Regional One Health is introducing a new service at our East Campus to help patients with sleep disorders like sleep apnea, insomnia, hypersomnia and circadian rhythm disorders.
Dr. Pralhad Sharma, a board-certified pulmonary, critical care, and sleep physician looks forward to improving access to care for patients who want to improve their sleep and overall health.
Good sleep not only promotes better quality of life, it helps patients avoid and manage serious medical conditions like hypertension, uncontrolled diabetes and more.
Good sleep promotes good health and quality of life, and Regional One Health has opened a new service to help patients with issues like sleep apnea, insomnia, hypersomnia, and circadian rhythm disorders.
Pralhad Sharma, MBBS, MD, DABSM, FCCP, a board-certified pulmonary, critical care, and sleep physician, leads the service at our East Campus, 6555 Quince Road, in East Memphis.
“Sleep disorders are very common, but there is a shortage of providers nationwide,” Dr. Sharma said. “We are excited to provide a sleep clinic at Regional One Health to serve our patients’ needs and improve access to care.”
Sleep apnea is the most prevalent sleep condition, affecting roughly 1 in every 15 Americans. If untreated, it can lead to serious health conditions like hypertension, uncontrolled diabetes, stroke, and heart damage, or even heart failure.
Risk factors for sleep apnea include lifestyle habits, snoring, older age, obesity, opioid use, and various health conditions like hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and recent stroke. Sleep apnea is caused by an intermittent blockage to airflow while asleep, which prevents the body from getting enough oxygen.
Dr. Pralhad Sharma notes, “Sleep disorders are very common, but there is a shortage of providers nationwide. We are excited to provide a sleep clinic at Regional One Health to serve our patients’ needs and improve access to care.”
“That causes symptoms like daytime sleepiness, early morning headaches, or feeling tired all the time,” Dr. Sharma said. “Usually, patients are referred to us for a sleep study after they see their primary care provider, pulmonologist, cardiologist or neurologist about these symptoms.”
Physicians use a clinical history, questionnaire and scoring system to determine whether a patient should have a sleep study for sleep apnea. Dr. Sharma said many patients can do their sleep study at home, but some patients may need to perform the sleep study in a sleep lab.
During a home sleep study, patients wear a specialized device with sensors and go to bed in the comfort of their own home. Upon waking up, they are prompted to confirm the test is complete. Data from their sleep is uploaded, and Dr. Sharma reviews it to reach a diagnosis.
Sleep apnea can be mild, moderate or severe, and a patient’s treatment is based on severity. The most common treatment is a CPAP machine.
When sleeping with a CPAP, patients wear a mask that connects to the machine via a tube. The machine delivers a continuous flow of filtered, pressurized air through the tube into the mask, which keeps the airway open so breathing is more regular.
Each patient is given specific settings for their CPAP based on the data from their sleep study, Dr. Sharma said. Medicare and private insurance typically cover the sleep study and CPAP.
Because there are different types of sleep apnea, specific results can vary.
If a patient’s sleep apnea presents as daytime tiredness, getting the CPAP machine is often life-changing. They feel better as soon as they adjust to sleeping with the machine. “I tell patients having a CPAP machine is like making a new best friend,” Dr. Sharma said. “It takes time to get to know your friend and find the right friend, but once you do, you never want to let it go.”
Good sleep not only improves wellbeing, it helps patients avoid and manage serious health conditions like hypertension and uncontrolled diabetes.
Other patients’ sleep apnea presents without the symptoms of tiredness, instead causing weight gain, hypertension, difficulty managing diabetes, etc. For these patients, the impact of the CPAP might not be as immediate, but they experience significant health benefits over time.
While sleep apnea is the most common reason for patients to see a sleep specialist, Dr. Sharma also treats other sleep disorders in his clinic. He sees patients for insomnia, or difficulty falling or staying asleep; and hypersomnia, which is characterized by excessive sleepiness during the day even with sleeping longer at night.
Another category of sleep disorders, circadian rhythm problems, occur when the body’s internal clock is out of sync with the environment. These are common among people who work an overnight shift, as well as blind patients who don’t have a visual sense of day and night.
There are medications designed specifically to treat conditions like insomnia, hypersomnia and circadian rhythm disorders. Dr. Sharma helps patients find the right prescription and dosage.
Dr. Sharma encourages patients to talk to their provider about whether they should see a sleep specialist. “Proper sleep helps improve overall health and your ability to function and enjoy day-to-day life,” he said. “We’re excited to offer this service to more patients in the region.”