Boston SleepCare Center: A four-bed, secure setting for the diagnosis and management of sleep disorders.

 

Sleep is a basic necessity of life. Appropriate diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders are essential.

 

Approximately 60% of patients with chronic pain also have sleep disorders and approximately 60% of the population reports to be dissatisfied with the quality of their sleep.

 

 

Sleep disorders are classified according to difficulty in sleeping (insomnia):

• Uninterrupted sleep
• Daytime intrusion of sleep events
• Abnormal intrusions of activities during regular sleep patterns

Some of the more recognized sleep disorders include:

• Sleep apnea
• Upper airway resistance syndromes (snorer’s disease)
• Restless leg syndrome and nocturnal myoclonus (jerking of limbs during sleep)
• Shift work disorder syndrome
• Narcolepsy
• Medication-induced sleep impairment

All symptomatic sleep disorders impair quality of life to some degree. Sleep apnea, if severe enough, increases the risk for development of:

• High blood pressure
• Insulin-resistant diabetes mellitus
• Stroke
• Heart attacks
• Other health related consequences