Sleep Disorders

Tennessee Comprehensive Lung and Sleep Center uses advanced diagnostic techniques like pulmonary function testing, lung cancer screening, and sleep study evaluation to help patients identify underlying lung and sleep related issues so they can get the individualized care and treatment they need for optimal health.

Dr. Clyde Southwell, MD, is a top-ranked pulmonologist and sleep medicine specialist providing patients in Hendersonville, Tennessee with one of the best and unparalleled levels of care for an array of acute and chronic lung conditions and diseases and sleep disorders.

HOW TO TELL IF YOU HAVE A SLEEP DISORDER

Sleep disorders affect 10-50% of the population. These include:

  • I can’t sleep. The term insomnia means “no sleep” in Latin. Most if not all adults experience insomnia occasionally. Stressful events, or changes in sleep schedule often cause short term problems with sleep lasting a few days to a few weeks. Some times short term insomnia can become more persistent. Long term insomnia may affect as much as 1/3 of all adults and is defined as trouble sleeping most nights for more than one month. People experiencing long term insomnia may need medical help to correct the problem.

  • This is a common disorder in which a person feels an unpleasant sensation in the legs or arms which makes them want to move. People with Restless Leg Syndrome have trouble sitting still. It may be severe enough to make life miserable, and may cause poor quality sleep.

  • Night time breathing disorders resulting in snoring, irregular breathing, and poor quality sleep with daytime sleepiness.

  • This is a rare condition in which a person experiences poor quality night time sleep, and recurrent daytime episodes of severe brief sleepiness. People with this disorder may need to lie down and nap for 5-15 minutes several times a day. The daytime sleep spells are uncontrollable. It is often associated with brief episodes of muscle weakness. more information

  • A group of nighttime disorders including sleep terrors, sleep walking, seizures, and acting out of dreams.

  • Behaviors that help promote sound sleep.

Sleep disorders have a significant impact on health. If left untreated, these disorders can lead to poor quality of life. They contribute to job, social, and marital problems. Sleepy people are at high risk for having accidents and injury. Medical problems related to sleep disorders include high blood pressure, strokes, heart attacks, weakness of the heart, and depression. If you have experienced any of these problems for more than two weeks, please contact us. We can help improve your sleep. Getting a good night’s sleep makes for a better and safer day.