The Carle Regional Sleep Disorders Center

The Carle Regional Sleep Disorders Center was developed in 1984 to assess and diagnose sleep disorders. Certified by the American Sleep Disorders Association, Carle’s Sleep Center has skilled, board certified physician specialists, highly trained technical staff, and state-of-the-art equipment.

Sleep assessments can be provided at Carle’s main facility in Urbana, as well as at Carle satellite Sleep Center locations.

Sleep Disorders

Despite the fact that 40 million Americans suffer from specific sleep disorders, they often go undiagnosed. The Carle Sleep Center’s board certified physicians, Donald A. Greeley, MD, and Daniel L. Picchietti, MD, are available to provide consultations and to assess, diagnose and treat a variety of sleep disorders, including the following:

1. Hypersomnolent Patients

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea
• Periodic Limb Movements In Sleep
• Restless Legs Syndrome
• Narcolepsy
• Sleep Schedule Problems (i.e. shift work, sleep phase problems, poor sleep hygiene)

2. Parasomnias

• Sleep Walking
• Sleep Terrors
• REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

3. Snoring

4. Insomnia

5. Referral Process

For more information about the Carle Sleep Center or sleeping disorders, call (217) 383-3364.

Carle Regional Sleep Disorders Center
611 West Park Street
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 383-3364

Sleep Well, Live Well

Sleep is not merely a "time out" for your body. It is necessary for you to function at your best and is an active state essential for mental and physical health. This material was developed to provide you with helpful tips on establishing good sleep habits which will ensure that you get the rest you need to stay healthy and well.

How Much Sleep Is Needed?

Many studies have shown that adults typically need seven to eight hours of sleep to function their best. Teens need approximately nine and a half hours of sleep, while younger children require more. If you sleep less than your body requires, you pay a penalty throughout the day. You may have trouble concentrating, you may get sleepy while driving, or you may just be irritable. Drowsiness in non-stimulating situations is not a sign of boredom, but rather a sign of insufficient sleep (either not enough hours of sleep or quality of sleep).

What If I Have Trouble Getting To Sleep Or Wake Up A Lot During The Night?

Everyone experiences temporary sleeplessness from time to time. It is usually related to something going on in our lives and gets better within two to three weeks. However, if you continue to have problems sleeping, you should consult your doctor or a sleep specialist.

There are some things you can do when you have temporary sleeplessness:

• Consolidate your sleep during normal sleep hours
• Avoid daytime napping
• Take time to relax in the late evening, before going to bed
• Go to bed at the same time each night (If you haven’t fallen asleep within 20 minutes, get up and move to a different location. Read or do some other activity until you feel drowsy. Then try going back to bed again. This approach conditions your body to associate your bed with sleep.)
• Set a consistent wake up time and get bright light exposure in the morning (Bright light first thing in the morning is a powerful stimulus to the internal clock, much stronger and more natural than melatonin.)
• Exercise moderately late in the day or during early evening; but, don’t exercise within one hour of your bedtime
• Be sure you have comfortable sleeping conditions, including a quiet, dark room
• Have an evening snack (This is not recommended if you suffer from heartburn or "reflux.")
• Avoid all caffeine for at least ten hours before bedtime (Coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate and certain medications contain caffeine that can have long-lasting effects.)
• Avoid nicotine near bedtime (Nicotine has stimulant properties.)
• Avoid sleeping pills (You can become dependent on prescription and over-the-counter sleep medications. Unless your doctor prescribes them, you should avoid them.)

If disturbed sleep continues longer than three weeks, talk to your primary care doctor.

A more significant problem may be present. Medical conditions such as ongoing depression or anxiety can affect sleep long term.

What If I am Sleepy During the Day?

If you are getting seven to eight hours of sleep every night and are still sleepy during the day, a more serious sleep problem may be present. Sleep apnea, periodic limb movements in sleep, sleep phase disorders and narcolepsy are common sleep disorders. The good news is there are effective treatments for all of these problems. Please check with your primary care doctor if you are having daytime sleepiness. She or he may want to refer you to a sleep specialist.

What is Restless Legs Syndrome?

Restless or "jumpy" feelings in the legs can interfere with sleep onset. This is often accompanied by repeated jerking in sleep that affects sleep continuity. Known as restless legs syndrome, this problem can occur at any age. New and more effective treatments have recently been found.

What if I Snore?

Thirty percent of adults snore. Snoring is usually more of a social problem than a sleep disorder. However, if you snore and are excessively sleepy in the daytime or have been noticed to stop breathing while asleep, a more serious condition such as sleep apnea may be present. Your doctor can help determine if you have this common sleep disorder.

There are some simple tips you could try to minimize a simple snoring problem:

• Avoid alcohol for three hours before sleep
• Treat nasal congestion
• Try ear plugs, a fan or a "white noise" machine for your bed partner
• Try not to sleep on your back (Propping yourself up with pillows or placing a tennis ball into a sock and pinning it to your pajamas between your shoulder blades will help prevent you from sleeping on your back.)

This information is presented as a service by the Carle Sleep Center. The Carle Sleep Center is fully accredited by the American Sleep Disorders Association for the diagnosis and treatment of all types of sleep disorders.

For more information about sleep disorders, talk to your family doctor or contact the Carle Sleep Center at (217) 383-3364.

Sleep... Not Always a Lullaby

Sleep has the power to refresh, relieve, sustain and energize. But, when you don’t get enough sleep, it can begin to create problems. As many as 40 million people - including children - may suffer from chronic or intermittent sleep disorders. So, it’s important to teach your children good sleep habits.

This information was produced by the Carle Regional Sleep Disorders Center to help you better understand if your child’s sleep patterns are part of normal child development or something you might need to discuss with your child’s doctor. It also provides helpful hints on how to establish good sleep habits.

How Much Sleep Does My Child Need?

Although there is some variation in the amount of sleep each child seems to require, the following is a general guide for comparison.

Infants (ages 0 - 12 months)

Newborns may sleep as much as 20 hours a day, but their sleep periods are brief and irregular. By the time infants are six months old, most will sleep five or six hours at a time during the night.

Toddlers (ages 1 - 3)

Between the ages of one to three years, most children will change from taking two naps a day to taking one nap a day. On average, a one year old will sleep close to 14 hours a day, including naps. By age three, however, sleep time decreases to about 12 hours a day.

Preschoolers (ages 4 - 5)

Most preschoolers will stop taking naps and will sleep about 11 hours at night.

Grade-schoolers (ages 6 - 12)

A solid ten hours of sleep is common among children ages six to 12.

Teenagers (ages 13 - 18)

The average teen in the U.S. only gets 7 ½ hours of sleep. However, new research shows that 9 to 9 1/2 hours of sleep is the ideal amount of sleep that a teenager’s brain and body need.

It isn’t until ages 18 - 20 that the adult norm of seven to eight hours of sleep is reached.

What Happens If My Child Doesn’t Get Enough Sleep?

The National Commission of Sleep Disorders Research was established by Congress to study sleep problems, including the effects of lack of sleep. We are now beginning to understand more about the value of sleep, based on new research. Lack of sleep can cause irritability, decrease attention span and decrease alertness-all of which can impact your child’s lifestyle both at home and at school.

My Child Won’t Go To Sleep!

Struggling with children at bedtime frustrates many parents. However, following these simple tips may help:

• Engage your child in quiet, late-evening activities such as reading. Read to a young child; have an early school age child read to you; or have the older child read to herself. Video games and television often stimulate children, making it harder to get them to sleep.
• Establish and follow a bedtime routine for your child.
• Set regular nap times and bed times.
• Don’t let your children have soda and chocolate, or other snacks that may have caffeine, if they have problems sleeping.

How do I Know if my Child has a Sleep Disorder?

Sleep apnea, narcolepsy and restless legs syndrome are sleep disorders that can occur in children. Some of these sleep problems can run in families. However, parents who have a sleep disorder may not recognize sleep problems because they think irregular sleep is normal.

The following are signs that may indicate that your child has a sleep disorder that should be medically evaluated.

• Falling asleep during class
• Snoring with periods of stopped breathing
• Repeated jerks during sleep
• A family history of Restless Legs Syndrome (in a child who does not sleep well)

If your child has any of these symptoms, or does not respond to the sleep hygiene tips in this brochure, his or her doctor should evaluate him or her.

If your child requires a medical evaluation for a sleep disorder, your doctor may refer him or her to Carle’s Sleep Center. Accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Carle’s Sleep Center has skilled, board-certified physicians, a highly trained staff, as well as state-of-the-art equipment.

For More Information

For more information about sleep disorders in children, the following publications may be of assistance:

Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, by Marc Weissbluth, MD (Fawcett Columbine).

How to Sleep Like a Baby, Wake up Refreshed and Get More Out of Life, by Dianne Hales (Ballantine Books).

How to Solve Your Child’s Sleep Problems, by Richard Ferber, MD (Simon & Schuster).

AWAKE & AWARE Support Group

AWAKE and AWARE is a support group for people affected by sleep apnea. It meets quarterly on the second Tuesday of March, June, September and December from 7 - 9 p.m. at Carle Foundation Hospital (classroom varies).

Meetings usually consist of an invited speaker, and then sharing between members of the group. Attendees are encouraged to bring questions, concerns, and ideas about sleep apnea and CPAP use.

The group is free of charge and open to the public. AWAKE & AWARE is sponsored by Carle Regional Sleep Disorders Center and Carle Medical Supply. Refreshments are usually supplied. For more information, contact Brenda Ross at 217-383-3198 or Judy Carico at 217-383-3487.