Understanding Sleep Disorders
Trouble Sleeping?
Let's Find Out Why.
An estimated 80–90% of sleep apnea cases go undiagnosed — and sleep apnea is only one of several common sleep disorders. Learn the conditions, the symptoms to watch for, and the therapy options available, so you can take the first step toward better sleep.
Common Warning Signs
Symptoms Worth Taking Seriously
- Loud Snoring
- Daytime Fatigue
- Difficulty Concentrating
- Morning Headaches
- Waking Up Gasping
- Poor Sleep Quality
- Pauses in Breathing Noticed by a Partner
- Excessive Daytime Sleepiness
If any of these sound familiar, a sleep disorder may be affecting your health — and it's worth finding out. A sleep study (also called a polysomnogram) is the first step toward uncovering the root of the problem and improving your sleep, your health, and your life.
What We Look For
Sleep Concerns Our Studies Evaluate
These are the conditions in-lab studies at Stuart Sleep most commonly help identify.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
The most common sleep-related breathing disorder. During sleep, the airway repeatedly narrows or collapses, briefly cutting off airflow — often many times an hour — without you fully waking.
Common Symptoms
- Loud, frequent snoring
- Pauses in breathing noticed by a partner
- Waking up gasping or choking
- Morning headaches and daytime fatigue
Central Sleep Apnea (CSA)
Less common than OSA. Breathing repeatedly stops during sleep because the brain temporarily stops sending the right signals to the muscles that control breathing — even though the airway stays open.
Common Symptoms
- Pauses in breathing, often without loud snoring
- Abrupt awakenings with shortness of breath
- Difficulty staying asleep
- Daytime sleepiness
Chronic Snoring
Noisy breathing caused by vibrating tissue in a narrowed airway. Snoring can disrupt your sleep and your partner's — and loud, frequent snoring is also the most recognizable warning sign of sleep apnea.
Common Symptoms
- Nightly snoring loud enough to disturb others
- Dry mouth or sore throat on waking
- Restless, unrefreshing sleep
Insomnia with Sleep-Disordered Breathing
Trouble falling or staying asleep sometimes has a hidden driver: an untreated breathing problem that keeps fragmenting your sleep. When the two occur together, treating the breathing issue is often the key to better rest.
Common Symptoms
- Difficulty falling or staying asleep
- Frequent nighttime awakenings
- Sleep that never feels refreshing
Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) & PLMD
RLS is an urge to move the legs, usually with uncomfortable sensations, that worsens in the evening and at rest. Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD) causes repetitive leg movements during sleep that fragment your rest — often without you knowing.
Common Symptoms
- Creeping or crawling sensations in the legs at night
- Relief with movement
- Kicking or jerking during sleep
- Unrefreshing sleep
Narcolepsy & Hypersomnia
Conditions marked by overwhelming daytime sleepiness even after a full night in bed. Stuart Sleep provides comprehensive in-lab testing to help your physician identify or rule out these conditions and guide the right next steps.
Common Symptoms
- Excessive daytime sleepiness despite adequate sleep
- Falling asleep unintentionally during the day
- Sleep that never feels restorative
Getting Answers
How Sleep Disorders Are Diagnosed
It starts with a conversation about your sleep and health history. When testing is ordered, we perform a comprehensive overnight study in our private suite with EEG, EKG, and technologist monitoring. Dr. Herstein scores every epoch, and an independent board-certified sleep physician interprets the study and provides a diagnosis.
- Free intake consultation
- Private, one-on-one overnight sleep study
- Findings reviewed with you the same week
- A clear answer, not guesswork
Your Options
Therapy Pathways at a Glance
Depending on the findings, your sleep data, and your preferences, your therapy plan may include:
- Patent-pending POxT
- Positional therapy
- Supplemental oxygen
- PAP therapy support (CPAP, BiPAP, ASV)
- Referral for oral appliance therapy
- Referral for hypoglossal nerve stimulation evaluation
Can't tolerate CPAP — or want to avoid it altogether? Stuart Sleep specializes in CPAP alternatives.
Not Sure Where to Start?
Start with a Free Consultation
Tell us what your nights look like. Dr. Herstein will listen, answer your questions, and recommend the right next step — no pressure, no obligation.