Sleep Center

Helping Patients Sleep in North Central Arkansas & South Central Missouri

Sleep plays an important role in keeping the human body running smoothly. A biological clock located in the brain regulates circadian (daily) sleeping and waking patterns. When we don’t get enough sleep on a regular basis, we establish a sleep debt and are unable to perform at our best throughout the day. As high as 30 to 40 percent of the adult population in the US are plagued by sleeping disorders, and many go untreated.

Our team of sleep specialists includes board certified Sleep Disorder Specialist Dr. Paul Neis and technologists who are registered by the American Board of Sleep Medicine and the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists. The Baxter Health Sleep Disorder Center is an American Academy of Sleep Medicine Accredited Sleep Center. We work with your primary care physician to identify sleep disorders and develop a treatment plan for you. Appointments can be made through a referral from your physician, or by contacting Dr. Neis at (870) 424-4200.

Some of the most commonly treated sleep disorders are described below:

• Sleep apnea - one of the most common and dangerous types of sleep disorders, characterized by repeated episodes of ceasing to breathe during sleep. Sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure and cardiac disease. Snoring often accompanies sleep apnea. Airflow is blocked by relaxation of the throat muscles and/or tongue or by extra tissue in the upper airway.
• Restless leg syndrome - a neurological disorder marked by unpleasant sensation in the lower legs. The individual’s sleep is disrupted by the compelling need to move the legs.
• Narcolepsy - characterized by uncontrolled episodes of falling asleep at any place or time. These sleep attacks may last anywhere from several minutes to a couple hours and may vary in frequency from an occasional episode to several in a single day.
• Insomnia - difficulty falling or staying asleep. There are many causes for insomnia, the most common being stress, noise, extreme temperatures, change in the environment, changes in sleep/wake schedules such as those caused by jet travel and shift work, and side effects of medication. Other diseases can also cause insomnia, such as arthritis, heart failure, Parkinson’s disease and depression.

Common forms of treatment include identifying and reducing behavior that aggravates the condition, sleep aids and relaxation therapy. If you think you or a loved one may have symptoms of a sleep disorder, contact your physician today.