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Suburban Hospital Sleep Disorders Center

 

Since 1982, the Suburban Hospital Sleep Disorders Center has been dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with sleep/wake disorders. In May 2012, the Suburban Hospital Sleep Disorders Center earned a 5-year accreditation by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). The Sleep Disorders Center met all AASM standards for more than 55 measures and has demonstrated its dedication to enhancing the awareness of sleep as an important element of health.

One out of five people in the United States has a sleep disorder and suffers from the consequences of excessive daytime sleepiness that regularly interferes with daily activities.  Our hospital based facility is a fully equipped diagnostic and treatment center specifically designed to meet the needs of patients suffering from sleep-related disorders.

Common Symptoms of Sleep Disorders:

• Loud and/or irregular snoring;

• Excessive daytime sleepiness;

• Depressed or anxious mood;

• Interruptions in breathing during sleep; and/or

• Complaints of inability to fall asleep or maintain sleep.

Most Common Sleep Disorders:

Sleep Apnea Syndrome — People with sleep apnea may stop breathing several times during sleep. These apneic episodes last from 10 to 120 seconds and may occur as often as several hundred times a night. Symptoms include heavy snoring, fitful and restless sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, obesity, high blood pressure, and depression.

Periodic Limb Movements of Sleep (PLMS) — People with this disorder may not receive proper rest at night and consequently feel as though they have insomnia or excessive daytime sleepiness.

Narcolepsy — People who are too sleepy during the day, or have almost irresistible urges to take daytime naps, may have narcolepsy. These individuals also may experience muscular weakness when they are angry, surprised or amused.

Conditional Insomnia — There are many causes of insomnia. The most common factors causing conditional insomnia are the following:

• Depression,

• Stress,

• Noise/environmental conditions,

• Breathing problems,

• Medical illness, or

• Certain drugs, medication, alcohol.

Getting a Referral

If you believe you have a sleep disorder, you should consult your primary care physician. Primary care physicians or specialists can refer patients to the Suburban Hospital Sleep Disorders Center. Patients referred for an evaluation will receive a call from the Sleep Disorders Center staff to explain details about the testing procedures. In addition, all billing and administrative issues or questions will be answered before patients are tested at the Center. Most insurance contracts and HMOs are accepted.

We recommend the following steps to arrange for a sleep study:

• Review the need for a sleep study with your primary care physician. Not sure if you have a sleep disorder?  Take our quick Sleep Disorders Quiz.

• Click here for a Sleep Study Prescription Referral Form to print an adult prescription form, and take it to your primary care physician to complete. You must have your physician’s signature in order to schedule an appointment.

• Call the Suburban Hospital Sleep Disorders Center at 301-896-3039 to schedule the sleep study. You can mail or fax (1-800-755-7506) your Prescription Referral Form to us.

If you do not have a primary care physician, please call our free Physician Referral Service at 301-896-3939.

If you have any further questions regarding our sleep program, please call 301-896-3039.

Medical Director

Carolyn Wang, DO

Board Certified in Psychiatry and Neurology

Associate Medical Director

James Yan, MD

Board Certified in Sleep Medicine

"Ask the Experts"/MultiMedia

Click here for a podcast on sleep disorders by Dr. Wang

Click here for an article on diagnosing and treating sleep disorders by Dr. Wang

Click here for an article on sleep disorders by Dr. Yan.

Click here to read "In Search of a Good Night's Rest," a blog about a person's experience at the Suburban Hospital Sleep Disorders Center.