If you’re experiencing trouble sleeping, if you snore, or if you regularly suffer from excessive sleepiness during the day, it could mean you’re suffering from a sleep disorder. The time may be right for you to consult a board-certified sleep expert. An assessment can aid you in developing a strategy that will improve your sleeping habits and well-being.
What is a sleep specialist (a.k.a. or sleep doctor or sleep physician), and how can you tell the best time for you to book a consultation?
What Is a Sleep Medicine Specialist/Doctor?
Sleep medicine specialists are doctors with additional and specific training on sleep, specifically in diagnosing and treating sleep disorders.
A doctor with board certification shows an unwavering commitment to research and knowledge of sleep and its role in overall health. The doctor is licensed to practice sleep medicine and provides medical attention to people of all ages who suffer from sleep disorders.
Sleep disorders may be:
- insomnia (difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep)
- Snoring and sleep apnea (stopping breathing during sleep)
- parasomnias (for example, sleepwalking)
- Sleep-related movement conditions (like the syndrome of restless legs or the desire to move one’s legs when trying to sleep)
- many other sleep disorders
A variety of sleep conditions can cause serious long-term consequences for your health. A board-certified sleep specialist has a thorough understanding of the effects of sleep on your body as well as on your mental well-being. They are capable of establishing a strategy to improve your sleeping habits, improving the quality of your life and your preventative health care.
Sleep doctors can prescribe treatments that include medication and medical device therapy (such as oral appliance therapy or CPAP for apnea). They can refer patients to other specialists if required (for instance, cognitive behavioral therapy to treat insomnia or physical therapy to help open the airway and allow better breathing).
Sleep is an intricate field of study and treatment. It impacts all the systems of the body, including the nervous system, the endocrine system and the cardiovascular system. This is why sleep medicine specialists often operate out of practices referred to as “sleep centers” or “sleep clinics” that may comprise or consult with other experts in the field of sleep. For instance, sleep technologists are licensed to perform sleep studies as well as other tests that are related to the treatment and diagnosis of sleep-related disorders. Sleep technologists and sleep medicine doctors collaborate closely to collect the data needed for determining a diagnosis, particularly in the case of sleeping disorders that need monitoring.
Based on the extent of the practice, the sleep medicine doctor may consult or collaborate with specialists that can assist with the management of a sleep disorder, such as a sleep medicine dentist, a sleep behavior expert, and an expert in sleep surgery. But the initial step of dealing with or managing the sleep issue is to be assessed, observed and appropriately diagnosed.
You can get this at more than 2500 accredited sleep clinics and centers in sleep medicine across the United States today.
If you’re among the people suffering from sleep disorders issues, you can find an expert in sleep medicine near your home. Sleep disorders are usual and widespread. The field is expanding every year. A growing number of physicians are becoming board certified to treat sleep disorders and improve the overall health of people.
Also, remember that sleep problems affect people of all ages (including children and infants), of all sizes and backgrounds, in every region of the country. There’s no shame in seeking assistance if you’re snoring or don’t get the rest you require.
When Should You See a Sleep Specialist?
If you’ve been having difficulty sleeping for a prolonged duration, visiting a sleep expert now could aid. There are other signs that indicate there is a possibility of having a sleep disorder and should seek a consultation:
- Changes to your sleeping environment and routines (such as wake time, bedtime, lighting and noise levels or even caffeine intake) do not help enhance your sleep quality or quantity.
- You’re tired throughout the day, even after an entire night’s sleep.
- You are too lazy to take sleep breaks or get snoozed at work, in class or while driving.
- You’re coughing, snoring or gasping at night, and you wake up with an aching throat.
- There are sleep-related actions, behavior or other occurrences in the night, just before you go asleep or right after you wake up(such as moving your legs around, sleepwalking or talking, sleep paralysis and so on.). It is possible that you don’t know the signs; however, your sleep companion or a family member may observe these events happening.
- The next day you wake up with a headache, jaw pain or other pain.
Of course, other potential symptoms are possible. However, these are a few of the most frequent complaints that people suffering from sleep disorders report to sleep medicine experts. When you notice any behavior patterns or signs, it is best to schedule an appointment.
You can try iCareHeal, it’s an app for doctors, where you can book your appointment with ease.
There’s nothing wrong with getting checked early. Putting off a diagnosis can cause you health risks.
Why See a Sleep Specialist?
If you have an undiagnosed sleep disorder, consulting a sleep expert is crucial to safeguard your health. If not treated, problems such as sleep apnea can increase the chance of developing cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, depression, diabetes, stroke and weight growth.
The same is true for several other sleep issues. Insufficient or disturbed (interrupted) sleep may make you vulnerable to various serious health issues.
Additionally, the specific sleep disorder you suffer dictates the treatment you need to take, but an untrained physician cannot determine a correct diagnosis. Numerous sleep disorders are similar, while others require testing and observation. A qualified sleep specialist knows that there are more than 80 sleep disorders, each with its unique cause. These causes could be neurologic, anatomical, psychological or related to medications or diet.
A sleep specialist has the skills, experience and testing equipment to identify your specific problem and develop a treatment strategy to bring your condition under control.
Visiting an expert in this field is crucial to receive the proper assessment and direction in order to determine the appropriate diagnosis.
How to Find a Sleep Specialist Near You
You can use the internet to search, which increasingly provides local-area results tailored to your location. For instance, you can Google “App for doctors,” “sleep specialist near me,” “local sleep specialist,” or similar phrases. Entering the city, metropolitan region or state may help to customize your results.
If you live near Solapur, you can search for General Physician in Solapur, and this would do the job.
