Sleep Medicine
Sleep is vital for all humans. If we don’t get enough high-quality sleep, our health will suffer. Sometimes, we experience sleep disorders that impact several aspects of our sleep, leading to daytime tiredness, fatigue, snoring, and other troubling symptoms. If you’re ever forced to deal with one of these conditions, you’re not alone. Millions of people around the world have some sort of sleep disorder.
To learn more about the quality of your sleep and how to improve it, reach out to the sleep experts at Dr. Jeff Buxton today. Our skilled team can properly diagnose and treat various sleep disorders and ailments. Choose us for trusted sleep medicine in Murray, UT!
Sleep Medicine: Brief Overview
Sleep medicine is a practice that involves diagnosing and treating a wide variety of sleep disorders and conditions. Sleep medicine doctors aim to improve the sleep quality of their patients while reducing the severity of symptoms.
Sleep medicine specialists look at the whole body when assessing and treating sleep disorders. They understand how your respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, musculoskeletal, and nervous systems are all connected to your sleep. If a sleep disorder is impacting your life, one or more of these systems could be affected.
Sleep medicine doctors may come from various backgrounds with different specialties, but they all have specific training in sleep medicine. Other doctors, including neurologists, pulmonologists, cardiologists, family physicians, and pediatricians, may also have training in sleep medicine.
What Does Sleep Medicine Treat?
Sleep medicine can treat several different conditions and sleep problems, such as:
- Central sleep apnea
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
- Bruxism (teeth grinding)
- Circadian sleep disorders and disturbances
- Insomnia
- Hypersomnia
- Parasomnias
- Narcolepsy
- REM (rapid eye movement) sleep behavior disorder
- Restless legs syndrome
- Nighttime leg cramps
- Snoring
- Night terrors
- Sleepwalking
All the conditions above can cause troubling symptoms that can impact several aspects of your life. Without the right treatment, these sleep troubles may cause long-term harm.
Why Choose Sleep Medicine?
Sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your health. Take a look at some reasons why you may visit a sleep medicine specialist:
Diagnose Sleep Conditions
Knowing you have a sleep condition isn’t always easy. When you visit a sleep medicine doctor, they can show you clear evidence if you have a sleep condition or not. These experts can run various tests to understand your sleep health and make trusted recommendations moving forward.
Treat Sleep Disorders
If you learn you have a sleep disorder, a sleep medicine doctor can get you on the right treatment plan. This may involve taking sleep medications, improving sleep hygiene, or using special devices to improve sleep. Sleep medicine doctors use various tools and processes to treat sleep conditions.
Improve Sleep Quality
All in all, a sleep medicine specialist has the goal of improving your sleep quality. Whether you suffer from snoring, fatigue, insomnia, night sweats, or sleep apnea, a sleep medicine doctor can determine the best treatment plan for your needs. They may be able to reduce your symptoms in a matter of days!
Manage Sleep Medications
On some occasions, a sleep medicine doctor may prescribe certain medications to improve your sleep health. These may be used to improve sleep length or sleep quality. You may also be prescribed medications to help with other symptoms during sleep, such as teeth grinding.
Lower Risk of Long-Term Health Problems
Another reason to choose sleep medicine is related to your overall health. By leaving a sleep condition untreated, you increase your risk of developing long-lasting health concerns, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and depression. This is another key reason to see a sleep medicine specialist!
Diagnosing Sleep Disorders
The diagnostic process is a huge part of sleep medicine. First, your doctor may run blood tests to look for any areas of concern. They may also ask you to keep a sleep log or diary to help them understand details like your average bedtime, wake-up time, and level of daytime sleepiness. Additionally, you’ll most likely need to complete a questionnaire about several aspects of your sleep. Lastly, and most importantly, you may undergo a sleep study to evaluate and diagnose a sleep disorder. You will be hooked up to multiple sensors that measure what happens in your body and brain during sleep.
Treatment Options
If a sleep problem is detected, your sleep medicine provider will explain the next steps. These specialists will evaluate the results and offer the best-suited treatment options for your needs. Depending on their findings, they may suggest lifestyle changes, treatments, and even surgery.
One common treatment is a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, which is used to treat sleep apnea. You may also be prescribed a special mouthguard to help you breathe better during the night. If surgery is needed, your provider will discuss the different options.
Sleep Medicine at Dr. Jeff Buxton
When you get poor sleep, your health is at risk. Bad sleep habits can lead to problems with your brain, heart, lungs, and other vital organs. Furthermore, it can harm your mental health. To truly feel your best, make high-quality sleep a top priority.
Here at Dr. Jeff Buxton, we’re happy to offer top-of-the-line sleep medicine in Murray, UT. Our doctors can successfully diagnose and treat several different sleep issues. We want to boost your sleep and improve your life! Contact us today to get started.
