*Editor’s note: NeuroSleep Diagnostics is now Innovative Sleep Centers.
Do you suffer from a sleeping disorder? Chances are if you do, you probably don’t even know it.
While sleeping disorders like insomnia – “the inability to obtain adequate sleep” – can be easily self identified, other conditions such as sleep apnea and narcolepsy often go untreated or misdiagnosed because people are not aware that the health or behavioral symptoms they are experiencing could be linked to their sleep. Sleep apnea is responsible for a variety of symptoms including exhaustion, depression and weight gain, just to name a few.
With more than 25 years of medical experience, triple board certified Behavioral Neurologist and Medical Director of Aberdeen’s NeuroSleep Diagnostics, Dr. Mehrdad Razavi, says of the 20 percent of individuals afflicted by sleep apnea, only two percent are treated for it.
“People don’t think they have a sleeping disorder because they fall asleep fine,” says Dr. Razavi. However, even if you are sleeping through the night, if you are waking up feeling unrested you could be experiencing a sleeping disorder.
NeuroSleep Diagnostics, which has clinics in Aberdeen, Centralia and Tumwater, focuses on an optimized approach to treating sleeping disorders, meaning they take care of everything from testing, studies, medication and more all under one roof. “A lot of sleep centers focus too much on testing,” says Dr. Razavi. “We focus on optimization of treatment. This distinguishes us from other centers.”
With a comprehensive approach to treatment, NeuroSleep Diagnostics provides the experience, tools and resources necessary to help its patients conquer their conditions and get back to feeling – and sleeping – their best.
So how do you know if you’re a candidate for treatment?
NeuroSleep Diagnostics uses the STOP questionnaire as a screening tool for sleep apnea. The four questions are:
- S – Do you snore?
- T – Are you tired during the day?
- O – Has anyone observed you stop breathing while asleep?
- P – Do you have uncontrolled, high blood pressure (such as taking three or more medications for your blood pressure)?
If your answer is yes to at least two of the four questions, you may have a 80 percent likelihood of having sleep apnea.
Dr. Razavi says, “If you have a medical or behavioral condition that you want to improve, it would be wise to pursue a consultation.” Issues relating to mood, depression, anxiety, headaches, weight gain, metabolism, heartburn and sex drive are all often linked to the way that we sleep. “One-third of our lives are spent sleeping. That one-third is going to affect the other two-thirds,” explains Dr. Razavi.
However, while many people experiencing these and similar symptoms understand that their symptoms could be linked to sleep, many continue to resist treatment because they are afraid of what therapy could entail. Dr. Razavi says not to worry. While it is true that sleep apnea and other conditions were treated with gas masks and machines in the past, modern medical advancements have since made these uncomfortable and intimidating treatments a thing of the past.
Providing comprehensive and comfortable care, NeuroSleep Diagnostics provides Grays Harbor residents with everything they need to get back to having a good night’s rest.
And, Sleep Lab Coordinator, Brad Blackburn, emphasizes that the services NeuroSleep Diagnostics provides are a real asset to the Grays Harbor community. With so many truck drivers and loggers living in and around Grays Harbor, it’s important that these individuals are well rested before hitting the road or operating heavy machinery.
Operating a vehicle while suffering from conditions like sleep apnea or narcolepsy can put workers and others on the road at risk of injuries and even fatalities if not treated. “We really make ourselves available to help these individuals, and overall, it helps the community,” says Blackburn.
With so much to offer the community, and with three centers conveniently located in Aberdeen, Tumwater and Centralia, NeuroSleep Diagnostics is a convenient, trusted choice for sleeping disorder consultations and treatments.
Dr. Razavi says it’s one thing to have a good quantity of sleep, and another to experience a good quality of sleep. By helping his patients get back to experiencing quality sleep throughout the night, NeuroSleep Diagnostics has helped Grays Harbor-area residents lead happier, healthier, energized lives.
To learn more about NeuroSleep Diagnostics, consult your primary care provider to see if you’re a candidate for sleeping disorder treatment, or visit NeuroSleep Diagnostics’ website to schedule a consultation and meet with Dr. Razavi and his staff of experienced sleeping disorder professionals.
NeuroSleep Diagnostics
954 Anderson Drive, Suite 101 A
Aberdeen, WA 98520
360-612-3069
