Professional Treatment for Troubled Sleep

"We'll help you find the sleep you've been missing"

A good night's rest is something that many of us take for granted.  It's only when our regular pattern of sleep is disturbed that we recognize the vital role it plays in our waking lives.  Sleep deprivation can have devastating effects on your mental and physical well-being. 

Everyone has trouble sleeping from time to time, but a consistent pattern of sleeplessness and daytime sleepiness may indicate a sleep disorder and should be taken seriously.  There are more than 80 recognized conditions that can plague your sleep.  The good news is that the specialists at Noyes Sleep Disorders Center can diagnose and treat them all.

Sleep Medicine is a Highly Specialized Field
The practice of sleep medicine requires clinical knowledge about sleep disorders, including an understanding of normal and disordered sleep processes, experience in specialized diagnostic tests and procedures, and expertise in managing clinical sleep disorders.  Dr. Kenneth Plotkin, Medical Director, is a Diplomat of the American Board of Sleep Medicine and a Fellow of the American Association of Sleep Medicine.  Dr. Plotkin, a Board Certified Neurologist, specializes in sleep disorders and epilepsy. 

The term "sleep disorder" covers a broad range of illnesses stemming from many causes, including:
Insomnia
Insomnia is difficulty sleeping - whether you're having trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or you're waking up too early.  The amount of sleep we need to feel alert during the day varies from person to person,typically from seven to nine hours of good quality sleep.  Transient insomnia lasts for a few nights, while short-term insomnia lasts two to four weeks.  Chronic insomnia is poor sleep that happens most nights, lasting a month or longer.

• Narcolepsy
  Narcolepsy sufferers, no matter how much they sleep, continue to experience an irresistible need to sleep, sometimes falling asleep while at work, talking or driving a car.  These "sleep attacks" can last from 30 seconds to 30 minutes or more.  Narcoleptics may also experience periods of cataplexy (muscle weakness), sleep paralysis or hallucinations at the onset of sleep.
• Parasomnias
  Parasomia refers to disruptive events that happen during sleep, or which are induced or exacerbated by sleep, such as sleepwalking or asthma, night terrors, sleep-related eating, nocturnal tooth-grinding and nocturnal teeth-clenching.  All can have unwanted side effects.
• Restless Legs Syndrome
  Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a discomfort in the legs - an almost irresistible urge to move the legs which can only be relieved by moving or otherwise stimulating them.  The feeling is difficult to describe and is sometimes referred to as crawling, singling or prickling sensation which can disrupt normal sleep patterns.
• Snoring and Sleep Apnea
  Snoring is no laughing matter if it is causing you or your family to lost sleep.  It may also be a sign of sleep apnea, which causes breathing to stop during brief periods throughout the night.  These breathing abnormalities cause you to wake up briefly to begin breathing again, sometimes hundreds of times during the night, which can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness and further serious complications.
  

Noyes Hospital Sleep Disorders Center Can Help
Sleep disorders can be effectively treated.  However, they can't be treated if they are not properly diagnosed first.  Often all it takes is a consultant with a qualified sleep specialist.  In more severe instances, we would need you to stay overnight at the center for a sleep study.  Before you retire to bed, small sensors will be attached to your body.  You'll sleep in a private, comfortable room and will be monitored through the night by one of our sleep technologists.  A parent is allowed to stay with a child overnight at the lab, and a companion room is available for your partner if you've traveled a long way for the overnight study.

All sleep studies are monitored by our medical director and interpreted by a physician, board certified in sleep medicine, who develops a treatment plan suited to your condition.  Some problems respond to simple changes in behavior or diet.  Others could require wearing a breathing device during sleep, medication or minor surgery.  The Sleep Disorders Center staff will fully discuss recommended procedures with you and your family before undertaking any course of treatment.


If you think that you or a loved one might be suffering from a sleep disorder, take heart - a restful night's sleep could be just a phone call away.

Call For More Information
Contact the Noyes Sleep Disorders Center at (585) 335-4285 or toll free (888) 706-6937 x. 285 for more information about sleep disorders, the lab or the process of obtaining a referral.