Sleep Medicine Services

Causes of Sleep Problems

Rest assured that many sleep problems can be addressed without the need for medical treatment. Everyday habits, such as diet, exercise and screen time can cause difficulty sleeping, as well as anxiety and your sleeping environment.

• Caffeine stimulates the brain and interferes with sleep. If you are having trouble sleeping, try to limit your caffeine to about 200 milligrams per day (about the amount in 2 cups of coffee). Avoid caffeine after lunch.
• Alcohol is also bad for your sleep, often causing nightmares or making people wake up in the middle of the night. Avoid alcohol within 4-6 hours of bedtime.
• Though physical activity is important for quality sleep, exercising too close to bedtime can cause problems. Time your exercise to end over 6 hours before your bedtime to avoid trouble sleeping.
• Artificial light from computers, phones and TVs can interfere with your body’s sleepiness cues. Turn off all electronic devices at least 30 minutes before bedtime.
• Stress and anxiety can cause sleep problems as well. You could be anxious about an important presentation or excited for a party.
• Your sleeping environment may play a role, if you are regularly awakened by a neighbor’s dog or a loud thunderstorm.

The following links offer steps you can take to improve your sleep, without the need for medical treatment:

• How to establish a healthy sleep routine
• How to create a good sleeping environment

Why Undergo A Sleep Study

While many sleep problems do not require medical intervention, some do. The sleep studies we offer help diagnose sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, insomnia, restless legs syndrome and narcolepsy, so we can provide effective treatment and put your sleep difficulties to rest. A sleep study, or polysomnogram, is a recording program that contains several types of measurements used to identify different sleep stages and classify various sleep problems. In addition, brain activity, movement, heart rhythms, breathing patterns, and oxygen trends are also monitored and recorded to help our specialists understand the underlying cause of your sleep problems.

Learn more about sleep apnea here.

What to Expect

To perform a sleep study, you will be asked to spend at least one night in our sleep disorder center located at Froedtert Kenosha Hospital. We ensure your comfort by offering private rooms with amenities like televisions and private bathrooms.

For the procedure, technicians will attach a variety of sensors to monitor brain activity, body movements, heart rhythms, sleep stages, breathing patterns, and oxygen levels. Data from the sensors is recorded and evaluated by one of our sleep medicine specialists.

After your evaluation, your doctor will provide a diagnosis and recommendation. If we determine sleep apnea may be the cause, you may need to spend a second night at the center to calibrate CPAP equipment to help you breathe easy, and rest assured that you’ll finally have a good night’s sleep.