At Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, we understand that regular, restorative sleep is crucial to our patients’ heart health. Our sleep medicine team works hand-in-hand with heart care experts to provide comprehensive diagnosis and treatment options that improve your sleep and protect your heart.
Research indicates that untreated sleep disorders increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute is one of a few healthcare facilities in the nation to embed sleep medicine within its cardiac care services.
The result is holistic, comprehensive care that addresses every aspect of your sleep disorder and cardiac issues.
What conditions do the sleep experts at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute treat?
Although our sleep medicine services focus on patients with both sleep and cardiac issues, our team offers care for patients with a wide range of underlying conditions.
We treat:
- Sleep apnea – a breathing disorder that slows or stops your breathing multiple times during sleep
- Upper airway resistance – a collapsed or blocked airway that causes excessive snoring
- Insomnia – the continued inability to stay asleep or fall asleep
- Restless legs syndrome – a condition that causes an urge to move the legs and uncontrollable movements that occur regularly during sleep
- Parasomnia – inappropriate activities, such as talking, dream enactment, walking or eating, that take place during sleep
- Narcolepsy – sudden, uncontrollable periods of falling asleep that occur without warning at any time during any activity
- Circadian rhythm disorders – misalignment of the body’s internal clock with external time
How are sleep conditions diagnosed?
Diagnosis for sleep problems begins with a thorough sleep, personal and family health history and physical examination. Our specialists use a detailed questionnaire to evaluate your sleep history and habits. You may be asked to keep a sleep log to provide greater detail and specifics.
If your symptoms indicate the need for further investigation, you may participate in a sleep study.
Baptist Health South Florida offers both in-lab and home sleep studies.
How are sleep conditions treated?
Treatment for sleep disorders varies according to the history, underlying cause and severity of your condition. Once we better understand your sleep issues, we outline your treatment options in detail and offer the guidance you need to make well-informed decisions about your care.
For many patients with sleep apnea, continuous airway positive pressure (CPAP) is the preferred treatment. We provide training, education and follow-up to ensure you’re using the equipment correctly.
Other treatment options include:
- Education and guidance to improve your sleep habits
- Medications for certain sleep disorders such as restless legs syndrome and hypersomnolence disorders
Who benefits from sleep medicine services at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute?
The occasional restless night is rarely a cause for concern. But if sleep problems have become a common occurrence that impacts your quality of life, it may be time to get some help.
Contact your physician if you:
- Routinely take longer than 30 minutes to fall asleep
- Waken repeatedly throughout the night or too early in the morning
- Feel sleepy during the day, require frequent naps or fall asleep at inappropriate times
- Snore excessively and loudly
- Repeatedly stop breathing while asleep
- Feel tired and sleepy despite getting 7-8 hours of sleep
