A sleep clinic is a specialized center dedicated to evaluating, diagnosing, and treating sleep-related problems, allowing patients to regain proper rest and improve their quality of life.
Sleep clinics have multidisciplinary teams made up of physicians specialized in sleep disorders, technicians, and other healthcare professionals who are trained to address the wide range of sleep problems.
The goal is to identify the underlying cause of the sleep disorder through detailed evaluations, including diagnostic tests such as sleep polygraphy and polysomnography, which assess breathing patterns, blood oxygen levels, and brain and muscle activity during sleep.
Since multiple factors can cause sleep disorders, ranging from physical problems to emotional situations, the treatment provided in a sleep clinic is highly personalized and may include lifestyle changes, behavioral therapies, respiratory physiotherapy, or, in some cases, surgical procedures.
Sleep specialist
A sleep specialist is a physician who has received specific training in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders and may be a neurologist, pulmonologist, psychiatrist, otolaryngologist, or internist.
The sleep physician plays a key role in identifying underlying conditions that may interfere with healthy sleep. Their responsibilities include:
- Conducting a comprehensive clinical evaluation of the patient.
- Interpreting the results of the studies performed.
- Developing treatment plans based on the individual needs of each patient.
- Indicating the use of specific devices or therapies.
- Working with other specialties using a multidisciplinary approach to manage patients with respiratory or psychological problems that affect sleep quality.
Sleep polygraphy
One of the main tools used to reach a diagnosis in sleep disorders is sleep polygraphy. This noninvasive sleep study allows evaluation of various physiological parameters while the patient sleeps.
During a polygraphy study, variables such as airflow and respiratory movements of the chest and abdomen, blood oxygenation, and heart rate are monitored.
The results allow the sleep specialist to diagnose various respiratory disorders and guide the appropriate treatment.
Although sleep polygraphy is useful for diagnosing some disorders, it does not provide all the necessary information about the patient’s sleep cycle.
Polysomnography is also used to assess various bodily functions during sleep. This exam monitors brain activity, eye movements, muscle activity, breathing, heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and other physiological functions.
The choice of diagnostic method will depend on the specialist’s clinical suspicion and which test is believed to provide the best results.
What are sleep disorders
There are many different types of sleep disorders, each affecting a person’s ability to achieve proper rest in its own way. Some of the most common include:
- Insomnia: difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, meaning the person does not get restorative rest; it may be due to psychological issues such as stress or underlying diseases.
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): characterized by sudden episodes of partial or complete airway obstruction during sleep, causing pauses in breathing and reduced blood oxygen levels.
- Restless legs syndrome (RLS): a neurological condition that causes an uncontrollable urge to move the legs, especially during periods of rest.
- Narcolepsy: a neurological disorder that affects the brain’s ability to regulate sleep-wake cycles, resulting in excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden sleep episodes.
- Circadian rhythm disorders: occur when the body’s biological clock is not synchronized with the environment, such as jet lag or shift work disorder.
- Parasomnia: abnormal behaviors that occur during sleep, such as sleepwalking, night terrors, or REM sleep behavior disorder, when a person acts out their dreams.
Sleep clinics or sleep hospitals and sleep specialists are essential for addressing the various sleep problems that not only affect rest and recovery during sleep but also impact daily activities and the quality of life of patients and their families.
Sleep medicine specialist near me
At the ABC Medical Center’s Neurology Center, we have a highly trained team of sleep specialists dedicated to providing comprehensive, personalized care to help you sleep better.
Our sleep medicine specialists in Mexico City (CDMX) are committed to your well-being and use the latest technology and the most advanced treatments to manage conditions such as insomnia, sleep apnea, sleepwalking, and more.
Fuentes:
Medline Plus, Elsevier, NIH
