The Sleep Center at Cookeville Regional is located at 100 West Fourth Street in Suite 350. To contact The Sleep Center at Cookeville Regional, call 931-783-2753.

For many people, turning off the lights and trying to get a good night's rest is anything but restful. About 100 million Americans of all ages have some kind of sleep problem and regularly fail to get a good night's sleep; yet, sleep is essential for physical and mental restoration.

There are many types of sleeping disorders and they manifest themselves in various ways. Some disorders may prevent sufferers from falling or from staying asleep. Some may make it very hard to stay awake at the job. Others may cause nightmares, bedwetting, sleepwalking and other problems that interfere with sleep. Furthermore, some disorders may cause morning headaches, high blood pressure, memory loss and even depression.

Some sleep disorders are potentially fatal; they may result in - or be the result of - a serious medical condition. While most sleep problems are not life-threatening, the diagnosis and successful treatment of a sleep disorder can improve health and well-being.

The Sleep Center at Cookeville Regional can help people afflicted by sleep disorders get a good night's sleep again. Our Sleep Center uses technology to provide diagnosis and treatment of sleep problems, and our trained professionals are dedicated to determining the causes and treatments of specific problems.

Common Sleep Disorders

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Snoring can be a signal that something is seriously wrong with the breathing process during sleep. Habitual snoring can be an indicator of a potentially life-threatening condition known as obstructive sleep apnea. Due to an obstructed airway, a person who has sleep apnea may stop breathing hundreds of times during the night.

Restless Leg Syndrome

Restless Leg Syndrome is an inability to get comfortable due to restlessness associated with leg discomfort. This discomfort can interfere with falling asleep and is often accompanied by periodic limb and leg movements. Sufferers are unaware of this activity which disrupts the continuity of sleep and results in poor sleep quality.

Excessive Daytime Sleepiness

Disturbed nights may make it a strain to stay awake during the day and often disrupt work and personal life. Profound daytime sleepiness may be accompanied by morning headaches, high blood pressure and/or depression.

Narcolepsy

This condition is marked by uncontrollable desire for sleep or by sudden attacks of sleep at inappropriate times and is caused by abnormal brain control of waking and sleeping periods. Also called sleep epilepsy, vivid nightmares as well as involuntary excess or cessation of muscle movement may occur upon falling asleep or awakening.

Parasomnias

People suffering from parasomnias do not respond to any stimuli except that of a reflex nature. Sleepwalking, sleep talking and nightmares are common during this state. These conditions are particularly common in children.

Sleep/Wake Schedule Disturbances

Irregular waking and sleeping patterns can throw off the human 'internal clock' and prevent sufferers from feeling refreshed after sleeping. A sleep disorders physician can supervise the implementation of techniques to help develop a consistent sleep schedule.

Evaluation, Testing and Treatment of Sleep Disorders

After the initial evaluation, appropriate testing and sleep studies are ordered depending on the particular problems that have been diagnosed. If a sleep test is necessary, a polysomnogram will be scheduled for the patient. During this process, electrodes (or wires) are attached to different parts of the body - for example, on the head (to determine sleep stages), near the eyes, on the chin and on the legs. The device detects episodes of disordered breathing by monitoring oxygen saturation, breathing efforts and airflow from nose to mouth. Heart activity and muscle movements are also monitored. Though somewhat inconvenient, polysomnography is painless.

The sleep test requires an overnight stay at the Sleep Center at Cookeville Regional. A technician is present to constantly monitor the patient's sleep throughout the night. Depending on the sleep evaluation and/or sleep study, the sleep specialist will make specific recommendations to a patient and his or her doctor. Treatment varies with the type of sleep disorder and may include sleep education, support groups, medication, surgery or the use of C-PAP, a mask worn over the nose during sleep to aid breathing.

Pediatric Sleep Studies

Obstructive Sleep Apnea occurs in about 0.5 to 3% of children. The peak age is 3-6 years old but it may occur at any age.

There are more than 80 different sleep disorders that may affect children. Some of the more common ones are Sleep Apnea, Narcolepsy, and Parasomnias (sleep talking, sleep eating, sleep walking, bedwetting, sleep terrors and nightmares).

Sleep disorders in children may lead to diagnoses of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), high blood pressure, lung disease, heart disease and, rarely, even death.

Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in children include:

• Failure to thrive (weight loss or poor weight gain)
• Breathing through the mouth
• Enlarged tonsils and adenoids
• Problems sleeping and restless sleep
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Daytime cognitive and behavior problems, including problems paying attention, aggressive behavior and hyperactivity, which may lead to problems at school
• Nightly snoring, often with intermittent pauses, snorts or gasps

If you think your child has a sleep disorder, see your child's physician or contact The Sleep Center for more information.

A.W.A.K.E. Support Group

The Sleep Center at Cookeville Regional hosts regular meetings of the A.W.A.K.E. support group for people in the Upper Cumberland area with sleep disorders. Anyone with a sleep disorder is encouraged to attend. The group meets four times a year in March, June, September and December on the second Thursday of the month at 6:00 p.m. in the hospital's Education Center.

People who have CPAP/BIPAP equipment are urged to bring it in for a free service check-up at the meetings.

A.W.A.K.E., a network of hundreds of mutual-help support groups throughout the United States, provides knowledge of sleep disorders and methods of treatment.

Sponsors of these group meetings are American Home Patient, Buckeye Medical, Larco Medical, Respiratory at Home, RX Home Medical Equipment, United Medical, Home Comfort Medical, Fisher & Paykel, ResMed Respiratory Home Care, Respironics, Plateau Medical, ProAir Respiratory and Covidien.

For further information about the A.W.A.K.E. support group, contact Christopher Clinton at The Sleep Center (931) 783-2753.

More Information On Sleep Disorders

Click to download in Microsoft Word format:

How Sleep Affects You - Growing Older
How Sleep Affects You - Men
How Sleep Affects You - Women
How Sleep Affects You - Children