ST. LOUIS -- If you thought you would be sleeping in heavenly peace after the hustle and bustle of the holiday season but still have problems catching some ZZZs, you might have a sleep disorder.            

“Missing a few nights of sleep here and there won’t kill you. But if it’s pervasive, it becomes a problem that affects your general health and how you function during the day,” said Joseph Espiritu, M.D., director of the new SLUCare Sleep Disorders Center.            

 “If you regularly wake up in the morning and don’t feel refreshed, you need to find the cause, which likely can be treated.”            

Recent advances in sleep medicine – better diagnostics, improved medications with fewer side effects, new treatments and greater understanding of the complex medical issues at play – mean those who used to lie awake at night no longer have to do so, said Espiritu, who is board-certified in sleep medicine and an assistant professor in the division of pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine at Saint Louis University.            

The new SLUCare Sleep Disorders Center combines state-of-the-art technology and the expertise of medical professionals from various fields to diagnose and treat sleep problems.             Those who regularly have problems falling or staying asleep or feel fatigued during the day can undergo an extensive assessment by a sleep specialist at the SLUCare Sleep Disorders Center. The sleep evaluation includes taking a sleep history; noting medical problems, social habits and current medications; and having a physical exam. (more)            

SLUCare Sleep Disorders Center, Page two            

Depending on the results, a sleep study is recommended for some patients, who stay overnight so various body functions during sleep – such as eye movement, muscle activity, heart rate, air flow and  blood oxygen levels – can be monitored.            

Although patients will sleep in an unfamiliar bedroom, they will feel comfortable at the SLUCare Sleep Disorders Center. Accommodations include private bathrooms and bedrooms and beds furnished with high-end linens. Every room has a flat-screen television connected to digital cable or a DVD that they can watch from a recliner.            

 As an academic sleep center, the SLUCare Sleep Disorders Center conducts research to learn more about underlying medical conditions and find better treatments, making patients eligible to receive the latest therapies, Espiritu added.            

It’s important for patients who think they have a sleep problem to take action.            

“Nobody knows for sure what the real purpose of sleep is. We do know that not getting enough sleep makes us less alert, which causes problems at school or work and increases the risk of accidents,” Espiritu said.            

“New research suggests that sleep problems also are connected to a host of medical problems such as hypertension, stroke, obesity and heart attacks.”            

In addition, your mother was right when she told you that lack of sleep can make you more susceptible to catching a cold or infection.            

“When we don’t get enough sleep, our body can secrete the stress hormone, cortisol, which may suppress the immune system and make us more likely to get certain kinds of viruses,” Espiritu said.             While the average person needs about 7-1/2 hours of sleep a night to feel rested and productive, sleep problems are fairly common, he added. Between 16 and 21 percent of patients complain of difficulties falling or staying asleep three or more days a week.            

Four percent of men and 2 percent of women -- about 18 million Americans -- suffer from a condition called sleep apnea, which is caused by hormone changes, obesity and genetics.            

Sleep apnea creates breathing problems that are so severe a person awakens during the night, gasping for air. He or she quickly falls back asleep, though, and may not even remember having difficulty sleeping. (more) SLUCare Sleep Disorders Center, page three                     

“In addition to loud snoring and breathing problems at night, sleep apnea has daytime symptoms,” Espiritu said. “These include depression, sleepiness, high blood pressure, obesity and weight gain.”             Because sleep problems have many causes, a team of physicians from various specializations joins Espiritu at the SLUCare Sleep Disorders Center. Ghazala Hayat, a SLUCare neurologist who specializes in muscle problems including restless leg syndrome, which can disrupt sleep, is co-medical director. Hayat also is a professor of neurology and psychiatry at Saint Louis University.            

George Matuschak, M.D., a SLUCare pulmonologist and director of the division of pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine at Saint Louis University, and George Katsantonis, M.D., an adjunct professor of otolaryngology at Saint Louis University, also are on the team.            

The SLUCare Sleep Disorders Center is located at Saint Louis University’s Salus Center, 3545 Lafayette Ave. at Grand Boulevard. To schedule an evaluation, call (314) 97-SLEEP.            

SLUCare is the physician practice of Saint Louis University School of Medicine and the only academic medical practice in St. Louis fully accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care Inc. Doctors can be reached by calling 314-977-4440 or 1-866-977-4440.