You need your rest!
More than 70 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders. Most people with sleep disorders will never be diagnosed. The very nature of sleep disorders makes them difficult to detect. In fact, the majority of those suffering from suspected sleep disorders remain untreated. Lack of widespread education and public awareness is partly to blame; however, many people minimize sleep disorders, not realizing that they are often precursors of other serious health threats, including diabetes, high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke.
Shore's Center for Sleep Medicine, located at 710 Centre Street, 2nd floor in Somers Point, offers a welcoming, home like environment to generate positive results and long-term treatment assistance. The Center provides sleep studies for children from age three through adult.
Sleep disorders are a broad category of conditions that affect sleep quality, timing, or duration, leading to daytime impairment and health issues. There are over 80 recognized sleep disorders, ranging from difficulties falling asleep to excessive sleepiness and abnormal behaviors during sleep. These conditions can result from various factors, including lifestyle, medical conditions, and genetic predispositions. Proper diagnosis and treatment are crucial for restoring healthy sleep patterns and improving overall well-being.
Common Sleep Disorders
- Insomnia – Difficulty falling or staying asleep.
- Sleep Apnea – Repeated breathing interruptions during sleep, often due to airway obstruction.
- Narcolepsy – Sudden, uncontrollable episodes of sleep, often accompanied by muscle weakness.
- Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) – Uncomfortable sensations in the legs, leading to an urge to move them.
- Circadian Rhythm Disorders – Misalignment of the body’s internal clock with external time cues (e.g., shift work disorder, delayed sleep phase disorder).
- Parasomnias – Abnormal behaviors during sleep, such as sleepwalking, night terrors, or REM sleep behavior disorder."
- Sleep Center Accreditation
Since 2007, the Shore Center for Sleep Medicine has been accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the national accrediting body for sleep centers. This honor designates the Shore Sleep Center as the only accredited sleep lab in the region.
The Sleep Center received the highest commendation in clinical expertise. Surveyors were highly complimentary of the facility and commended Shore Medical Center and its partner Advantage Therapy & Sleep Centers for being leaders in sleep medicine with the highest quality and program development.
- The Benefits of Deep Sleep
Even mild sleep disorders will hinder patients from reaping the benefits of deep sleep. It takes time to get to deep sleep and even 5 awakenings an hour (mild sleep apnea) can keep you from getting the restorative sleep your body and overall health needs. Lack of deep sleep can also make it more difficult to achieve diet and exercise goals.
What happens in deep sleep?
- Immunity, there are proteins that target infection and inflammation that are created and released.
- Insulin is released, regulating the amount of glucose in the blood.
- The brain goes through a cleansing process clearing out spent proteins that can otherwise build up.
- Memory reinforcement, helping with organizing and committing what was learned throughout the day to memory.
- Cell restoration, repairing damages done while being active.
- Ghrelin, the hunger hormone that tells you to keep eating, is suppressed.
- Leptin, the hormone that tells you to stop eating, is released allowing metabolism system to speed up.
- The heart rate slows by 5% to 10% and blood pressure drops by about 10% giving the cardiopulmonary system the chance to relax Sleep disturbances every 12-15 minutes will keep patients from these much needed health checks that help avoid chronic diseases from taking over.
- Symptoms of Sleep Disorders
- Feeling tired even after a full night's sleep
- Falling asleep at inappropriate times such as while driving or watching TV
- Frequent headaches
- Snoring
- Waking up with a choking or gagging sensation
- Pauses in breathing while asleep
- Inability to sleep
If you are experiencing the symptoms above, contact your physician for an exam and to find out whether a sleep study is appropriate for you. For more information or to arrange an appointment for a prescribed sleep study, call 609-477-7036. Be sure to tell the scheduler you would like your sleep study to be performed at Shore's Sleep Center.
- Maternity Sleep Disorders
Psychological, physical and hormonal changes as well as the weight gain that occurs during pregnancy can affect sleep. You should speak with your doctor about a sleep study if: you are having frequent nighttime awakenings; awaken feeling like you are choking or gasping for air; your partner tells you your snoring is getting worse; you stop breathing at night; or you are diagnosed with high blood pressure and have the above symptoms.
- Pediatric Sleep Disorders
Does your Child need a Sleep Study?
Although most kids will use any excuse in the book to avoid going to bed at night, lack of a good night's rest can lead to serious problems. As many as 20 percent of children experience problems sleeping. But the effects aren't limited to the child, his or her sleeping problems can impact the entire family. Sleep disorders are sometimes at the root of attention problems, emotional outbursts, frustration and other behaviors that can get in the way of success at school and home. And in one to three percent of seemingly healthy children, Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) presents a serious medical risk. OSAS is a condition where the airway becomes partially or completely obstructed during sleep. If your child experiences any the following symptoms, you may want to discuss your child's sleep with your pediatrician or family physician.
Common Symptoms of Pediatric Sleep Apnea
Pediatric sleep apnea, most commonly Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), presents differently from adult cases. Many children with sleep apnea may not have obvious breathing difficulties but instead show behavioral and developmental symptoms.Nighttime Symptoms:
- Loud snoring (often with pauses in breathing)
- Gasping, choking, or snorting during sleep
- Restless sleep with frequent tossing and turning
- Mouth breathing (often due to enlarged tonsils or adenoids)
- Night sweats (caused by increased effort to breathe)
- Bedwetting (nocturnal enuresis)
- Sleepwalking or night terrors
Daytime Symptoms:
- Daytime sleepiness or fatigue
- Hyperactivity, irritability, or difficulty focusing (often misdiagnosed as ADHD)
Morning headaches - Behavioral problems, mood swings, or poor school performance
- Difficulty waking up in the morning despite long sleep duration
When to Seek Medical Evaluation:
If a child exhibits multiple symptoms—especially loud snoring, gasping for air, or behavioral issues—a pediatric sleep specialist should evaluate them. Sleep studies (polysomnography) help confirm a diagnosis.- Obstructive Sleep Apnea Screening Tool
Patients are considered to be at high risk of having Obstructive Sleep Apnea if they answer "yes" to the questions below. Reviewing these questions with your physician is recommended by the American Society of Anesthesiologists..
- Do you frequently struggle to fall asleep, stay asleep, or wake up too early and feel unrefreshed?
- Do you snore loudly, gasp for air, or stop breathing while asleep (as noticed by yourself or someone else)?
- Do you often feel excessively tired or struggle to stay awake during the day, even after a full night’s sleep?
- Do you experience unusual movements, restlessness, or behaviors (like sleepwalking or kicking) while asleep?
- Do you have an irregular sleep schedule or trouble sleeping due to shift work, travel, or a misaligned body clock?
If you answered "yes" to one or more, you may benefit from a sleep evaluation.
Contact Information
To learn more about sleep disorders and solutions, call 609-477-7036.
CLICK HERE for a Sleep Order form.
Note: the program is operated in conjunction with Advantage Therapy & Sleep Centers. Physician referral is a requirement of participation.
