Awake on the job

Dr. Michael L. Stanchina has been named medical director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Roger Williams Medical Center. In addition to his new responsibilities at RWMC, he is also a pulmonary/sleep medicine physician at University Pulmonary Associates and Asthma Center. Stanchina’s interest in sleep disorders sparked when two mentors introduced him to the field during a pulmonary/critical care fellowship at Harvard. Stanchina is a member of several professional societies and he has completed other fellowships at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He holds an M.D. from West Virginia University School of Medicine and he completed his residency at New England Medical Center, where he served as chief medical resident.

Could you tell me more about spending a night in the RWMC sleep lab?

A typical “in-laboratory” sleep study involves going into a hotel-style bedroom where you will sleep overnight. A technician applies electrodes for recording and monitoring brain waves, breathing, oxygen saturation and leg movements. Most labs, including ours, are located off the hospital premises. Alternatively, there are portable monitors that can be used with some patients in their own home.

Is there more to sleep disorders than feeling sluggish?

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In studies, getting too little sleep or too much sleep on a regular basis has been associated with cardiovascular problems and increased mortality. Obstructive sleep apnea has also been associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and stroke. Treatment of OSA with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines can reduce some of the cardiovascular risk and improve overall survival.

What are some common sleep disorders?

Approximately 43 percent of patients express concerns about being tired or having difficulty sleeping. Common causes of daytime sleepiness fall into three categories. First is chronic partial sleep deprivation. The second is sleep fragmenting disorders like OSA, restlessness in the legs and insomnia. The third group is disorders of “sleep drive” such as narcolepsy, a genetic disorder leading people to need more sleep than average or have daytime fatigue. •

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