Generally defined, a sleep disorder, also referred to as a sleep-wake disorder, involves any medical condition that involves problems with the amount, quality, or timing of sleep that a person experiences, leading to stress, emotional imbalances, and impaired functioning during their waking hours. Sleep disorders often occur in connection with other medical conditions or mental illnesses, including anxiety, depression, or thyroid disorders.

If you are dealing with a sleep disorder, there are several ways that a doctor or sleep medicine specialist can help bring regularity and quality to your sleep hygiene and habits. The specific treatment or way that a sleep doctor goes about doing that ultimately depends on the particular problems you are having with sleep and if any underlying medical conditions are contributing to your sleep disorder. With that in mind, a sleep doctor can help with a sleep disorder in the following ways:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I)
• Changing or improving your sleep habits
• Perform or request tests to reveal any medical conditions associated with or contributing to the sleep disorder, such as a physical exam, blood test, or sleep study
• Prescribe medication or sleep equipment, such as an oral appliance or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy

The above is just a few of the several ways that a sleep doctor can help with a sleep disorder. For more information about how our sleep doctors can help you with a sleep disorder at Dr. Luis Mesa, MD, please feel free to contact us!

Since anyone can experience periodic difficulty with sleeping at some point in their life, it can be challenging to know if you are dealing with a sleep disorder or if you are just going through a rough patch that will correct itself on its own. With that being said, it is important to get proper help if you are having difficulty sleeping, as a healthy amount and quality of sleep are crucial to one’s overall health and wellness. As such, you should see a doctor about a sleep disorder if you are experiencing any of the following problems with sleep:

• Difficulty with concentration or paying attention at work or school
• Fall asleep while driving
• Frequent or constant difficulty with sleep
• Have been told that you snore loudly and sometimes seem to stop breathing during sleep
• Memory problems
• Reduced or impaired ability to perform routine daily tasks
• Significant fatigue and tiredness throughout the day
• Struggle to stay awake while you are inactive

There are several different types of sleep disorders that an individual can experience. Some common sleep disorders include the following:

• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Circadian rhythm disorders (issues with your sleep-wake cycle)
• Insomnia
• Narcolepsy
• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
• Parasomnia
• Restless leg syndrome
• Sleep paralysis

If you would like more information about sleep disorder treatment or want to schedule an appointment for sleep disorder treatment with us at Dr. Luis Mesa, MD, we welcome you to do so through our website or by calling us! We serve patients from Aventura FL, North Bay Village FL, Miami Gardens FL, Hollywood FL, West Park FL, Opa-locka FL, and Pinewood FL.