We all need our Z’s…

For millions of people, sleep disorders are common. If you have difficulty falling or staying asleep, this may indicate an underlying problem. That’s why we bring you the Weirton Medical Center Sleep Center.

Lack of sleep can have many negative repercussions in your life, including several that can impair your general health. It is important to receive adequate amounts of sleep by making sure to head to bed a bit earlier each night, but it is also possible for the quality of your sleep to be ruined by a number of potentially unknown sleep disorders that prevent you from achieving the quality of sleep that you need.

Snoring

One of the most common sleep disorders, snoring is characterized by a difficulty to breathe that often results in loud noises as air forces itself through a partially obstructed throat. While this condition is nothing to fear, it can heavily impact the quality of your sleep or that of your partner. Snoring may also worsen to become a more serious sleep condition known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Like snoring, obstructive sleep apnea is the result of a blockage that inhibits airflow through the nose or mouth. This condition is especially concerning, as it causes pauses in breathing throughout the night as airflow is stopped completely until the brain wakes the body enough to resume its breathing functions. This momentary pauses typically result in chronic fatigue as well as serious conditions of the heart and vascular system.

Insomnia

Individuals who experience extreme difficulty in falling asleep, or in staying asleep, are likely to have a sleep disorder called insomnia. This condition can be both acute and chronic, meaning it can last for a short period of time (usually due to overwhelming amounts of stress) or it can last for months if not years at a time.

Sleep Paralysis

It is possible for a person to wake in the middle of a sleep cycle and be unable to move their body despite having a fully active mind and conscious awareness. This occurrence is known as sleep paralysis, which is generally quite alarming and terrifying for the individual to experience. Controlled breathing and other relaxation techniques are often great sources of relief to this sleep disorder, though some cases may also require prescribed medications to help reduce frequency of sleep paralysis episodes.

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a sleeping disorder characterized by extreme fatigue that often causes the person to suddenly fall asleep, even in inappropriate places or at abnormal times. In addition to daytime sleepiness, people with narcolepsy often experience sleep paralysis, hypnagogic hallucinations, and cataplexy.

Circadian Rhythm Disorders

Many individuals will encounter a circadian rhythm disorder at some point in their lives when their body is unable to sync with external time cues. This typically occurs after a significant time zone change, and is also extremely common in those suffering from blindness.

Restless Leg Syndrome

As mentioned, there are a variety of sleep disorders that can be caused by other conditions. Restless leg syndrome is one such condition that results in sensations through the legs that often make it difficult to achieve a restful sleep. These sensations are reported to feel similar to that of aching, tingling, burning, or even crawling on the skin. Restless leg syndrome belongs to a category of sleep disorders called parasomnias, which also include nightmares, sleepwalking, and night terrors.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

For those that achieve their recommended hours of sleep and still feel an extreme sense of tiredness, it is likely that their exhaustion is being caused by chronic fatigue syndrome ( CFS). This particular sleep disorder can be caused by other medical conditions, such as sleep apnea, but may also exist all on its own.

Sleep Studies at Weirton Medical

We provide overnight sleep studies to help your doctor determine the best course of action to get you rested and as healthy as possible!

Appointments

Take the first step and schedule an appointment with our Sleep Center specialists.

For more information call 304-224-1230.

Please note, a physician referral and appointment are required.

Location and Directions

Sleep Center
131 American Way
Weirton, WV 26062

Anyone that has difficulty falling or staying asleep, even when they are free of distraction or disturbance, is considered to have a sleep disorder known as insomnia. A few nights of inadequate rest does not necessarily mean that an individual has insomnia, but if these symptoms persist for three or more months, they are likely suffering from some kind of sleep disorder.

What Are the Different Types of Insomnia?

There are an infinite number of reasons as to why any person would have trouble sleeping. If an individual’s insomnia can be linked to another medical condition such as depression or even heartburn, then it is categorized as secondary insomnia.

Another type of insomnia called primary insomnia describes a situation in which the person does not have any other associated conditions with their sleeping disorder.

What’s the Difference Between Acute and Chronic Insomnia?

An additional distinction exists between insomnia that lasts for a short period (acute insomnia) and insomnia that lasts long term (chronic insomnia).

Acute insomnia typically applies to those who experience insomnia as a result of stress or other serious events going on in their personal lives. For example, you may find it difficult to sleep for several weeks after the passing of a loved one, but eventually your sleep schedule will stabilize again. In addition to stress, other common causes of acute insomnia include:

  • Environmental factors such as loud noises or temperature fluctuations
  • Illness
  • New medications
  • Physical discomfort
  • Sudden changes in your sleep schedule like switching from working a day shift to a night shift

Those with chronic insomnia will find that their sleeping issues exist no matter what is or is not happening in their personal life. Chronic insomnia generally lasts much longer than acute insomnia, and is often caused by:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Persistent stress
  • Physical discomfort

Diagnosis and Treatment for Insomnia

It is important to talk with your doctor if you notice that you have difficulty sleeping for approximately three nights out of the week. First, your doctor will start the process of diagnosing your insomnia by completing a physical exam to see if there is any reason why you would be experiencing significant discomfort at night.

It can also be helpful to keep track of your symptoms by writing them down in a sleep journal. The more information you are able to give, the better. Additional sleep tests may be conducted by a specialist if necessary.

Once the cause of a patient’s insomnia has been determined, your doctor will move on to helping them find a suitable treatment option such as:

  • Behavioral therapy to teach sleep techniques for proper relaxation
  • Lifestyle changes to encourage good sleeping habits
  • Prescribed medication

For cases of chronic insomnia, it is important to treat the underlying condition that is leading to the person’s disordered sleeping. This can address emotional issues, physical issues, or both.

Over-the-counter sleeping pills are not recommended for people who suffer from insomnia, as they do not remain effective long-term. The best way to take action against your troubling insomnia symptoms is to meet with a specialist.

Appointments

To learn more about insomnia and how it may affect you in your daily life, contact Weirton Medical Center for a one-on-one consultation to review the severity of your condition and the treatment options available. To schedule a consultation for insomnia treatment at our sleep center in Weirton, please call 304-224-1230 to schedule your appointment with our sleep specialists.

What is Snoring?

Snoring is the sound you make when your breathing is blocked while you are asleep. It is very common and an estimated 45 percent of adults snore occasionally, while 25 percent snore regularly. Snoring is more common in men, though many women snore. It appears to run in families and becomes more common as you get older.

Weirton Medical Center offers sleep apnea and snoring consultations t0 determine a solution to regain control of patients lives and return to a fully-functional lifestyle. If you believe that snoring and apnea is disrupting your sleep, schedule a consultation at our sleep center.

What Causes Snoring?

The snoring sound is caused by tissues at the top of your airway that strike each other and vibrate as you breathe. It can sound like a hoarse or harsh noise when the air flows through.

Snoring Related Problems

The severity of snoring can have a wide range. Sometimes snoring can come and go, while other times it can be a sign of a more serious issue, such as sleep apnea. If snoring is disrupting your quality of life, you can seek professional help.

Snoring may cause:

  • Daytime sleepiness
  • Disrupt your bed partner’s sleep
  • Frequent awakenings at night
  • Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

If you have any of the following symptoms, you may want to talk with a sleep specialist to be evaluated for sleep apnea. OSA often is characterized by loud snoring followed by periods of silence when breathing stops or nearly stops.

Other signs of sleep apnea may include:

  • Breathing pauses repeated many times during the night.
  • Chest pain at night
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Excessive daytime sleepiness
  • Gasping or choking at night
  • High blood pressure
  • Morning headaches
  • Poor attention span, behavioral issues or poor performance in school may be seen in children
  • Restless sleep
  • Snoring is so loud it’s disrupting your partner’s sleep
  • Sore throat upon awakening
  • Witnessed breathing pauses during sleep

How to Diagnose Snoring

If you feel like you may have an issue with snoring, you can get answers.

Your doctor may recommend:

  • A few tests or imaging to examine your airway
  • A sleep study to diagnose the significance of snoring
  • An ear nose and throat specialist (otolaryngologist) to examine your throat and neck and the inside of your mouth to diagnose the cause of snoring

Ways to Reduce Snoring

To reduce snoring your provider likely will first recommend lifestyle changes, such as:

  • Avoiding alcohol close to bedtime
  • Avoiding sleeping flat on your back
  • Cutting down or avoid alcohol and other sedatives at bedtime
  • Losing weight if you are overweight
  • Talking to a sleep specialist about surgery
  • Treating nasal congestion
  • Using a medical device

What is the Recommended Treatment for Snoring?

If you have an issue with snoring as well as sleep apnea, your specialist may recommend one of the following:

  • Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) – this approach involves wearing a mask over your nose or mouth while you sleep. The mask directs pressurized air from a small bedside pump to your airway to keep it open during sleep and is the most often used when treating snoring with OSA.
  • Oral appliances – this may include a dental mouthpieces to help align your jaw to help keep your air passage open, or other ways to optimize the appliance to help your airway.
  • Upper airway surgery – can help trim or tighten the excess tissues in your throat, move the upper and lower jaws forward to open your airway, control the movement of the tongue, or use radiofrequency tissue ablation to shrink obstructive tissue.

Appointments

If snoring is disrupting your sleep, contact Weirton Medical Center to speak with our sleep specialists and discuss the treatment options available. To visit our sleep center, please call 304-224-1230.