Center for Sleep Medicine

For millions of Americans, getting a good night’s sleep and waking up rested can be difficult. In fact, an estimated one-third of American adults suffer from some form of sleep disorder or disturbance. In some cases, this can result in serious consequences such as daytime sleepiness, high blood pressure and heart disease.

Expert care

As the only university-based sleep center in Orange County, we’ve been helping patients manage sleep problems for more than 30 years. We were one of the first centers in the country to be accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and are considered an international leader in sleep disorders medicine. Our diagnostic and treatment services are further enhanced by a close collaboration with the UC Irvine Medical Center Otolaryngologists (ear, nose and throat).

Select a sleep center specialist »

Symptoms

Patients with a sleep disorder often experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• Inability to stay awake during the day
• Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep at night
• Prominent snoring
• Gasping or choking during sleep
• Restless, uncomfortable legs in the evening or at night
• Unusual events occurring during sleep such as walking, talking and nightmares

Evaluation

The Center for Sleep Medicine at UC Irvine Medical Center offers a multidisciplinary, comprehensive program of services and treatments for all types of sleep disorders. Evaluating and treating people from the very young to the elderly, our staff of board-certified sleep specialists utilizes state-of-the-art facilities to address sleep problems such as:

• Snoring
• Sleep apnea
• Insomnia
• Narcolepsy
• Sleep-wake schedule disorders
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• REM sleep behavior disorders
• Restless leg syndrome
• Periodic limb movements disorder
• Night terrors

Diagnosis

Evaluation begins with an initial consultation conducted by a UC Irvine Medical Center physician who is a specialist in sleep medicine. In some cases, this meeting yields enough information to arrive at a diagnosis and formulate a treatment plan. However, some patients must undergo further screening. Among the most common tests are:

Polysomnogram (overnight sleep study). During this test, the patient stays in one of our comfortable, hotel-like private bedrooms and is monitored by painless noninvasive technology. This test records the patient's heart rate, brain waves, breathing, audio emissions (snoring and other sounds during sleep) oxygenation, and eye and leg movements.

Multiple sleep latency test (MSLT or napping test). MSLTs are used to measure patients’ levels of daytime sleepiness and how quickly they enter the rapid-eye movement (REM) stage of sleep. The test monitors brain waves, heartbeat and eye and chin movements. Excessive sleepiness may indicate narcolepsy, a sleep disorder that causes a sudden, uncontrollable urge to sleep at inappropriate times. This test usually follows a polysomnogram.

Treatment

Treatment is based on each patient's diagnosis and individual needs. Through follow-up exams, patients are further helped to adjust their therapy as needed and manage their sleep disorder. Therapy may include:

• Lifestyle changes such as weight reduction and tobacco cessation
• Sleep hygiene changes such as getting up at the same time every day
• Medication to alleviate symptoms for conditions such as narcolepsy
• Light treatment for circadian rhythm disorder
• Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) airmasks to prevent the throat from closing during sleep
• Surgery to improve the nasal airway, remove enlarged lymphoid tissue, correct the soft palate, or remove excess tissue from the back of the throat.

CPAP clinic

The Center for Sleep Medicine is one of the only facilities in the United States with a CPAP clinic. Sleep specialists select the correct CPAP mask for each individual, custom fit the device, educate patients about its use and measure compliance and outcomes.

Research

Our sleep medicine physicians conduct extensive, ongoing research about sleep abnormalities, publishing their findings in leading medical journals. They have presented papers at major sleep symposia throughout the United States and Europe.

More »

More »