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Successful snoozing
By Mary Madewell
Published February 16, 2010
Loud snoring, nighttime jerking and even sleep eating all could be signs of sleep disorder, a condition suffered by an estimated one in five Americans.
The treatment of the sometimes fatal prognosis is one of the most rewarding experiences for a physician, according to pulmonologist Dr. Ted McLemore, chief executive officer and staff physician at the Paris Pulmonary Clinic and the Paris Sleep Disorders Center.
“It’s a life changing experience for the patient and it is really rewarding to the physician because there is immediate gratification,” McLemore said.
Unlike other diseases the Paris physician treats — like lung cancer or other chronic illnesses — McLemore said sleep disorder treatment most often is successful.
“Most chronic diseases we see in adults there is not a lot you can do long-term, but with sleep apnea it is very rewarding,” he said.
Depending on the disorder, treatment often can be as simple as a medication or a bit more involved with the use of a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device, a machine with a mask that fits over the nose and in some cases the mouth as well.
From his office on Clarksville Street, McLemore talked about the different kinds of sleep disorders and about the Paris Sleep Disorders Center, recently certified by The Joint Commission’s national standards for health care quality and safety. In addition to hospitals, the Joint Commission also certifies outpatient ambulatory care organizations.
“It’s a voluntary type certification but is one we wanted to go through to make sure we are providing the best services to our patients,” McLemore said.
Once a patient is believed to be suffering from a sleep disorder, the next step is to spend a night in the Paris Sleep Disorders Center. Patients are placed in a comfortable bedroom setting complete with television.
There a patient is monitored for sleep stages, body movements, heart rhythms; brain wave activity; eye movements; blood oxygen; air flow through the nose and mouth as well as wind movements.
“By looking at all those different parameters, we can tell what kind of sleep disorders a patient may have,” McLemore said.
Sleep apnea, where throat muscles relax during sleep and cut off air flow or the brain fails to signal respiratory muscles to breathe, is one of the more common disorders. Patients actually stop breathing during sleep — sometimes hundreds of times during the night.
“The airways collapse over and over again,” McLemore explained. “People can have a heart attack or stroke or just die in their sleep.”
Narcolepsy is a disorder associated with periods of uncontrollable sleepiness during waking hours.
“Some people actually fall asleep during a conversation,” McLemore said. “People with this disorder are a danger to themselves and others.”
The physician said the condition is caused by a biochemical abnormality in the brain and can be treated successfully with appropriate medications.
Nocturnal Myoclonus is characterized by frequent leg movements or jerks every 20 to 40 seconds during sleep, causing the individual to arouse slightly during sleep. A related disorder, Restless Legs Syndrome, occurs when tingling or pain in the extremities prevents sleep.
Gastroesophageal ReFlux patients often awaken with chest pain, coughing, wheezing or a burning sensation in their chest or throat, caused by a backup of stomach acid into the esophagus.
Other examples of sleep disorders include night terrors, sleep walking, teeth grinding, nocturnal epilepsy and other various insomnia syndromes. Appropriate diagnosis and therapy can alleviate these sleep-related problems as well.
In addition to their inherent dangers, sleep disorders have a direct affect on body functions.
“When you don’t sleep well at night, the hormonal functions of the body don’t work well,” McLemore said.
But with proper treatment, the physician said “patients feel better almost overnight.”
“They actually markedly improve and increase their ability to do their daily activities and lead a productive life,” he said. “They feel great; their families feel great; and they are easier to get along with.”
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