Sleep Problems Can Be Diagnosed And Cured Say Experts At Sleep Disorders Center in Danbury

DANBURY –– Do you often feel sleepy during the day? Do you snore? Do you find it difficult to fall asleep or frequently wake up in the middle of the night?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may have a sleep problem that is robbing you from getting the eight hours of sleep a night recommended for most adults to maintain good health, safety, and optimum performance.

“Snoring, sleep apnea, and other related health problems that are easily solved can often prevent a good night’s sleep,” said Arthur Kotch, MD, medical director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Danbury Hospital. There is also evidence that sleep apnea is a significant cause of hypertension and a major risk factor for coronary artery disease, he added.

Such problems can be diagnosed and treated at the Sleep Disorders Center at Danbury Hospital. Since 1989, the Sleep Center has been diagnosing sleep problems, including apnea, insomnia, snoring, restless leg syndrome. and more. Accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine since 1995, the center is staffed by three physicians who are board certified in sleep medicine.

A sleep study involves an overnight hospital stay in a hotel-like room at the center. Patients are admitted between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. Once ready for bed, a specialized sleep technician attaches monitoring devices to the patient to record brain waves, eye movements, and breathing patterns –– which all indicate the quality of a person’s sleep.

 “During the night when the patient sleeps, monitors record sleep information, so doctors can determine the cause of the sleep disorder,” said Dr Kotch.

“In obstructive sleep apnea, for example, a common problem affecting about four percent of males and two percent of females, a person’s breathing is interrupted during sleep,” he said. “The interruption isn’t severe enough to wake a person, but it subtly disturbs sound sleep, leaving a person to wake up tired and feel fatigued during the day. Apnea can cause a person to stop breathing hundreds of times a night.”

Apnea occurs when a person has a small oral-pharyngeal space (in the back of the mouth/throat), that closes during sleep. Weight gain or other anatomic factors can cause smaller openings. If there is recurrent awakening, these episodes are recorded on the monitoring devices. Sleep apnea is a very underdiagnosed problem, according to Dr Kotch, and is often the cause of people feeling sluggish during the day. It is often associated with snoring or snorting, followed by silence.

Sleep apnea is commonly treated with a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) mask, a device worn over the face and attached to an air compressor that delivers constant (air) pressure to keep airways open. Some patients find the devise a bit cumbersome, but are true converts after a few days when they feel significantly better rested and more alert.

Other treatments include an oral device, positional therapy (avoiding back sleeping), and surgical techniques.

A sleep study costs about $2,500 and is covered by most insurance. Most patients are referred by their primary care physicians (PCPs). If you or a loved one is having trouble sleeping, talk to your PCP and consider a sleep study. For more information about the Sleep Disorders Center, visit Danbury Hospital’s website, www.danburyhospital.org or call 731-8033.