Centre for Sleep Medicine

Sleep Disorders

Sleep disorders are among the most common complaints in the population. It is familiar to most people: you cannot fall asleep or wake up all the time, and you are tired all day. This is quite normal as long as it doesn´t happen too often. Stress, anger, and problems at work or in everyday life, among other things, can be the cause of temporary sleep disorders.

However, for many people, sleep disorders are more frequent and affect their everyday life. In Germany, about eight million people suffer from severe sleep disorders that require diagnosis and treatment. Neurological diseases such as strokes, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and neuromuscular diseases are particularly often associated with sleep disorders. Primary neurological sleep disorders include narcolepsy, restless legs syndrome, and periodic limb movement in sleep disorder. In addition, more than 90 different sleep disorders have now been described, which are mainly associated with problems falling asleep and staying asleep and/or excessive daytime sleepiness. Since sleep disorders can impair the healing process and lead to increased suffering, quick assessment and treatment are important. In particular, the so-called breathing-related sleep disorders are widespread and are considered a risk factor for strokes, heart attacks, high blood pressure, and cardiac arrhythmias.

Nowadays, there are many technical gadgets to monitor and improve sleep. These are particularly suitable for getting a first impression of one’s sleeping behaviour. However, the applications do not replace a medical diagnosis. In the case of persistent sleep disorders, a medical examination and the development of an appropriate treatment plan are urgently required.

Centre for Sleep Medicine at Kliniken Schmieder

Due to the personnel and medical-technical equipment, Kliniken Schmieder in Allensbach are able to diagnose and treat all forms of sleep disorders. The diagnostic examinations occur in a completely darkened, spacious, and quietly located room with a separate bathroom.

The sleep lab is equipped with the latest medical technology, including infrared cameras, body position sensors, and a digital recording station. In addition to a detailed anamnesis, a comprehensive physical examination is also carried out.

The following methods are also used:

• Sleep protocols
• Sleep questionnaires
• Apnoea screening / polygraphy to detect sleep-related breathing disorders

Therapy of sleep disorders

After the diagnostic measures have been carried out, each patient receives an individual therapy. The treatment of the sleep/wake disorder is oriented towards the pathogenesis, the severity of the symptoms, and the course. Depending on the severity of the sleep/wake disorder and the personal life situation, the patient is treated with the help of the following measures, among others:

Behavioural medical-psychotherapeutic measures

Behavioural medical and psychotherapeutic measures include education about the nature of the disorder as well as sleep hygiene recommendations aimed at avoiding sleep-disrupting behaviour. They also include specific relaxation methods such as autogenic training, progressive muscle relaxation, and Qi Gong, as well as behavioural therapies and the various forms of psychotherapy.

Chrono-biological measures

Chrono-biological measures influence the periodic course of biological functions. Chrono-biological therapy uses for example behavioural and pharmacological methods or light therapy.

Pharmacological measures

Pharmacological measures are often necessary for primarily organic and chronic sleep disorders. Depending on the diagnosis, stimulants, antidepressants, or neuroleptics are used. Hypnotics should only be used for a limited period after a detailed differential diagnosis and always with the inclusion of non-pharmacological methods.

Apparative measures

Apparatus measures such as nasal nocturnal positive airway pressure therapy (nCPAP / BiPAP) can be used successfully for so-called breathing-related sleep disorders.

Surgical measures (external)

Surgical measures may be necessary in individual cases of certain sleep-related breathing disorders, especially obstructions in the upper respiratory tract, obstructive tumours of the nose and throat, and deformities of the facial skeleton.

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