Ask a Sleep Medicine Physician Online

The medical specialty that deals with the diagnosis and management of disturbances and disorders of sleep is known as sleep medicine. A physician who is trained in sleep medicine and sleep disorders is called a sleep specialist. Sleep disorders lower the quality of life and cause many physical and mental problems. Good health is not only dependent upon getting adequate sleep, but it also depends on the quality of sleep.

There is a wide range of sleep disorders that can be treated by a sleep specialist, which includes sleep apnea, insomnia, narcolepsy, periodic limb movements, and restless leg syndrome. When you first visit a sleep specialist, he or she will ask you a lot of questions to determine if you need any diagnostic tests. If the specialist suspects any sleep disorder, you would have to undergo polysomnogram. In polysomnogram, many electrodes are placed in your body, which will help the doctor monitor your brainwaves, heart rate, eye movements, leg twitching, muscle tensing, chest wall movement, and breathing while you sleep.

If the doctor feels that you do not need a sleep test, he or she will prescribe you medications and suggest you perform sleep hygiene. Treatment for sleep apnea includes medical and dental appliances to help you breathe properly at night. Other sleep disorders that a sleep specialist can help you with are sleepwalking, sleep terror, nightmares, bedwetting, or talking in your sleep. If you find it hard to sleep at night or suffer from any of the other sleep disorders, consult a professionally trained sleep specialist online before it affects your health.