Alton, IL 

Saint Anthony's Sleep Center  | 618/463-5172

An estimated 70 million Americans suffer from some form of sleep disorder. Research clearly links sleep problems to a number of serious health and social problems, including heart attack, stroke and diabetes, as well as increased risk of developing anxiety and depressive disorders.  

Common problems include:

Sleep apnea: pauses in breathing during sleep, often a person many times during a night’s sleep

Insomnia: difficulty falling or staying asleep

Narcolepsy: excessive sleepiness or fatigue during the day, including falling asleep at inappropriate times

Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS): leg discomfort during sleep

Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD): legs or arms twitching involuntarily and periodically during sleep
Saint Anthony's Sleep Center, located in the Saint Clare's Professional Building, 815 East Fifth Street, Suite 308, offers state-of-the-art diagnosis and therapy for a wide range of sleep disorders. The newly renovated Sleep Center offers a comfortable and private setting to help individuals relax for their sleep studies.

For the convenience of individuals with varying work hours, day and evening appointments are available.

Sleep Apnea   

Sleep apnea is the most common of all sleep disorders, afflicting 8 million Americans. This disorder causes a person's breathing to stop for short periods of time during sleep, thus waking the sufferer many times during a night's sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea is sometimes caused by relaxation of the upper airway muscles during sleep, and subsequent blockage of the airway by the tonsils, uvula or fatty tissue. If untreated, sleep apnea can lead to coronary heart failure. 

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

A person with a sleep disorder may experience some of the following symptoms: 

• Excessive tiredness 
• Loud snoring 
• Morning headaches 
• Irritability 
• Reduced attention and concentration 
• Narcolepsy - brief attacks of deep sleep during the day 
• Sleep Walking (Somnambulism) 
• Sudden jerky leg movements that awaken you 
• Teeth grinding at night 
• Breathing cessation while asleep 

Diagnosing Sleep Disorders

Under the direction of the sleep professionals from Clayton Sleep Institute, all sleep testing is administered by an order from your physician. Respiratory and sleep 

specialists carefully track a patient's sleep patterns during an overnight session using advanced monitoring technology. At the end of the sleep testing session, patients may proceed with their daily routines and activities as usual.   
Areas monitored and recorded include: 

Heart and brain activity Eye movement  Movement of respiratory muscles  Oxygen level in the blood  Snoring  Air flow from the nose and mouth Body position

Treatment Options  

If a sleep disorder is diagnosed, one prominent treatment option is called C-PAP (continuous positive airway pressure). This procedure lets air flow from a small compressor into a mask placed over the nose during sleep, thus keeping the airway open. Other possible treatment options include losing weight, avoiding alcohol, or undergoing a surgical procedure. 

If you think you may be suffering from a sleep disorder, consult your physician. With your doctor's approval, you may utilize the benefits of Saint Anthony's Sleep Center.  

Sleep Evaluation

The following test has been developed to help identify those who may be suffering from sleep apnea.                                                  

Identify each of the following statements that apply to you: 

1. I snore. 

2. I have high blood pressure. 

3. I have noticeable changes in my personality. 

4. I am overweight, or gaining weight. 

5. I sweat excessively during the night. 

6. My heart pounds or beats irregularly during the night. 

7. I have morning headaches. 

8. I have trouble sleeping when I have a cold. 

9. I suddenly wake up gasping for breath during the night. 

10. I feel sleepy during the day even though I slept through the night.    

If you identify with three or more of these statements, you are showing symptoms of sleep apnea, and you may wish to talk to your physician about the situation.   

Our Sleep Center Program   

• Considered an eligible charge by most private insurers, as well as Medicare and Medicaid. 
• Sleep Center results are interpreted by the physicians of Clayton Sleep Institute. 
• Our computerized monitoring system is state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment. 

For more information or to make an appointment for a sleep study, please call Saint Anthony’s Sleep Center at 618/463-5172.