What's keeping me awake?
UVA's sleep team can unravel the mystery
By Kelly Casey
A good night's sleep is essential to health. Unfortunately, many of us are deprived of it; more than 70 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders. There are hundreds of potential causes. Common ones include the breathing disorder known as sleep apnea. Depression or stress can also trigger insomnia. Less common causes are rooted in the brain. These include narcolepsy and even neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis and epilepsy can impair sleep.
To help pinpoint the exact cause and get patients on the right treatment path, the University of Virginia Health System has put together a diverse team of specialists. Based at UVA's Sleep Disorders Center-accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM)-this team includes pulmonary doctors who treat sleep-interrupting breathing disorders, as well as psychological specialists who help patients learn relaxation and other techniques to improve sleep. A doctor who specializes in brain disorders is also on the team.
As the sleep team's neurologist, Mark Quigg, M.D., specializes in sleep disorders such as night terrors, REM (rapid eye movement) disorders and daytime hypersomnias such as narcolepsy and cataplexy, which can make a person fall asleep suddenly.
He also often sees patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have difficulty sleeping and constantly feel fatigued. In some cases, that may be caused by sleep apnea; but in other cases, the sleep patterns of MS patients are similar to patients with depression, who often suffer from insomnia.
Epilepsy that has been under-treated or unrecognized can lead to daytime drowsiness. Getting seizures under control, Quigg says, can lead to better sleep. And getting better sleep can help alleviate seizures. There also is a growing appreciation of daytime sleepiness caused by epilepsy medicine prescribed to control seizures.
"At UVA, we have the most sophisticated diagnostic equipment to pinpoint the problem and a team of experts to help patients get quality sleep," Quigg says. "Our job really is to help them function better while they're awake. Sometimes more than one thing is causing the problem so it really takes a team to figure out the right treatment."
UVA's sleep team
The University of Virginia Health System's sleep medicine team can get you on the path to more restful nights. To make an appointment, call 888-882-9892.Mark of excellence
Learn why it's important to seek out an accredited sleep center like UVA'sThis article appeared in the fall 2008 issue of Vim & Vigor, a family health magazine sponsored by UVA Health System. If you don't already receive it at home, sign up today. It's free.