Patient Education

Sleep Medicine Could you have a sleep disorder? Take this quick sleep disorder screening quiz to find out.

Have you or others observed that you stop breathing or gasp for breath during sleep?
Do you feel sleepy or doze off while watching TV, reading, driving or engaged in daily activities?
Do you have difficulty sleeping three nights a week or more (e.g. trouble falling asleep, wake frequently during the night, wake too early and cannot get back to sleep, or wake unrefreshed)?
Do you ever feel unpleasant, tingling, creeping feelings or nervousness in your legs when trying to sleep?
Do you ever experience interruptions to you sleep (e.g. nighttime heartburn, bad dreams, pain, discomfort, noise, sleep difficulties of family members, light or temperature changes)?
Does strong emotion (laughing, crying, fear) make your muscles feel weak?

Our sleep can be affected by more than 80 known sleep problems and disorders. If you have checked one or more of the preceding statements, you could have a sleep disorder. It is important to talk to your healthcare provider and/or sleep specialist at the RMH Center for Sleep Medicine. These disorders are highly treatable, making a real difference in your health and quality of life. Call us today at (540) 437-8230.

Common Sleep Disorders

Statistics indicate that the incidence of sleep problems in the United States is on the rise. While people who are overweight tend to experience more sleep disorders than people who are not, sleep disorders may occur in anyone, regardless of age, gender or weight. To date, sleep researchers have identified 88 different sleep disorders. Those most commonly diagnosed and treated at the RMH Center for Sleep Medicine include the following:

Insomnia – difficulty falling asleep or remaining asleep all night. There are different types of insomnia, defined by duration and frequency.
Sleep Apnea – also known as sleep disordered breathing, sleep apnea is a condition in which breathing is interrupted for short intervals during sleep. Left untreated, sleep apnea may contribute to irregular heartbeat, heart attack or stroke. It is the most common sleep disorder treated at the RMH Center for Sleep Medicine. To learn more about sleep apnea and to find out if sleep apnea could be a health concern for you, take our quick sleep apnea screening quiz.
Restless leg syndrome – a vague feeling of discomfort in the legs while at rest that is relieved only by moving the legs. Symptoms may be present all day long, or may appear only in the evening and at night. This condition may be a contributing factor to insomnia.
Narcolepsy – persistent daytime sleepiness with frequent naps, often at inappropriate times of the day; sometimes accompanied by muscle weakness or sleep paralysis, and hypnagogic hallucinations.
Periodic limb movement disorder – episodes of moving the feet and ankles, or the entire leg, during sleep for periods ranging from several minutes to an hour. Movements may be slight or vigorous and may be followed by partial or complete waking.

Other sleep disorders treated at the Center include:

Excessive daytime sleepiness
Drowsy driving
Circadian Rhythm disruptions (Shift Work Disorder, Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome, Advanced Sleep Phase Syndrome)
Parasomnias (Sleepwalking, Sleep Talking, REM Behavior Disorder)
Sleep-related seizures
Sleep-related reflux
Sleep-related breathing problems

More About Sleep Apnea

Take this quick yes or no screening quiz to see if sleep apnea may be a health concern for you:

Do you snore?
Has your bed partner ever told you that you “stop breathing” or “hold your breath” while you sleep?
Are you sleepy during your normal waking hours?
Do you ever feel drowsy when you drive?
Do you ever have a headache when you wake up?
Are you overweight or have you recently gained weight?
Do you have high blood pressure?

If you answered, “Yes” to two or more of these questions, you may have sleep apnea. Contact your healthcare provider and/or the RMH Center for Sleep Medicine at (540) 437-8230.

Undiagnosed and untreated sleep apnea stresses the cardiovascular system and may contribute to:

High blood pressure--people who take blood pressure medication but suffer from sleep apnea may find that their medication does not control their high blood pressure.
Heart attack
Irregular heartbeat
Stroke
Unexplained sudden death

In addition, sleep apnea causes excessive daytime sleepiness that may result in:

Automobile accidents
Lost productivity
Mood problems/depression

At the RMH Center for Sleep Medicine, we treat three different kinds of sleep apnea:

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)--This is the most common type of sleep apnea. It is caused by an obstruction of the upper airway during sleep. Breathing pauses for 10-30 seconds. Some people have stopped breathing for as long as two minutes. OSA can be caused by excessive weight, inherent physical characteristics and alcohol consumption before sleeping.
Central Sleep Apnea (CSA)--CSA occurs when the signal from the brain to breathe is delayed.
Mixed Apnea--This is a combination of OSA and CSA.

For more information on sleep apnea or any sleep disorder, contact the RMH Center for Sleep Medicine at (540) 437-8230.

In This Section