Do you frequently toss and turn all
night and wake up feeling tired? If so,
you’re not alone. According to the
National Institutes of Health, more than
70 million people in the United States
may be affected by sleeping. In an
effort to help diagnose and evaluate the
growing number of people with sleep
disorders, a new state-of-the-art sleep
clinic in Fremont has created a
"sleep-friendly" treatment center.
In affiliation with Washington
Hospital, the new
Washington Township Center for Sleep
Disorders offers the most advanced
technology to diagnose and treat a wide
variety of conditions related to sleep.
The sleep clinic is a collaborative
resource of multi-disciplinary
specialists designed to provide
comprehensive patient care for
individuals suffering from obstructive
sleep apnea, insomnia, snoring, restless
leg syndrome and other difficulties that
are keep people up at night.
Leading the new clinic is
Medical Director, Dr. Nitun Verma, a
sleep medicine physician who has been
trained specifically in the treatment of
adult and pediatric sleep disorders.
"As a comprehensive sleep clinic, our
goal is to collaborate with our patients
and find a treatment plan that works for
them," says Dr. Verma. "What makes the
Washington Center for Sleep Disorders
unique is that we are teaming up with
other clinicians such as ear, nose and
throat (ENT) surgeons, primary care
physicians, and orthodontists to work
with patients on finding a solution that
best fits their lifestyle."
"We plan on having strong
continuity of care, because this is what
is needed in the long term treatment of
patients with sleep disorders," Dr. Verma says. "This is what is required to
reduce the morbidity and mortality of
drowsy driving, hypertension, strokes,
heart attacks, depression, and other
conditions caused and/or worsened by
sleep disorders."
Sleep Apnea Often Goes
Undiagnosed
Obstructive sleep apnea, a
potentially serious disorder in which
the person’s airway collapses or is
blocked during sleep is one of the most
serious sleep disorders, affecting an
estimated 12 million American adults.
Sleep apnea is usually a chronic,
ongoing condition that disrupts the
person’s sleep several times a night,
resulting in poor sleep quality that
causes daytime fatigue and sleepiness.
"People with sleep apnea often
aren’t aware that they have it since it
occurs while they are asleep," says Dr. Verma. "What happens is that the muscles
that keep the airway open relax during
sleep, and the airway narrows. When it
narrows too much, the brain has a choice
of breathing or sleeping, so the brain
wakes up briefly to stimulate the
muscles to allow breathing. You can have
a lot of episodes like this during the
night without being aware that you’re
waking up for brief periods."
Dr. Verma notes that in addition
to fatigue and sleepiness during the
day, one of the most common signs of
sleep apnea is loud and chronic snoring.
"It’s not unusual for someone’s
family members or bed partner to notice
the snoring and suggest that the person
seek treatment," he says. "Of course,
not everyone who snores has sleep apnea.
Oftentimes, though, people will miss
more subtle signs of sleep apnea, such
as frequent urination at night, night
sweats, waking up confused or panicked,
forgetfulness, an inability to
multi-task or difficulty concentrating.
People with sleep apnea also might feel
irritable or depressed, or they may
experience mood swings or personality
changes."
Because there are no blood tests
or other simple means of diagnosing
sleep apnea, it usually requires a sleep
study, including a polysomnogram (PSG)
that electronically transmits and
records specific physical activities
while you sleep. Such tests will be
available at the Washington Township
Center for Sleep Disorders.
Once a diagnosis of sleep apnea
is made, a variety of treatments are
available. "In theory, treatment of
sleep apnea focuses on the simple goal
of keeping the windpipe open," Dr. Verma
says. "But it’s not always easy to
determine which treatment will address
the patient’s specific causes of sleep
apnea and will be the best fit for the
patient’s lifestyle. That’s why it is
important to consult a physician who
knows all the options and can make the
appropriate referrals."
Sleep Clinic Treats Children
and Those Suffering from Insomnia
The Washington Center for
Sleep Disorders is one of only a few
sleep clinics in the Bay Area to offer a
pediatric sleep center that helps
children with sleeping problems. Dr.
Verma has special training working with
children and has published studies in
the field of pediatric sleep.
"Kids who get overtired are often
hyperactive, rather than sleepy," Dr. Verma observes. "So children with sleep
apnea are often diagnosed as having
attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD) and are treated with stimulants,
which makes the problem worse. This
doesn’t mean that all hyperactive kids
have sleep apnea, but it would be good
to rule out sleep problems before
prescribing stimulants."
The Washington Center for Sleep
Disorders also treats insomnia, one of
only two sleep clinics in Northern
California to treat this disorder.
"Insomnia entails difficulty in
falling asleep and/or staying asleep," Verma says. "There can be a variety of
causes for insomnia. Short-term
insomnia may be caused by stress or
anxiety, jet lag, or another temporary
disruption in your life. Chronic
insomnia lasts longer, and can be caused
by medical, physical or psychological
conditions. Treatment for insomnia
generally entails making behavioral
changes to address the underlying
causes. Mild, yet effective sleeping
medications may also help. It is
important to be evaluated by a physician
before taking medications, however."
Clinic Offers High Quality
Treatment
The new sleep clinic
facility features hotel-style amenities
that include a private bathroom and
shower. Mimicking a natural home
setting, patients can watch television
and DVDs in a comfortable, spa like
environment.
"Our staff is excited to offer a
full-service, comprehensive sleep clinic
that is convenient and treats all of our
patients under one roof."
For more information about
diagnosing and treating sleep apnea and
to learn more about various sleep
disorders, visit the Washington Township
Center for Sleep Disorders website at
