The Journey from No-Sleep to Asleep

Dr. Ronald Popper, founder and Medical Director of The Southern California Pulmonary and Sleep Disorders Medical Centre, did his fellowship research at the VA Wadsworth / UCLA Medical Center in the field known as sleep apnea. http://sleepmd4u.com/

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The Journey from No-Sleep to Asleep

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Master French playwright, Victor Hugo, spoke fondly of his childhood days and described his mother’s arms as being made of tenderness so that the children could sleep soundly in them.  One doesn’t always know if he’s ever suffered from a sleeping disorder, but unfortunately, sleep disorders affect two thirds of all Americans at some stage in their lives.  For those of you unaware of the enormity of this problem, we hope you never need to deal with this; for those of you who suffer or watch a loved one cope with this, we express our sympathies and offer hope.

 

Dr. Ronald Popper, founder and Medical Director of The Southern California Pulmonary and Sleep Disorders Medical Centre, did his fellowship research at the VA Wadsworth / UCLA Medical Center in the field known as sleep apnea.  Before commencing his practice, Dr. Popper helped in starting the sleep center at the VA Medical Center.  His interest in diagnosing and treating sleep disorders led to the inception of the center in 1984.  Sleep disorders have remained a subject that Dr. Popper has tremendous expertise in and on account of this, he speaks for the National Sleep Foundation to educate the public and increase awareness levels.

 

At the center, doctors interview patients and give them a complete physical examination to identify symptoms of sleep disorders.  Mostly, a diagnosis and a treatment plan gets formulated primarily on this basis.  For some patients, a sleep study (a painless test that requires a patient to sleep in the sleep center during their normal sleep period) gets conducted where information about the quality and the quantity of the patient’s sleep can be ascertained. 

 

Sleep disorders comprise of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), Restless Limb Syndrome (RLS), Insomnia, Narcolepsy, Parasomnias and Periodic Limb Movements During Sleep.  Each has its own symptoms and if you need to ascertain which of these has been afflicting and tormenting you or a love one, click here to visit our site and answer a few questions and to unearth the villain.  Often, a problem remains one until it can be identified; thereafter, it can be diagnosed and treated.  At this center, we help you to ascertain whether a sleep disorder exists, we identify it based on your inputs and then, we determine the course of treatment that works best for you.  Knowing how frustrating a sleep disorder can be, we bring together our expertise to accompany you on this journey from losing sleep over this problem to bringing it to rest.

Miles to Go Before You Sleep?

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Do the words of Robert Frost’s famous poems make complete sense to you as they drive home the angst and despair of trying to fall asleep or staying asleep?  Or could it be something that you’ve seen someone you care for, experiencing?  Well, we would like to tell you that we – at Sleep Disorders Medical Centre – would like to help and that you’ve come to the right place.  Determining whether a disorder exists, identifying it (if it exists) and then guiding you through the course of treatments and solutions best-suited to your conditions, remains our forte.

 

Sleep disorders will – at some stage – impact nearly 67% of all Americans during the course of their lives.  Common disorders include:

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): Usually occurs in habitual snorers and can be characterized by pauses in breathing.  Symptoms include fatigue, daytime sleepiness, depression, a headache on waking, difficulty in concentration etc.  It usually impacts 5% of the population.

Restless Limb Syndrome (RLS): Frequently associated with insomnia or daytime sleepiness, this affects approximately 15% of the population.  Its characteristics include the urge to move the extremities where an unpleasant sensation can be felt including pain, a tingling feeling, bugs under the skin etc.

Insomnia: Impacting nearly a third of all Americans, this remains the most common sleep disorder.  Traits of insomnia include difficulty in falling or staying asleep or a non-refreshing or dissatisfactory sleep.

 

In 1985, we received a complete accreditation by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).  In fact, unlike most physicians who claim to be “sleep physicians” but have not yet received Board Certification or sleep centers that have not received full accreditation, Dr. Popper has received Board Certification by the American Board of Sleep Medicine (ABSM) and the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) in Sleep Disorders Medicine.  The importance of these accreditations can be best understood when you click here and visit our site.

 

So, having gauged our certification and expertise, do you still find yourself unsure of where to begin?  Why not give us a call at 805-557-9930 and let us know what afflicts you?  Or you could even send us a message from the “Contact Us” page.  While we know that this might not be the first time that you have sought help for this affliction, we would like to believe that we have what it takes to provide you with solace.  You can rest assured – quite literally – on that.

Idiopathic Central Sleep Apnea and its Diagnosis

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Idiopathic central sleep apnea syndrome (ICSAS) is completely different than obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) which is the more common sleep apnea condition that most of us have heard of before in the past. Idiopathic central sleep apnea is still not as fully understood as obstructive sleep apnea, but through research it is understood that there are abrupt increases in breathing. It is hence crucial to get help from a professional Sleep Disorders Medical Center before things get worse.

 

It is suggested that it is caused by the way the brain controls breathing. This is not a very common form of sleep apnea and there is still much to learn about it. What we do know is that it is usually found in people who are very ill. If you have had a stroke that has affected the brainstem then there is a possibility that you could experience idiopathic sleep apnea. The brainstem is where the body's breathing is controlled, so if you have any injuries, lesions, etc. that has affected the brainstem, then your chances of developing this disorder will increase.


The primary symptom of this sleep apnea is that you stop breathing for a temporary period of time, especially during nocturnal hours. If a neurological condition is the cause of this sleep apnea then you could experience other symptoms like change in voice, difficulty swallowing, feeling week or numb throughout the body and this all depends on what nerves and what part of the nervous system has been affected.

 

The prognosis for Idiopathic sleep disorder is actually very favorable with the proper treatment. If you have been diagnosed with this form of sleep disorder then follow through with the treatment program that your physician recommends.

 

A person who continually takes central respiratory depressant drugs is also at risk of developing this sleep disorder. These drugs include things such as alcohol, opiates, barbiturates, tranquilizers, and benzodiazepines. Usually if the person experiences an episode where they stop breathing they will be an altered state of consciousness or be asleep. For more information, click here. 

What is Sleep Apnea?

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Obstructive sleep apnea is a disorder in which the airflow going to the lungs is decreased because of a narrow or blocked airway. Those who have this disorder would snore frequently while dozing off and then hold their breath. Professional help should be sought by looking for a suitable Sleep Disorders Medical Center.

When one falls asleep, the muscles become more relaxed including the airway muscles which function to let air in. Patients with this condition have thinner or narrow airways which makes it hard for air to flow through. As a result of air trying to squeeze in, the person snores. These people begin to snore after falling asleep. They have a period where they stop breathing and suddenly gasp for air as they try to breathe again. As a result of such breathing pattern, they may not have a good rest at night causing fatigue and sleepiness the next day.

In order to diagnose this condition, a physical examination would be necessary so click here. Health care practitioners will have to take the patient’s complete health history. The mouth, neck, and throat will be checked. Tests are also performed which may include arterial blood gases, echocardiogram, and ECG. In the treatment of this order, the main goal is to keep the air passages open so that breathing will not be interrupted. Treatment may involve the use of dental devices or continuous positive airway pressure.

In some cases, surgery may be required. People who have this condition but are poorly treated may experience complications such as heart failure, high blood pressure, heart arrhythmias, and stroke. Additionally, the person could suffer from anxiety, depression, and poor performance, and may get into accidents because of fatigue.

It is important to treat obstructive sleep apnea while the situation is not yet complicated. It is highly advised to bring this to the attention of health care providers if the family notices some of the symptoms in one of its members. For better information, click here so that all the queries are answered well in time.

 

Could you be suffering from sleep apnea?

Most people who have sleep apnea don't know they have it because it only occurs during sleep. A family member or bed partner might be the first to notice signs of sleep apnea and may in turn lead you to get sleep apnea treatments. http://sleepmd4u.com

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