Sleep Disorders
Sleep is essential to leading a happy, healthy, and active life. If you or your child is suffering from sleep problems the sleep specialists at Houston Specialty Clinic in Houston and Sugar Land, Texas, can help determine the underlying cause and most effective solution for sleep disorders. Led by board-certified physicians Joshua Rotenberg, MD, and Sarat Susarla, MD, the practice specializes in comprehensive, family-centered care. To schedule a visit, call today.
What is a sleep disorder?
A sleep disorder is a condition that alters the way you sleep. There are a number of different types of sleep disorders that cause excessive sleepiness or wakefulness. Sleep disorders can have a major impact on your overall health and quality of life.
Poor sleep health can increase your risk of obesity, high blood pressure, and heart disease. It also puts you at an increased risk of injuries at home, at work, or on the road.
What are the different types of sleep disorders?
Some common sleep disorders include:
Insomnia
Insomnia is a sleep disorder that causes abnormal wakefulness. Insomnia makes it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep. Because of the lack of sleep, many people with insomnia wake up feeling tired. Symptoms of insomnia include waking up too early, excessive daytime sleepiness, and difficulty focusing or paying attention. Insomnia may occur on its own or as a result of other factors like stress, travel, or medications.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) develops when you stop breathing repeatedly while you’re sleeping. When you sleep, the muscles in the back of your throat naturally relax. For people with OSA, these muscles relax too much to the point of blocking your airway.
The symptoms of sleep apnea include loud snoring, morning headaches, and excessive daytime sleepiness. If your child has OSA, you may notice signs like poor school performance, bed-wetting, and mouth breathing.
Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a type of sleep disorder that causes excessive, uncontrollable daytime sleepiness. People with narcolepsy have a hard time staying awake for long periods of time no matter how much sleep they got the night before. Narcolepsy is a chronic condition that has no cure. Although narcolepsy can impact your daily life, there are effective ways to manage and control the condition.
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What Are Circadian Rhythm Disorders?
Circadian rhythm disorders happen when your body’s internal clock—the system that tells you when to sleep and wake up—doesn’t match the normal day-night cycle. This clock runs on a roughly 24-hour schedule and controls things like sleep, alertness, and hormone levels. When it’s out of sync, you might feel sleepy at the wrong times or have trouble falling asleep at night. Common examples include delayed sleep phase (going to bed very late) and shift work disorder (trouble sleeping because of work schedules). These conditions can affect school, work, and overall health, but treatments like light therapy, good sleep habits, and sometimes medication can help reset your clock.
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How are sleep disorders treated?
Before treatment, your doctor performs a thorough evaluation to properly diagnose your condition. In addition to discussing your symptoms and medical history, your doctor uses a sleep study to gather information about your disorder. A sleep study is a test that provides essential information, such as your brain activity, heart rate, and oxygen levels, about your sleep cycles.
After the sleep study, your doctor analyzes your results and works with you to develop the most effective treatment plan. Depending on your diagnosis, treatment for your sleep disorder may include:
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Medication
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CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) therapy
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Oral devices
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Tonsil and adenoid removal
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
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Light / Chronotherapy
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Lifestyle modifications