Welcome to the California Center for Sleep Disorders

Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea is a condition whereby one stops breathing during sleep. Apnea is derived from the Greek word meaning "want of breath". Sleep Apnea is typically caused by some sort of obstruction in the upper airway. This obstruction can be in the nasal passages (enlarged turbinates, deviated septum, etc.); or oral airway (enlarged tonsils, enlarged adenoids, enlarged tongue, soft palate, retrognathia (recessed chin), micrognathia (small chin), or an enlarged uvula. There are various forms of treatment for Sleep Apnea such as CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure), surgery, dental devices, weight loss, and/or positional therapy. (Show a short video segment of a sleep apnea patient)

Insomnia

There are various forms of insomnia. Some people may experience difficulty in initiating sleep while others may experience difficulty in maintaining sleep and still others may complain of both (difficulty in initiating and maintaining sleep. Insomnia is defined as difficulty in sleeping that may be acute (lasting 7 days or less), subacute (> 7 days < one month), or chronic (one month or longer).

Periodic Limb Movements in Sleep (PLMS).

PLM's is classified as a movement disorder that occurs only during sleep. It is a movement of either the lower limbs (anterior tibialis muscles) or upper limbs (arms). These movements are oftentimes subtle jerks lasting anywhere from half a second to no greater than five seconds in duration that may or may not cause arousals during sleep. These arousals may cause interruptions in one’s quality of sleep resulting in excessive daytime sleepiness. The jerking movements may be in either a leg or both legs, an arm or both arms or all of the above. Treatment for PLMS is simply medication.

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)

This is a movement disorder that is similar to PLMS but this only occurs as one is attempting to fall asleep. The major complaint is that of insomnia. Oftentimes it is an indescribable feeling; more like a creeping, crawling, aching, twitching feeling in their legs, like they constantly have to move them. Typically patients who complain of restless legs syndrome, also complain of periodic limb movements in sleep. Generally patients with restless legs have to massage/rub, march or walk them off until the sensation in their legs goes away. These symptoms may occur as one is attempting to go to bed but can also occur during the day with "active legs". Treatment for RLS is also by medication.

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a disorder of unkown etiology, which is characterized by the following symptoms: (1) excessive sleepiness that typically is associated with (2) cataplexy and other REM sleep phenomena such as (3) sleep paralysis and (4) hypnagogic hallucinations. Excessive sleepiness is defined as bouts or attacks of sleep. Cataplexy are attacks or loss of muscle tone associated with emotion such as laughter, crying, anger or any other type of emotional reaction. Loss of muscle tone can be as subtle as a facial grimace to abrupt as falling asleep. Sleep paralysis is whereby one feels that they cannot move their body as they are either falling asleep or shortly upon awakening. This is only a temporary feeling that will go away after a couple of seconds. Hypnogogic hallucinations are vivid dream-like scenes that occur as one is attempting to go to sleep. Narcolepsy starts to come about in the adolescent ages.

In order to verify if one has Narcolepsy, one would have to first undergo a polysomnogram immediately followed by a Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT). The MSLT is a series of nap studies that give the patient 4-5 opportunities to sleep. Each nap lasts approximately 15-35 minutes, with approximately 1.5-2 hour breaks in between. During these breaks, the patient is to remain awake until the next nap period begins. The MSLT is a standardized test to assess if one has Narcolepsy. Treatment for Narcolepsy entails a pharmaceutical approach.

Parasomnias

Parasomnias are disorders of arousal, partial arousal, or sleep stage transition. It represents an episodic disorder in sleep such as sleep walking (Somnambulism), rather than a disorder of sleep or wakefulness per se. May be induced or exacerbated by sleep. Other parasomnias are: Night Terrors, Nocturnal Seizures, and Enuresis. (Show a short video segment on Parasomnias)

If you are unsure if you, a friend, bedpartner, or relative has a sleep disorder. Have them take this simple sleep test. If you would like more information on sleep or our sleep center, download a sleep questionnaire and show it to your doctor. OR, use our standard feedback form to request the information. We will be more than happy to contact you as soon as we can.

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