In Search of a Few Good Zs

“Sometimes, people have their deep sleep interrupted several times in the night, but they don’t wake up fully,” said Bruce Abbott, MD, a neurologist and medical director of the Southcoast Sleep Lab and Sleep Clinic. “For example, this can happen when you have restless leg syndrome, when your legs suddenly feel uncomfortable. You might go into a lighter sleep to move your legs, and never remember waking up. But you might feel sleepy the next day.”

Sleeping disorders are linked to many health problems and hazards, such as:

• Obesity.
• Diabetes.
• High blood pressure.
• Heart attack.
• Stroke.
• Depression.
• Abnormal heart rhythms.
• Automobile crashes.
• Workplace accidents.

But there are ways to beat this tiresome problem. Southcoast’s Sleep Lab can pinpoint what’s going wrong in the wee hours and help you sink into slumber once again.

“With sleep apnea, for example, the patient can be fitted with a mask that’s connected to a machine that blows air,” Dr. Abbott said. “It helps keep the airways open all night so you don’t stop breathing.”

If you suspect you have a sleep disorder, talk to your doctor about getting a referral. The Southcoast Sleep Lab is here to help you get some Zs again.

Visit www.southcoast.org/sleep for more details.

Do You Have a Sleep Disorder?
There are more than 85 types of sleep disorders that can be diagnosed. Here are some symptoms that could indicate you have one:

• During the night, you snore loudly, then suddenly wake up, gasping for air.
• You experience sleepless nights.
• After sleeping all night, you still feel tired during the day.
  
• You fall asleep while performing routine activities.
• Sometimes while you’re sleeping, you have an uncomfortable feeling in your legs and have to move them to get some relief.

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