Insomnia
El Paso Sleep Center/Sleep Apnea Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by pauses in…
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Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing or instances of very low breathing during sleep. Each pause in breathing, called an apnea, can last from at least ten seconds to minutes, and may occur 5 to 30 times or more an hour. Similarly, each abnormally low breathing event is called a hypopnea. Sleep apnea is often diagnosed with an overnight sleep test called a polysomnogram, or “sleep study.”
Please visit our Symptoms page to see a broader list of symptoms associated with sleep apnea. There are several types of sleep apnea. If you think you or a loved one is suffering from sleep apnea don’t hesitate to contact us at the El Paso Sleep Center.
Let’s start with the basics. Insomnia is a sleep disorder. It is a persistent sleeping problem even though you have the opportunity of getting a full night’s sleep. It’s what happens when you can’t get to sleep and get a good night’s rest.
Most people agree that the effects of insomnia are far reaching and can not be measured by simply the loss of sleep. Whether you’re struggling to fall asleep or stay asleep, the effect on the body is the same. If you’re fighting fatigue, the body can never catch up and it will affect your entire day. Beyond nighttime tossing and turning, insomnia can wreck your daily routine, relationships, and overall health.
With pediatric sleep apnea, a child’s breathing pauses during sleep because the airway has become narrowed or partly blocked.
During sleep, all of the muscles in the body become more relaxed. This includes the muscles that help keep the throat open so air can flow into the lungs. This can lead to sleeping problems. Normally, the throat remains open enough during sleep to let air pass by. However, some children have a narrow throat. This is often because of large tonsils or adenoids, which partially block the airflow resulting in disturbed sleep.
Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that makes you feel extremely tired, and may cause uncontrollable sleep attacks. The main symptom of narcolepsy is excessive daytime sleepiness. You may feel tired during the day, even after a full night of sleep. It is hard to prevent this feeling of sleepiness.
Narcolepsy is diagnosed by a sleep doctor. The first step is to identify or rule out other causes of excessive daytime sleepiness. The doctor will perform a physical exam and ask questions about your medical history. You might complete a questionnaire to assess the severity of sleepiness.
Gender differences in sleep start at a young age. Girls report longer sleep duration than boys and show a decrease in deep sleep earlier than boys. Changes in female hormones also can affect sleep. These effects can vary during the different stages of the menstrual cycle. Pregnancy and menopause also can affect sleep. Women are more likely than men to have insomnia. Women who have obstructive sleep apnea are often unaware of it.
Women should sleep 7 or more hours per night on a regular basis to promote optimal health. Menstruation, pregnancy and menopause can have a negative effect on how women sleep.
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common disease. RLS can prevent people from falling asleep or staying asleep. It can lead to daytime tiredness and mood problems. There are many treatments available for this disease. Treatment options include several types of medicines as well as non-medication options.
Restless Leg symptoms include: Feeling a strong urge to move your legs when you are resting or sitting still. You also may have a creepy-crawly, tugging, itchy or tingly sensation. Many people who have RLS also kick or jerk their legs while sleeping. Symptoms get better when you walk, stretch or kick. They may return once you stop moving.
Pregnancy affects many aspects of a woman’s body, and it may also affect how she sleeps. Hormone changes, physical changes and the stress of pregnancy can all change the duration and quality of sleep. Most of these changes are reversible after delivery. For some women, sleep changes during pregnancy are a sign of underlying sleep disorders that persist after the delivery of the baby. unaware of it.
The normal changes that occur during pregnancy can cause sleep disruption. Risks of developing obstructive sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome increase during pregnancy. Anxiety and hormones can contribute to insomnia during pregnancy.
Meet Our Specialists
We pride ourselves in the people we bring into our labs, look below to meet some of our specialists and learn more about our entire team!
Gonzalo Diaz, MD, FCCP, DBSM
Dr. Diaz received his training in sleep disorders medicine at the prestigious Montefiore Hospital at Albert Einstein School of Medicine in New York.
Frank Ralls, MD
Dr. Frank Ralls was brought up in southern Arizona, graduated from Nogales High School in 1976, and subsequently earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary School Education from Northern Arizona University in 1979.
Dr.Shahriar Shahzeidi MD. FCCP
Dr. Shahriar Shahzeidi is graduate from University of Exeter in UK and holder of Diploma of Thoracic Medicine from university of London. Dr. Shahzeidi has his post doctoral education and fellowship training at the George Washington university affiliated hospitals.
Omavi Bailey, MD, MPH
Dr. Omavi Bailey is a Somnologist, Epidemiologist, and Medical Doctor practicing pediatric and adult Sleep Medicine with board certifications from the American Board of Family Practice and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
Patrick Gomez, MD
Dr. Patrick Gomez is a board certified Otolaryngologist and a long time southwest area resident. Dr. Gomez was born in Alamogordo, New Mexico and received his Medical Doctors degree from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine.
Larry Tremper, DO
Dr. Tremper is the owner of Pediatric Pulmonary Services. He graduated from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and served residency at the William Beaumont Army Medical Center Department of Pediatrics, with a Fellowship in Pediatric Pulmonary at the University of California, San Diego.
David F. Briones, MD, DLFAPA
Dr. Briones opened the first sleep disorders center in the El Paso region with Dr. Gonzalo Diaz in 1985. He is Founder of the Department of Psychiatry at Texas Tech University HSC-El Paso, where he served as Regional Chair for more than 25 years.
Jorge Arango, MD
Dr. Arango is a board certified Otolaryngologist, practicing in El Paso since 1992. He graduated from the University of Puerto Rico with a Bachelors of Science. Dr. Arango received his Medical Doctors Degree from…
Trent C. Filler, DDS
Dr. Filler is Assistant Professor and Director of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine. A graduate of Texas Tech University and Baylor College of Dentistry…
Dr. Aghaegbulam, UGA
A well-rounded physician, board certified in Psychiatry and Internal Medicine Dr. Aghaegbulam Uga is extensively trained to provide exceptional care in both fields. Dr. Uga began his career in Nigeria where he completed…
Dr. Salvador Aguirre-Hauchbaum, M.D.
Dr. Aguirre is a graduate of the Facultad de Medicina of the Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua. He has extensive training in Internal Medicine and Psychiatry at the National Medical Center in Mexico City and subsequently trained in…
Dr.Maria Mendoza, DNP, FNP-C, ARPN, MSN, BSN
Dr. Maria Mendoza received her Doctor Degree in family nursing practice in 2014 from the University of Texas at El Paso. During her Doctoral education program, Dr. Mendoza implemented a COPD order set based on standardized guidelines with…
Joseph Arteaga, RST, RPsg.T., CSE. CCSH
Joseph graduated from the Stanford School of Sleep Medicine in 1985. He was one of the first 300 technologists in the United States to become a Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (R.Psg.T.).
Ronald Blumenfield, MD
Dr. Blumenfield earned his Medical Degree from the University of Illinois. He served a General Surgery Residency at Wadsworth VA-UCLA before being chosen for an Otolaryngology Residency at the University Illinois Research and Educational Hospital.
– Dr. Gonzalo Diaz
News & Facts from Sleep Disorders
Curious about what goes on in the sleep disorder world? Read on to learn more below
Understanding Sleep Apnea With pediatric sleep apnea, a child’s breathing pauses during sleep because the…
El Paso Sleep Center/Sleep Apnea Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by pauses in…
ACCREDITED
Facility Member
Since 1977, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) Standards for Accreditation have been the gold standard by which the medical community and the public evaluate sleep medicine facilities. Achieving AASM accreditation demonstrates a sleep medicine provider’s commitment to high quality, patient-centered care through adherence to these standards.