Sleep Medicine
More than 70 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders. Sleep is a basic necessity of life. It is as important to our health and well-being as air, food, and water. When we get a good night’s sleep, we awake feeling refreshed, alert and ready to face the many challenges of our daily routine.
When we don’t, we can suffer. Our jobs, relationships, productivity, health, and safety – as well as the safety of those around us – can be put at risk.
Gulf Coast Medical Group's sleep medicine doctors are dedicated to helping you get a good night’s sleep.
We offer diagnostic and treatment services for a wide range of sleep disorders, including:
- Chronic snoring
- Insomnia
- Narcolepsy
- Pediatric sleep disorders, including night terrors and sleepwalking
- Restless leg syndrome
- Obstructive sleep apnea
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
A partial or complete collapse of the upper airway that causes muscles contracting the soft palate and tongue to relax.
Signs and symptoms of sleep apnea:
- Extremely loud snoring
- Nighttime gasping choking or coughing
- Waking up frequently
- Extreme sleepiness during the day
- Obesity
- Poor work or school performance
- Falling asleep while at work or driving
- Diabetes
- Depression
- High blood pressure
- Morning headaches
- Lack of energy
Prolonged sleep apnea may increase your risk for:
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Diabetes
- Fatigue-related motor vehicle and work accidents
Our team conducts sleep studies to evaluate your sleep patterns and draw from a variety of treatment options to help you achieve restful sleep, such as:
- A consult with a sleep medicine professional
- Overnight sleep study at the sleep lab
- In-home sleep test
- Medications
- Behavior modification therapies
- Non-invasive medical devices such as oral appliances or CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) devices to facilitate breathing
- Progressive surgical options, including minimally invasive radiofrequency procedures to open nasal and oral airways
Home Sleep Test
A home sleep test is a comfortable, low-profile and high-tech wireless recorder worn on the forehead at home in all sleep positions. Ask your primary care physician about this option, or call Gulf Coast Pulmonology Associates at (941) 488-1906 for more information.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (C-PAP) Treatment
C-PAP is the most common treatment for sleep apnea and provides a gentle flow of positive air pressure through a nasal mask to keep the airway open during sleep.
Our sleep medicine professionals provide a customized treatment plan that’s right for you.