Contact: Ronna Branch
404-752-1717
rbranch@msm.edu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
INDUSTRY LEADING SLEEP DIAGNOSTIC CENTER OPENS AT MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Sleep Center Available to Diagnose Multiple Problems that Cause Sleep Loss
ATLANTA – April 8, 2013 – "Nearly 30 million Americans toss and turn, wake frequently,
snore, or even stop breathing for prolonged periods,” claims Kyra P. Clark, M.D.,
Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) resident sleep expert. “The quality of life of
these patients is severely affected, as many sleep disorders are under recognized.”
Morehouse School of Medicine recently opened a full-service sleep diagnostic center
on the school’s downtown Atlanta campus where physicians can identify the cause of
these ailments.
MSM’s sleep diagnostics offers comprehensive evaluations to determine how to best
meet the needs of patients. Proper diagnosis helps in the management of conditions
that prevent sleep, disrupts sleep or affects the sleep wake cycle for pediatric (starting
at age 12) to geriatric patients.
“We recognize now that a growing number of health problems are related to inadequate
sleep and interrupted sleep patterns,” explains Dr. Clark. “Advancements in medical
technology allow diagnosis, as well as successful long-term treatment.”
One of several possible tools is a sleep study or polysomnogram, a test that records
what happens to your body during sleep. A sleep study is often a part of a comprehensive
sleep evaluation to help find out what is causing your sleep problems, which could
include:
• Sleep apnea, when an adult regularly stops breathing during sleep for 10 seconds or
longer
• Irregular nighttime behaviors, such as sleepwalking, night terrors, or bed-wetting.
• Insomnia or difficulty sleeping at night
• Problems sleeping during the day because you work at night or do rotating shift work.
This sleep problem is called shift work sleep disorder
• Periodic limb movement disorder, which is repeated muscle twitching of the feet, arms,
or legs during sleep
• Narcolepsy, uncontrollable sleepiness during the day