Today, many people are struggling with the effects of chronic sleep deprivation and fragmentation.
The effects of chronic sleep disorders may include negatively affected mood, health, longevity, and productivity. Sleep disorders also may contribute to other medical and psychiatric disorders, including elevated blood pressure, cardiac disease, diabetes, depression, and anxiety.
Primary symptoms of a sleep disorder include feeling tired or sleepy during the daytime or having difficultly falling or staying asleep during the night. Abnormal behavior during sleep as well as loud snoring are signs of a sleep disorder.
There are approximately 90 known sleep disorders. Common sleep disorders include:
Sleep disorders are most commonly diagnosed and treated by a sleep specialist. Testing often includes diagnostic home sleep tests and in-laboratory sleep tests. Sleep studies allow doctors to look at sleep patterns and note sleep-related problems and are used to diagnose certain sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea and narcolepsy. Sleep study results typically include information about sleep and wake times, sleep stages, abnormal breathing, the amount of oxygen in the blood during sleep, and any movement during sleep.
Many treatments are used for sleep disorders, including continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, dental appliances, individual cognitive and behavioral therapy, and surgical options.
The Sleep Disorders Service at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) is the only American Academy of Sleep Medicine-designated Comprehensive Academic Sleep Program of Distinction in New England for adult patients with sleep disorders. The Service offers a comprehensive approach to evaluation and treatment of all sleep disorders.
The Center provides specialized care for patients with sleep disorders and neurological disorders (such as stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and migraines). In addition, many patients with heart disease and diabetes also have obstructive sleep apnea. The Center’s Healthy Sleep/Healthy Heart Clinic has a multi-disciplinary team of sleep specialists, cardiologists, health educators and respiratory therapists who work together to provide state-of-the-art diagnostic and long-term care for patients with heart disease or diabetes and a sleep disorder.
Brigham and Women’s Hospital has long been committed to not only the care of our patients but also the many other needs that they and their families have. This philosophy of patient- and family-centered care involves systems and services that emphasize healing in a comfortable, relaxed environment.
Brigham and Women’s Hospital is committed to providing all of our patients with the safest, highest-quality, most-satisfying care possible and follow established protocols that have been shown to improve patient outcomes. Our inpatient satisfaction survey, sent to patients to assess their total care experience, helps us to monitor what we are doing well and what areas may need improvement. We pride ourselves in the quality of patient care we provide and how we compare with other hospitals.
If you believe you should have an evaluation and would like to schedule an appointment with one of our sleep experts, call 1-800-294-9999 to speak to one of our knowledgeable coordinators who can help to connect you to the doctor that best meets your needs, or fill out an online appointment request form.
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