Sleep Medicine Specialist

What is sleep medicine?

Sleep medicine is a specialized area of medicine that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders. Though sleep is often viewed as dispensable, not getting the amount of rest your body needs increases your risk of many chronic health conditions, including:

• Obesity
• Depression
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Uncontrolled hypertension

Your poor sleep habits may also make you more susceptible to infections like the common cold and flu.

What sleep disorders are treated by sleep medicine?

Athena Medical Clinic and Sleep Medicine Associates of Athens provides care for many sleep disorders. Some of the most common include:

Sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is a common, but dangerous sleep disorder that interferes with your breathing while you sleep. 

Insomnia

Insomnia is the inability to fall or stay asleep. This sleep disorder may be acute or chronic and develop from stress, underlying health conditions, or use of certain medications. 

Restless legs syndrome (RLS)

RLS is a sleep disorder that causes uncontrollable movements of your legs to alleviate uncomfortable sensations such as tingling or aching. 

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder caused by a dysfunction in your brain that creates uncontrollable daytime sleepiness. 

Circadian rhythm sleep disorders

Circadian rhythm sleep disorders include conditions that affect your body’s internal sleep/wake clock. 

The practice also specializes in diagnosing and managing other sleep-related issues, including night terrors, sleepwalking, and bedwetting. 

What can I expect during a sleep medicine appointment?

You can expect a comprehensive and compassionate evaluation when you come to Athena Medical Clinic and Sleep Medicine Associates of Athens for a sleep medicine appointment.

The practice takes a multidisciplinary approach to care and works with you and other health professionals so you get an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. 

The practice uses the accredited on-site sleep lab to do different studies to better understand the cause of your sleep issues, including:

• Polysomnography (PSG)
• Positive airway pressure (PAP) study
• Multiple sleep latency test (MSLT)

The sleep medicine specialists also offer home sleep studies and Actiwatch to monitor patients at home and provide in-office PAP therapies and sleep apnea machines through their durable medical equipment (DME) service. 

At Athena Medical Clinic and Sleep Medicine Associates of Athens, you can rest knowing that your sleep and health are in qualified, caring, and experienced hands. Call the office or use the online tool to book your sleep medicine consultation today.