Our Center is comprised of a comprehensive group of services designed to diagnose and treat patients with sleep related disorders. These disorders include those that result in difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, remaining awake, or those that occur only in association with sleep.

Why treat a Sleep Disorder?
Sleep disorders adversely affect one's quality of life. Constant fatigue, difficulty concentrating and impaired job performance are all possible side effects. Some problems if left untreated can be life threatening. Sleeping problems even put stress on important relationships. If one's spouse loses sleep because of this disorder, the stress multiplies.

Diagnosis and Testing
Diagnosis begins with a sleep history questionnaire and sleep diary. These forms, filled out by the patient, will help Creighton University Medical Center's physician's evaluate the patient's sleep patterns. After an initial interview with a sleep specialist, the patient will be referred to another specialist or scheduled for sleep testing.

Diagnosis of sleep disorders usually requires the patient to undergo sleep lab testing for up to two nights. Occasionally, daytime testing is necessary as well. The actual amount of time varies by the individual.

The test sessions cause no discomfort or pain. Night testing sessions in The Sleep Disorders Center at Creighton University Medical Center take place in an attractive private bedroom with a shower, queen size bed and remote control television.

Three Painless Tests
There are two common overnight tests that are performed on an outpatient basis at The Center. The Polysomnogram (PSG) monitors brain waves; eye, leg and body movements; heart rate; airflow through the nose and mouth; and oxygen levels. The all-night Electroencephalogram (EEG), is very similar to the PSG but includes more brain wave monitors.

Patients may also need to take part in a daytime study called the Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT). This test monitors brain waves, eye and chin movements and heart rate. The MSLT monitors four or more twenty minute nap sessions spaced at one hour intervals. Since the naps are two hours apart, patients scheduled for MSLTs should plan to spend the day and part of the early evening at Creighton University Medical Center .

Treatment May Bring Relief
Sleep disorders may be treated and may improve the patient's quality of life. Depending on the diagnosis, sleep disorders may be treated with medication, a change in work schedule or lifestyle, weight loss, surgery, or a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device.

Multidisciplinary Diagnosis
The Sleep Disorders Center adheres to the guidelines set forth by the American Sleep Disorders Association. It is directed by physicians from neurology and pulmonary medicine with registered neurodiagnostic technologists and respiratory therapists supervising and coordinating the activities. Specialists from cardiology; ear, nose and throat; psychiatry; social work; and surgery are all available for consultation.

Common Sleep Disorders

Insomnia - Insomniacs suffer from the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep. While emotional or psychiatric problems are the source of many complaints of insomnia, there are many physical conditions that can trigger this problem, including central nervous system disorders, renal failure, infections, arthritis, endocrine or metabolic diseases.

Sleep Apnea - Common symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea include extremely loud snoring and snorting, breathing pauses or restlessness. People suffering from sleep apnea often experience excessive sleepiness, decreased concentration and irritability, night sweats or morning headaches. Sleep apnea patients may be obese and have high blood pressure, cardiac or other related disorders. If left untreated, sleep apnea can be fatal.

Narcolepsy - Symptoms of narcolepsy include excessive daytime sleepiness despite adequate amounts of sleep at night. Narcolepsy is a disorder of the central nervous system and usually starts in the early teens or twenties. Cataplexy, which is a very brief debilitating loss of muscle tone, is sometimes seen in people suffering from narcolepsy.

Parasomniacs - These disorders occur only while and individual is sleeping or are greatly exaggerated by sleep. This group of disorders includes sleep drunkenness, characterized by extreme confusion upon waking; sleep seizures, which often mimic other nighttime disorders; night terrors, characterized by screaming, rapid breathing and distress; and sleep walking.

Sleep-related Myoclonus - Sleep-related Myoclonus is characterized by periods of excessive leg movement during the night. These episodes can last from 5 minutes to 2 hours and disrupt sleep patterns, leading to complaints of excessive daytime sleepiness. Some people who suffer from sleep-related myclonus also suffer from restless leg syndrome.

Disorders of the Sleep-Wake Schedule - These disorders can be caused by travel, shift work, or the individual's internal time clock. They represent a mismatch between the individual's internal clock and the schedule they are trying to meet.

Questions?
For further information about sleep disorders, their diagnosis, or treatment, call Creighton University Medical Center's  Sleep Center at 449-4486. Sleep evaluations can be scheduled through a physician or by calling The Sleep Disorders Center between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.