Sleep center chevy chase plays a major role in treating sleep disorders and related issues which were not considered to be this serious previously. Thanks to the specialists who drew attention towards these problems and came up with the best possible treatment procedures.
Diagnosis of Restless Leg Syndrome
In order to treat any disease, the first step is to diagnose it properly and then go for any remedy. In case of restless leg syndrome, you should check either it is causing from associated medical issue or it is the genetic problem. For that, sleep disorder clinics usually conduct a physical and neurological examination. You also go through a blood test to check your iron levels or any other medical problem.
Treatment of Restless Leg Syndrome
Basically, RLS can be treated in different ways based on its occurrence originality in your body. That is, if it is occurring due to some other medical problem then it is said to be temporary and can be controlled by treating those issues. Because treating underlying illness might help you in relieving symptoms of RLS instead of directly starting treatment of the disorder itself. For instance, it might be caused by iron deficiencies and increasing your iron intake might help in relieving RLS symptoms.
But if the disorder is persistent and occurring due to some genetic issues then it surely needs proper and specific treatment. It might be treated with some changes in your lifestyle or you can be prescribed with some medicines as required. It is better to get yourself checked in proper sleep disorder clinics to get the correct treatment done and on time of course.
There are some medicines which sleep study centers claims to help a lot in curing RLS, however, no medicine can be taken without consulting your doctor.
- OTC Iron Tablets
If your blood test shows the iron deficiency, then you may take OTC (over the counter) iron tablets to balance the iron levels in your body. These pills contain ferrous sulfate which are good enough for doing this job.
- Dopamine Agonists
When the RLS symptoms are mild to severe then sleep study centers recommends to increase dopamine levels in your brain which works as a neurotransmitter to signal messages to your body. It helps in controlling the sensory symptoms in your legs while also help in reducing leg jerks while you are asleep. You can take the Rotigotine patch (Neupro), Ropinirole (Requip) and Pramipexole (Mirapex) which are FDA approved dopamine agonists used for curing RLS.
- Anti-seizure Medications
These drugs help in slowing or blocking down the pain signals from nerves which are reaching legs. One of the FDA approved drug is Gabapentin enacarbil which comes under anti-seizure class and said to be very effective. But these drugs are not recommended for everyone and you need proper prescription from your specialists if you want to start your treatment with them.
- Sleeping Medications and Muscle Relaxants
These drugs are known as Benzodiazepines which are used in severe cases of RLS. They help in providing you quality sleep but unable to remove sensory feelings from your legs. These drugs also have some side effects of daytime drowsiness along with addictive potential. So, the doctors only prescribe them if no other medicine is working to relieve your pain. A commonly available drug for this problem is Clonazepam (Klonopin).
- Opiods
These are the narcotic drugs which are used for treating mild to severe cases of RLS when no other medicine is showing any results. But these drugs have high potential of addiction if used in high dosages so you need a special prescription from your doctor to buy them from any pharmacy store. Some commonly used opiods are codeine, oxycodone and morphine.
Apart from above medicines, you need to take some precautions as well to control RLS occurrence in your body. For instance, you should observe your body’s behavior once you have started course of your medicines and inform your doctor if anything found uncertain. While as per sleep disorder clinics, you also need to control your diet as well to avoid RLS symptoms to occur repetitively. That is, avoid alcohol and tobacco products while reduce your caffeine intake which might worsen your restless leg syndrome symptoms.
Watch Out for These Types of Sleep Disorder in Kids
There are many types of sleep disorder in kids that can make it difficult for them to get a good amount of sleep at night. As a parent, it is a must to make yourself familiar with these disorders to address the problem as early as possible and avoid serious consequences later on.
Night Terrors of sleep disorders
Probably one of the most common sleep disorders in children, especially younger ones, is night terrors. It is a common terror in kids aged 2 to 6 years old although this can also occur even in adults. A person suffering from night terrors find it hard to gain consciousness completely, which make them moan or even scream when they eventually manage to awaken.
Insomnia
Just like adults, children can also experience insomnia. Children who have a hard time falling asleep after a specific amount of time may be having a case of insomnia that can lead to hyperactivity, irritability, mood swings, aggression, and depression. Some of the usual culprits behind insomnia In kids include anxiety, poor sleeping habits, and depression. It is essential that younger kids of ages 6 to 12 get more sleep to as much as 11 hours every night. For teens, the suggested amount of sleep is about 9 hours. Kids that stay up late into the night watching TV or playing games may suffer from insomnia related issues. Cutting down the time spent on such activities and tucking them to bed earlier can help lessen the risks of suffering from insomnia.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is also a sleeping disorder which affects adults and children alike. Obstructive sleep apnea is found to be common in kids, and this is often a bit tricky to diagnose. Sleep apnea happens when the sufferer takes short breathing pauses while sleeping. There are several symptoms in children that parents should watch out for to help diagnose this particular problem. These include behavioral problems, sleeping constantly during the day, difficulty sleeping, and enlarged tonsils. A pediatric specialist will be able to help diagnose sleep apnea in kids, with treatment often involving nasal steroids, weight loss, or removal of tonsils. Obesity is considered as among the primary causes of sleep apnea so kids who exercise on a regular basis will have lesser chances of developing this disorder. You can also search for a sleep apnea clinic chevy chase where you can get the help and guidance you need to better address this sleeping problem of your kid.
