been offering advanced, comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services for nearly 20 years. 

If you think you may have a sleep disorder, talk with your primary care physician (PCP) about scheduling a sleep study.  Then bring your pajamas and (if you like) a favorite pillow to the Center on your scheduled night.  A trained sleep technician keeps track of your sleep and well-being thorughout the night, and a board-certified sleep physician reviews the results.

A treatment plan will be created for you, based on the type of sleep disorder diagnosed and your needs.  Treatment may include medicine, therapy, weight loss, relaxation techniques and/or use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) -- a device with a flexible mask, air hose and pump that helps keep your airway open while you sleep.

In rare cases, surgery may be recommended to correct nasal or throat conditions that cause breathing problems.

For more information, call the Center for Sleep Disorders at 412-578-6836 on weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.