About Sleep Disorders  ​

 70 Million Americans Have a Sleeping Disorder. 35 Million Americans suffer from Sleep Apnea. If you're feeling sleep deprived, you're not alone.  The fact is, 7 out of 10 Americans have trouble sleeping.  Whether the cause is insomnia, apnea, snoring or any of the more than 80 sleeping disorders, the consequences can be devastating - including increased risk of stroke, arrhythmia's of your heart, depression, anxiety, physical illness or injury and relationship problems.  Our sleep specialist, Dr. Linarez, at Madison St. Medical Sleep Disorders Center is ready to help diagnose and treat any sleep disorder in adults including children who are at least 2 years of age.  ​

Sleep Apnea  ​

Sleep Apnea is a common disorder in which you have one or more pauses in your breathing or shallow breaths while you sleep. Breathing pauses can last from a few seconds to minutes.  They often occur 5 to 30 times or more an hour.  Typically, normal breathing then starts again, sometimes with a loud snort or choking feeling or sound. Untreated sleep apnea can increase the:

• risk for high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, obesity & diabetes 

• risk for/or worsen heart failure  

• chance for causing irregular heartbeats  

• chance of work-related or driving accidents   ​

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Snoring

Snoring affects approximately 45% of the adult population and can be an indicator of a serious breathing problems. Generally, men tend to snore more often than pre-menstrual women. Unless they have enlarged tonsils or adenoids, children generally do not snore.

Shift Work Disorder (SWD)

Shift Work Difficulties & Disorders  affects people who frequently rotate shifts or work at night. Schedules of these people go against the body’s natural Circadian rhythm, and individuals have difficulty adjusting to the different sleep and wake schedule. SWSD consists of a constant or recurrent pattern of sleep interruption that results in insomnia or excessive sleepiness. This disorder is common in people who work non-traditional hours, usually between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

​Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a relatively uncommon sleep disorder that involves the body’s central nervous systems and characterized by attacks of sleep, affects approximately 1 in 2,000 of the general population. Narcoleptics are liable to fall asleep at inappropriate times and places. Daytime sleep attacks may occur without warning and can occur repeatedly throughout the day. Night time sleep may be fragmented with frequent arousals. While there is not yet a cure, recent technology and pharmacological advances have allowed narcoleptics to live relatively normal lives.

​Insomnia

Insomnia is the inability to fall asleep or remain asleep is known as insomnia. Chronic insomnia occurs when this conditions lasts for weeks, months or even years. Insomnia may be related to worry, anxiety, depression, medical/psychiatric problems, or substance abuse. Insomnia is a symptom and in order to treat it, the physicians must find the cause. Most insomnia sufferers sleep better once they obtain the appropriate evaluation and treatment

​Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a “creepy, crawly” perception in the legs when they are still, especially at bedtime. Stretching or moving the legs provides relief to the sensation. The constant need to stretch or move the legs to rid of the uncomfortable sensations often prevents the person from fallings asleep and results in daytime sleepiness. Five to ten percent of the general population experience RLS symptoms during some point in their lives. While RLS can occur at any age it is more prevalent in the elderly population. Approximately 30% of RLS cases have a hereditary case.​

Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD)

Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD) refers to involuntary movements of the legs and arms during sleep. These movements cause arousals and sleep disturbances. PLMD are observed mostly in those over 50 years of age and are rarely in those under 30. PLMD are more common in people who have kidney disease or narcolepsy. Individuals with PLMD may also experience Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)

​Parasomnia

Parasomnia refers to a variety of disruptive sleep-related events that disrupt one’s sleep and can lead to injury or disturbance of oneself or others in the bed or house. Parasomnia often be effectively diagnosed and treated

​Parasomnia's Include:

• Sleepwalking – Sleepwalking appears to be a temporary sleep mechanism malfunctions which occurs during deeper stages of sleep and tends to be hereditary. Sleepwalking affects mostly children. Sleepwalkers do not recall their nocturnal walk the next day.

• Sleep talking – Sleep talking is generally harmless & usually temporary, brought on by illness or stress. The sleeper has no memory of sleep talking. Sleep talking can sometimes be associated with sleep apnea or sleep terrors.
  
  
• Night Terrors – Night terrors are more common in children and typically and typically do not continue into adulthood. Sleep terrors are marked by a sudden awakening with physical behaviors associated with intense fear and last about 15 minutes, after which the person goes back to sleep.
  
  
• REM movement disorder – In this type of a disorder, the paralysis that occurs normally during REM sleep is incomplete or absent, allowing the sleeper to act out their dreams. This type of disorder is most common in men and can lead to violent behavior or injuries. Medication is usually very effective in treating this disorder. 

  850 Madison Street   ▪  Suite A   ▪ Oak Park, IL 60302   ▪   T: +1.708.613.4140   F: +1.708.434.5641

Return to our home page for more information about sleep disorders and treatment options in Oak Park and Chicago, Illinois.