Dr. Brett T. Volpe, director of MidState Medical Center Sleep Care Center, Meriden | Sound benefits of sleep

Why has the treatment of sleep become more prominent in the last five to ten years?

Increased awareness by the medical community over last decade that sleep apnea and other sleep disorders are detrimental to a person’s health/well being and can exacerbate common diseases such as heart disease,diabetes,obesity and stroke.

One online report says nearly 70 million Americans suffer from sleep deprivation – and by all accounts the number of sleepless nights is growing. Is there one predominant reason that one in five Americans suffer from this?

This is complicated, but essentially I feel American culture over the last several decades has bred a “burning the candle at both ends” approach to work, career, and activities of daily living in order to achieve increasing time-demanding goals and thus, time for sleep is regularly sacrificed by many persons and families.

What is the sleep clinic experience like? What can people expect when they sign up to be checked out?

The sleep clinic is in a physician office setting. The patient is seen by a sleep specialist for thorough consultation (history and physical exam with emphasis on sleep issues/problems). The patient may then be set up for an overnight sleep study called a nocturnal polysomnography where  physiologic data is acquired from the patient while he or she is sleeping. The physiologic data includes brain wave , respiratory, cardiac, muscle, and audio/visual activity which are carefully recorded and documented. The patient then usually has a series of follow-up visits with an emphasis on treatment by the sleep specialist.

Is sleep deprivation something that only the insured are being treated for?

No. Sleep deprivation is a multi-factorial phenomenon that affects many patients and their families, as I alluded to in question #2 above, and is often an important factor in the treatment of the majority of patients.

What are some of the diseases that are treated by the sleep center? Are they mostly physical or do mental problems get treated through the sleep center as well?

Sleep apnea is the most common disease treated. Insomnia is also common and has many causes. Other diseases such as narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome and behavioral disorders such as sleep walking are also treated. There are many physical and psychological or behavioral problems that are encountered in the treatment of sleep disorders at the center. Each patient has a unique set of issues that need to be identified and addressed.

Opinions seem to differ – what is the right amount of sleep? Does it decrease as we get older?

There is no one right amount of sleep. Some adults require about 5-6 hours per 24 hour period and others may need 8-9 hours. Sleep requirements and sleep quality are strongly influenced by age as well.