Sleep Medicine

Sleep medicine is a medical specialty that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of various sleep disorders. These disorders can impact a person's ability to get quality sleep, which in turn can affect their overall health, well-being, and daily functioning.
There are numerous sleep disorders that sleep medicine professionals diagnose and treat, including:
1.    Insomnia: This is characterized by difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, leading to daytime impairment. It can be caused by various factors, such as stress, anxiety, medical conditions, or certain medications.
2.    Sleep Apnea: Sleep apnea is a condition where a person's breathing is repeatedly interrupted during sleep. The most common type is obstructive sleep apnea, where the airway becomes blocked, often due to relaxed throat muscles.
3.    Narcolepsy: Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that causes excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden, uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep during the day.
4.    Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS): RLS is a disorder characterized by an irresistible urge to move the legs, usually due to discomfort or tingling sensations. It often occurs at night and can disrupt sleep.
5.    Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD): PLMD involves involuntary leg movements during sleep, which can disrupt sleep quality for both the person experiencing it and their sleep partner.
6.    Circadian Rhythm Disorders: These disorders involve disruptions in the body's internal clock, leading to problems with sleep timing. Conditions like jet lag and shift work disorder are examples of circadian rhythm disorders.
7.    Parasomnias: Parasomnias are abnormal behaviors or experiences that occur during sleep. This category includes sleepwalking, night terrors, and sleep-related eating disorders.
Sleep medicine specialists use a combination of medical history, physical examinations, and often sleep studies (polysomnography) to diagnose sleep disorders. Polysomnography involves monitoring various physiological parameters during sleep, such as brain activity, eye movement, heart rate, muscle activity, and more.
Treatment approaches vary depending on the specific disorder but may include:
•    Lifestyle Modifications: This can include improving sleep hygiene (practices that promote good sleep), managing stress, and adjusting sleep habits.
•    Medications: Certain medications can help treat sleep disorders, such as insomnia or restless leg syndrome.
•    Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP): This is a common treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. A CPAP machine delivers a continuous stream of air pressure to keep the airway open during sleep.
•    Behavioral Therapies: Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is an evidence-based approach that helps individuals address the psychological and behavioral factors contributing to insomnia.
•    Surgical Interventions: In some cases, surgery may be recommended to address anatomical issues contributing to sleep apnea.
Sleep medicine is at CMI is an interdisciplinary field that often involves collaboration between sleep specialists, cardiologists, pulmonologists, neurologists, psychologists, and other healthcare professionals. Proper diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders can significantly improve a person's quality of life and overall health.