Treating sleep problems improves conditions not typically considered by most physicians.

Over the past decade many Sleep Testing centers have opened throughout the country; most focus on evaluating patients with snoring complaints to determine if they have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Once diagnosed these patients are typically placed on CPAP for treatment. Typically a second sleep study is performed to determine the best settings for the CPAP machine, with most centers taking the basic approach  rooted in standards developed when less was known about sleep abnormalities.

As a result, many patients who have abnormalities during sleep are not accurately diagnosed and patients are left without an effective treatment plan. Many patients may have a subtle breathing problem during sleep known as Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS). Patients with UARS have normal oxygen levels throughout the night and do not stop breathing, but they work harder to breathe and the increased effort causes brief disruptions called micro arousals. Recently accepted minimum standards in the field miss out on the identification of abnormalities such as UARS.

Some centers differentiate themselves in their ability to properly diagnose and treat patients with sleep disturbances by using refined approaches and assessing more sensitive parameters during sleep. Additionally, many conditions not typically thought to be rooted in abnormalities of sleep are now recognized and treated more effectively. In Houston, Jerald H. Simmons, MD, a Triple Board-Certified Neurologist specializing in sleep disorders, directs several sleep centers that clearly stand out from the crowd. His centers use methods beyond what is required by sleep centers for accreditation.

Dr. Simmons points out that "Every path has a starting point and we learn new things along the way. It is great that the field of Sleep Medicine is developing standards but unfortunately the current standards fall short of being able to properly diagnose and treat patients with complicated conditions. By identifying the more subtle abnormalities, we have been successful in providing care to patients who were previously left struggling by the health care system."

In example, a common cause for recurrent morning headaches is OSA or UARS. Many of these patients also have bruxism during sleep (clenching or grinding the teeth at night) and this can lead to TMJ Disorder. Research conducted by Dr. Simmons has shown that bruxism during sleep actually helps keep the airway open by moving the tongue and jaw forward; this is the body's attempt to prevent OSA or UARS. By treating the airway problems during sleep Dr. Simmons and Dental Sleep Specialist Dr.Ron Prehn have demonstrated improvement in both bruxing and TMJ pain.
When appropriate Dr. Simmons treats patients with OSA or UARS by using dental appliances as an alternative to the CPAP machine, and is performing pioneering research on the use of combined treatment approaches using both CPAP with dental appliances.


Additionally, most patients with fibromyalgia have poor sleep. Proper treatment of their sleep problems frequently improves the symptoms of Fibromyalgia. Signals from pain nerve fibers throughout the body constantly send a low level of signals to the brain, but the brain normally filters these out. If the brain is not properly rested it loses the ability to filter these signals which results in common fibromyalgia pain.
Treatments geared to improving sleep continuity restore the brain's pain filter mechanism, and the pain symptoms resolve.

The underlying sleep disturbances causing these symptoms is not always identified by sleep centers, and the treatment opportunities are missed. In many of these patients UARS can be at the root of the problem. Once the sleep disturbance is properly treated, fatigue resolves.

The sleep centers directed by Jerald H. Simmons, MD utilize advanced methods to properly diagnose and treat patients with conditions, such as those described above. Dr.Simmons concludes that "In the future we will look back and see how much we didn't understand, but unless we embrace the knowledge of our experience we will never reach that future perspective."

For more information on sleep disorders and the sleep centers of Dr. Simmons, visit HoustonSleep.net and gain the knowledge you need to obtain a better night's sleep.