Sleep is a necessity. When a sleep disorder sets in, it can affect your ability to fall asleep, stay asleep or feel rested throughout your workday. Your whole life—and the lives of the people you love—can suffer. At the CGH Sleep Center, we understand. And we can help. Our sleep medicine team can diagnose your disorder and offer you the therapies you need to sleep better and enjoy your life once more.
What is a sleep disorder?
A typical sleep cycle lasts for 90 minutes, and it is repeated four to six times per night. When someone has a sleep disorder, that typical sleeping pattern is disturbed.
Common sleep disorders include:
- Circadian rhythm disorders, including those that affect shift workers
- Insomnia
- Narcolepsy
- Periodic limb movement disorder
- REM behavior disorder
- Restless legs syndrome
- Sleep apnea
- Sleep terrors
- Sleepwalking
- Snoring
Each of these sleep disorders comes with an identifiable set of signs and symptoms, and no two are exactly alike. But they all cause disruptions to a person's ability to get a restful night's sleep. All of these conditions can be addressed by our talented sleep team.
Understanding your sleep disorder
The first step toward resolving your sleep issue is to complete a sleep questionnaire. Your answers will give your doctor detailed information about your sleep problems and any other health issues related to your condition—and that could help ensure that you receive the best possible care.
During a consultation appointment, your physician will do a short physical exam and discuss the information you provided in the questionnaire. If testing is required, our team has a full range of advanced testing options available, including:
- Actigraphy: An actigraph is worn like a watch on the wrist of your non-dominant hand and is useful for determining sleep patterns and circadian rhythms.
- Daytime sleep studies: There are two types of daytime sleep studies. The multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) is a sleep study that measures how quickly you can fall asleep during daytime naps and the quality of sleep in those naps. The maintenance of wakefulness test (MWT) is a sleep study that measures your ability to stay awake for a defined period of time under sleep-inducing circumstances.
- Full night sleep studies: Overnight, attended sleep studies—known as nocturnal polysomnograms (PSG)—are conducted in a sleep laboratory. You're monitored all night by a trained sleep technologist during this sleep study.
- Sleep diary: Sleep diaries consist of several questions related to sleep and wake times, nap times, caffeine and alcohol use, and general mood or functioning. We have a sleep diary document we ask our clients to complete.
Sleep medicine therapies available to you
Finding the right treatment approach for your specific sleep disorder is critical. Our treatment options include:
- Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapies. CPAP machines blow pressurized air into your upper airway through a tube connected to the mask. This positive airflow helps keep the airway open (like an air splint), preventing the collapse that occurs during apnea.
- Oral appliances. Devices worn in the mouth during sleep keep the soft tissue in the airway from collapsing. An oral appliance is an excellent option if you can't tolerate CPAP machines.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy. Breaking down the mental health reasons for your insomnia could help you to sleep soundly. Our team can pull together a program just for you.
- Medication management. Some sleep disorders respond well to prescription medications. We can work with you to find the right medication solution—at the right dose—so you can sleep better.
A sleep team you can trust
Our sleep medicine team includes physicians with advanced degrees in sleep medicine, and they are supported by nurses and registered polysomnographic technologist with extensive experience in helping people who struggle with sleep.
The CGH Sleep Center team uses a multidisciplinary approach to examine your sleep problems and their underlying causes. Our sleep specialists work with neurologists, pulmonologists, ENT specialists and others as necessary to solve your issues. Find out about the doctors who can serve you by visiting our provider directory.
Our sleep laboratory is accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM)—a professional medical association representing practitioners of sleep medicine and sleep research. The AASM is dedicated to the assurance of quality care for patients with sleep disorders, advancement of sleep research and public and professional education. Only facilities delivering the highest level of care receive accreditation.
Get started
The CGH Sleep Center is an open sleep laboratory, which means any doctor in the Sterling area may refer you—through the central scheduling department at 815.625.0400, ext. 5550. You can contact us at 815.625.4790, ext. 3301, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or in Dixon, 815.284.1600, ext. 2760.
Learn more about Home Sleep Study and Home vs In Lab Study.
Learn more about sleep by visiting our health library.