Looking for the Best Sleep Specialist in Connecticut?

Man having trouble falling asleep Sleep is essential to your overall health. Any ongoing disruption to restful sleep can cause significant health issues and greatly interfere with your quality of life. It can also be a sign of an underlying medical condition that needs to be addressed.

In this blog, our doctor, who is board certified in sleep disorders and neurology, will explain more about sleep disorders and when you should see a sleep specialist in Connecticut.

What symptoms warrant a visit to a sleep specialist?

Everyone may have trouble falling or staying asleep occasionally, but ongoing sleep problems can be a sign of a sleep disorder. The following symptoms can warrant a visit to a sleep specialist in CT:

Excessive daytime sleepiness
Snoring
Ongoing difficulty falling or staying asleep
Increased leg movements during sleep
Waking up with a sore jaw

A sleep specialist in Connecticut can help confirm or rule out the presence of a sleep disorder, and based on the findings, recommend appropriate treatment options.

What is a sleep disorder?

A sleep disorder is a disorder occurring exclusively in sleep with the potential of affecting your overall health and quality of life.

There are several different types of sleep disorders, including:

Insomnia – difficulty falling or staying asleep
Sleep apnea – repeated abnormal breathing patterns during sleep that can cause one to stop and start breathing at night.
Restless leg syndrome (RLS) and periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) – disorders that cause one to move the legs in response to an uncontrollable urge. When RLS occurs in sleep it is referred to as PLMs that may disrupt sleep resulting in non refreshing sleep.
Narcolepsy – Excessive daytime sleepiness with sleep paralysis and/or hallucinations while going into or coming out of sleep.
Hypersomnia – excessive daytime sleepiness or prolonged nighttime sleep
Sleepwalking – walking while sleeping, usually in the earlier part of the night
Bruxism – clenching your jaw during sleep and grinding your teeth.
Circadian rhythm disorder – your circadian rhythm serves as your internal body clock that governs your sleep and wakefulness. When this internal clock is out of sync with your external clock, you can experience difficulties such as an inability to fall or stay asleep and being excessively sleepy during the day.

How are sleep disorders diagnosed?

Your doctor will perform a physical exam and also talk to you about your medical history as well as the symptoms you’ve experienced. You’ll also be asked about your lifestyle and habits, and you may also be asked to keep a sleep diary detailing when you wake up and go to sleep. If you have a bed partner, he or she may also be asked about your sleeping habits.

In addition, your doctor may order a sleep study to gather specific information. Depending on your needs and preferences, it can be performed at home or in a sleep lab at the hospital. This test measures your oxygen levels, brain waves, and heart rate as you sleep. The results from a sleep study gives your doctor detailed data and enables him or her to diagnose or rule out the presence of a sleep disorder.

If you’re diagnosed with a sleep disorder, your doctor can recommend appropriate treatment options, such as medication, the use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine or an alternative, an oral appliance, or cognitive behavior therapy.