If you lie in bed dreaming about dreaming, you're not alone. More than 100 million Americans of all ages, fail to get a good night’s sleep on a regular basis.
Sleep apnea, sleep walking, bed wetting or waking up in cold sweats from nightmares are some of the sleep disorders Nebraska Medicine's sleep experts can diagnose and help you overcome.
Sleep disorders should be diagnosed in a accredited sleep center to provide an accurate diagnosis and treatment. The Sleep Disorders Center at Nebraska Medicine is staffed by medical experts specially trained to diagnose and treat multiple sleep disorders to help get you back on the road to a good night’s sleep. Sleep disorders may include narcolepsy, insomnia, parasomnias, restless leg syndrome, snoring, sleep apneas and more.
If you think you may have a sleep disorder, talk to your doctor about getting evaluated. Chronic sleep problems can lead to serious health issues. It has been linked to high blood pressure, heart rhythm problems, heart attacks, strokes, diabetes control issues, decreased seizure threshold and exacerbation of chronic pain issues.
We Can Help With a Wide Variety of Sleep Disorders
There are many factors that can impact sleep disorders, including medical illness and stress. In many cases, there is a treatment for your sleep problem.
We can help you with some of the most common sleep disorders like obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia and narcolepsy, as well as some of the more rare conditions such as restless leg syndrome and central sleep apnea which occurs because your brain fails to send the proper signals to the muscles that control breathing. If you are concerned with how you sleep, talk to your doctor to see if a home sleep test or sleep study is right for you.
Service Options
Patient Guides
Accredited Facility and Team of Sleep Medicine Specialists
The Sleep Disorders Center has been accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) since 1991, the gold standard by which sleep disorder centers are evaluated and rated. With accreditation, the sleep center joins an elite group of AASM-accredited facilities around the country that meet the highest standards of diagnosis and treatment for sleep related breathing disorders. Our center is staffed by a team of advanced expertise that include:
- Board certified sleep medicine specialists
- Licensed respiratory therapists
- Registered polysomnographic technologists
We Offer Convenient Home Sleep Apnea Testing and Sleep Studies Performed in Our Sleep Lab
A home sleep apnea test is a simplified and convenient version of the overnight study that focuses on nighttime breathing. If our doctors determine that you may have symptoms that requires further evaluation, you will be recommended for an overnight sleep study in our accredited sleep lab. Our overnight sleep study uses a polysomnogram which records your heart, lung, brain activity, breathing patterns, arm and leg movements and blood-oxygen levels while you sleep. These measurements can be used to identify different sleep stages and various sleep problems.
Services
- Home sleep apnea testing (HST)
- In-lab sleep testing or polysomnography (PSG)
- Split night studies
- Titration studies
- Multiple sleep latency test (MSLT)
- Maintenance of wakefulness test (MWT)
We Employ a Wide Variety of Techniques and Therapies to Improve Your Sleep
Lifestyle Changes
If you have a mild case of obstructive sleep apnea, your doctor may recommend making lifestyle changes. If these changes do not eliminate your symptoms, several other treatment options should be considered such as:
- losing weight
- quitting smoking
- avoiding the use of sleeping pills
- avoiding the use of alcohol
- using pillows and other items to help you sleep on your side
Positive Airway Pressure
The most common treatment for sleep apnea for example is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). More than 90 percent of patients can be treated successfully with CPAP. CPAP opens the airways by using a machine that delivers air pressure through a mask placed over your nose while you sleep. Losing weight is the first line of treatment. However, less than 10 percent of patients are successful at losing enough weight to eliminate the need for CPAP.
Surgical Options
Several surgical options may be available to you depending on the severity of your sleep problem. Your doctor will determine if you are a surgical candidate and will discuss these options with you.
Accreditations and Awards
Nebraska Medicine is accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). AASM accreditation demonstrates a sleep medicine provider’s commitment to high quality, patient-centered care through adherence to the AASM Standards for Accreditation. AASM accreditation is voluntary and exhibits the facility’s dedication to the practice of sleep medicine.
