75 North Country Road, Port Jefferson, NY 11777 • 631.473.1320

Are Sleep Disorders Serious?

• Excessive sleepiness can lead to motor vehicle accidents
• Approximately 25% of all accidents on long, boring, high-speed stretches of road are from driver fatigue or falling asleep at the wheel
• Severe, loud snoring, and obstructive sleep apnea (pauses in breathing) can lead to relationship problems and has been linked as an increased risk for hypertension, stroke, heart attack, and coronary artery disease
• Excessive daytime sleepiness leads to poor concentration and to a decrease in the quality of life. If left untreated, sleep disorders can lead to mood disorders, irritability, depression, and even impotence
• In 1990, it was estimated that sleep disorders cost the U.S. economy over $15.9 billion dollars each year

Fact Sheet

Evaluation of Sleep/Wake Disorders

The first step is an evaluation by our board certified sleep physician. A proper clinical evaluation, history and physical-exam are necessary for a proper diagnosis. Since not all patients who complain of sleep problems need to have a sleep study the initial evaluation is essential for your diagnosis and treatment. A Polysomnogram, or sleep study, is a non-invasive test where we monitor your stage of sleep, oxygen level in the blood, snoring, muscle tone, respiration, leg movements, and heart rate and rhythm.

Some common sleep disorders evaluated and treated at the Sleep Disorders Center include:

Chronic Sleep Deprivation:
This is the most common sleep disorder in the population. This can be caused by shift work, underlying disorders of the sleep/wake cycle (circadian cycle), or even a mood or medical disorder. If increasing your total sleep time and/or sleep habits does not improve your sleepiness, you may need to have a sleep evaluation.

Sleep Apnea: (video)
The most common signs of sleep apnea are loud snoring, gasping, and pauses in breathing. This illness can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness for the person with sleep apnea, as well as, poor sleep quality for the bed partner.

Narcolepsy:
One out of 1000 people has this sleep disorder. It is as common as Parkinson's Disease or Multiple Sclerosis. Many people who have Narcolepsy present with symptoms such as, excessive sleepiness, cataplexy (sudden loss of muscle tone), sleep paralysis and vivid hallucinations. Most people only have excessive daytime sleepiness as their complaint.

Insomnia:
Occasionally everyone will experience a bad night's sleep. When it occurs more often that a good night's sleep, it's time to be evaluated. Insomnia is a symptom, not a disorder in itself. It affects up to 30% of the population. Insomnia can be transient (a few days), short term (less than a month), or long term (longer than a month). It can be treated using various behavioral, physical, and psychological techniques increasing the quality of your life.

How do I proceed from here?

Your physician can refer you for a consultation with our Board Certified Sleep Specialist, Mohamed Sameen, M.D., or you can call the Sleep Disorders Center directly for an appointment, at (631) 476-2721.

What does this cost?

Most insurance companies cover the cost of the consultation, testing, and treatment of sleep disorders. The Sleep Disorders Center staff will work with you and your physician to obtain all the necessary authorization needed for the consultation, testing procedures, and treatment.

What happens next?

After the consultation with the sleep specialist, if indicated, a sleep study is performed at the sleep center. Our state of the art facility has four private rooms with queen size beds and televisions.

Do you have a sleep disorder?

The following test is designed to alert you and your sleep mate to the possible presence of a sleep disorder. Ask yourself these questions.

• Have you gained weight in the last year?
• Are you sleepy during the day, fall asleep at work, or have difficulty staying awake while driving?
• Do you snore loudly at night, wake up choking, gasping, or have pauses in your breathing?
• Do you have trouble falling asleep or wake up frequently at night? Are you a restless sleeper?
• Do you walk, talk or do "unusual" activities in your sleep?
• Is your sleep problem causing you to be irritable, have difficulty concentrating, or being forgetful?
• Do you see things that aren't there (hallucinations) or have wakeful dreams?
• Do you drop things, or feel "weak in the knees" with laughing or other strong emotions?
• Do you wake up, unable to move, paralyzed out of sleep?
• Do you have restlessness, tingling, or a crawling sensation in your legs that makes you move them to feel relief?

If you answered "Yes" to any of these questions, talk to your physician or give us a call at the Sleep Disorders Center at (631) 476 2721.

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