Having Sleep Problems? Here’s How A Pulmonologist Can Help

Having Sleep Problems? Here’s How A Pulmonologist Can Help : Have you ever considered seeing a healthcare professional because you can’t sleep at night? Or maybe, up to this point, you still don’t know if there’s a specific type of doctor for such medical concerns. It’s not surprising if you’re one of those people who fail to notice that they’re already having sleep problems, which may greatly affect one’s overall health. Don’t keep on ignoring your sleep troubles–consider seeing a pulmonologist instead.

What Is A Pulmonologist?

A pulmonologist is a doctor of internal medicine who specializes in the respiratory system. If you’re experiencing health issues that involve your lungs, respiratory muscles, windpipes, and airways, a pulmonologist is the right professional to see. These professionals can help you in various medical conditions, like the following:

Emphysema
Asthma
Occupational lung disease
Bronchitis
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Obstructive sleep apnea

Pulmonologists make use of tests and exams, such as CT scans and chest ultrasounds, to help them determine a diagnosis.

How A Pulmonologist Can Help With Your Sleep Problems

While there are sleep doctors who have additional special training to help with sleep disorders and problems, a pulmonologist may also be professionally qualified to assess your condition. This is because they’re also familiar with several sleep issues like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) since this disorder happens when a person stops breathing during sleep.

Sleeping disorders, such as OSA, are usually related to illnesses and breathing conditions, such as asthma and COPD. Since a pulmonologist handles and addresses such health issues, they may also be able to help you with your sleep problems. There are also those who are affiliated with sleep centers, like the Nova Pulmonary Critical Care and Sleep Associates. These clinics and facilities run their own sleep studies for patients so they can better help with your sleep problems.

Another pulmonary condition that could be affecting your sleep is COPD. COPD is an inflammatory and progressive lung disease that can potentially worsen over time. It may lead to persistent coughing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and wheezing. At times, it may even make a person susceptible to pneumonia and other respiratory infections. People who are suffering from COPD may experience sleep problems especially when they’re having a hard time breathing at night.

Your pulmonologist may associate your COPD with any sleep difficulties you’re experiencing by conducting a sleep test. They’ll also watch out for symptoms like:

Morning headache
History of stroke, heart failure, or type 2 diabetes
Hypoxemia (occurs when the level of oxygen in your blood is below normal)
Polycythemia (an increase of red blood cells in the body)
Right heart failure
Pulmonary hypertension
Obesity
Snoring
Choking or gasping through the night
Extreme sleepiness during the day

A diagnosis may take a few days. Based on the findings, the pulmonologist will then determine the kind of sleep disorder that you have and how to treat it.

Treating Your Sleep Disorders

Once the pulmonologist has made their diagnosis, it’s time to move forward to how your sleep problems can be alleviated and eventually treated. The severity of the problem is one factor to consider, which is why a sleep study is needed.

If you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea, for instance, the doctor may recommend devices and therapies such as Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). CPAP machines help provide consistent air pressure so that your airways remain open as you sleep.

You may also be advised to see a dentist if the pulmonologist determines your need for a specifically designed oral device such as the Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD), which looks similar to mouth guards that athletes wear in sports. MADs are worn in the mouth as you go to bed and it’s also one of the widely used devices for sleep apnea.

For sleep problems like insomnia and circadian rhythm disorder, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is usually recommended. This psychological treatment is specifically geared towards improving mental health and is believed to aid in treating insomnia without the use of any medication. For other sleep disorders, treatment options include medication and lifestyle changes.

Conclusion

If you’re suffering from any sleep problems, you may consider seeing a pulmonologist. They have enough professional background to handle medical concerns related to the respiratory system. Since some sleep issues may be linked to the respiratory condition of the body, a pulmonologist can certainly help you out.

You don’t have to endure any sleep problems that you may have. You also can’t possibly go on ignoring them because you may never know if there’s an underlying medical condition that needs to be addressed in reference to your sleeping disorder. A pulmonologist, fortunately, can significantly help you in your quest to find the right treatment for your sleep problems.