- Comprehensive care for all sleep disorders that affect adults and children, including insomnia, sleep apnea, and narcolepsy. Go to Conditions Treated
- Advanced treatment options, including behavioral therapy and the latest medications, devices, and surgical procedures. Go to Treatments and Procedures
- Clinical trials that can offer you early access to new treatments. Go to Clinical Trials
- Team-based approach that brings together psychologists, psychiatrists, neurologists, pulmonary specialists, surgeons, and dentists. Go to Your Care Team
- Easy and convenient access to our leading-edge sleep medicine facility located in Redwood City. Go to Connecting to Care
Conditions Treated
There are many different types of sleep disorders. At Stanford Health Care, we treat all sleep disorders, from routine to complex. Our sleep medicine specialists have extensive experience helping patients who have:
One-third of U.S. adults get less than the recommended seven hours of sleep each day.
- Obstructive sleep apnea: When the soft tissues in your throat block your airway, causing your breathing to temporarily stop
- Central sleep apnea: Pauses in breathing while you are asleep that occur because your brain doesn’t tell your muscles to breathe
- Sleep-Related Hypoventilation/Hypoxemic Syndromes: Shallow breathing (hypoventilation) and low blood oxygen levels (hypoxemia) during sleep
- Snoring: Noisy vibrations in your throat caused by obstructed air flow into your lungs when you sleep
- Upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS): A less severe form of obstructive sleep apnea
In insomnia, you are unable to fall and stay asleep. It is one of the most common sleep disorders.
Circadian rhythm disorders are conditions that affect your ability to sleep and wake at times required for your daily needs. Types of circadian rhythm disorders include:
- Advanced sleep phase syndrome: The timing of falling asleep and waking up are several hours earlier than a typical sleep-wake cycle
- Delayed sleep phase syndrome: You sleep and wake up several hours later than a typical sleep-wake cycle
- Shift work sleep disorder: You have an inconsistent sleep-wake cycle due to shift work
- Jet lag: A temporary sleep disorder that results from traveling across multiple time zones
- Restless legs syndrome (RLS): Pain or discomfort in your legs that causes an uncontrollable urge to move them, which interferes with your sleep
- Restless legs syndrome (RLS): Pain or discomfort in your legs that causes an uncontrollable urge to move them, which interferes with your sleep
- Narcolepsy: Sudden attacks of sleep during the day
- Idiopathic hypersomnia: Sleepiness that lasts for more than 3 months and may include difficulty waking, long sleep periods (10 hours or more), and daytime grogginess
- Idiopathic hypersomnia: Sleepiness that lasts for more than 3 months and may include difficulty waking, long sleep periods (10 hours or more), and daytime grogginess
The main types of abnormal behaviors at night (parasomnias) include:
- Sleep walking and talking: When you mimic waking activities while still asleep
- Sleep walking and talking: When you mimic waking activities while still asleep
- Nightmares: Vivid and frightening dreams that can cause terror and anxiety
- Nightmares: Vivid and frightening dreams that can cause terror and anxiety
- Nightmares: Vivid and frightening dreams that can cause terror and anxiety
- Sleep paralysis: An inability to move as you fall asleep or wake up, sometimes accompanied by intense hallucinations
Children as young as 3 months old can have sleep disorders, such as insomnia, sleep apnea or disruptive nighttime sleep behaviors. While these disorders also occur in adults, their causes, symptoms, and effects are unique in young people. Diagnosing and treating pediatric sleep disorders requires specialized expertise.
Sleep disorders are linked to many chronic health conditions and can impact your quality of life. Getting an accurate diagnosis and the right treatment are essential. Our dedicated sleep medicine team works together seamlessly to ensure you receive personalized, coordinated care.
- Stanford Medicine is home to the world’s first sleep clinic and laboratory, established in 1972. Today, we are one of the world’s largest and most renowned sleep medicine centers.
- Stanford physician Emmanuel Mignot, MD, PhD, is the world’s foremost narcolepsy expert. Dr. Mignot’s research uncovered the cause of narcolepsy, which has led to the development of more effective treatments.
- We offer several specialty clinics that provide focused care for specific conditions, including insomnia, narcolepsy, parasomnia, and restless legs syndrome. These clinics allow you to see more than one specialist during a single visit, if needed.
When you come to us for care, we assess your sleep issues and their underlying causes. Our goal is to understand your condition fully so we can create a customized treatment plan.
Your first step is to meet with a Stanford sleep medicine specialist for a consultation. This visit involves a physical exam and a review of your symptoms and medical history. Based on this information, your provider may recommend one or more tests, including:
- Sleep diary: This daily log tracks sleep-related factors such as your sleep and wake times, naps, caffeine and alcohol use, and general mood.
- Actigraphy: An actigraph is a small watch-like instrument you wear for a period of time to measure your sleep-wake cycles.
- Home sleep test: This test involves the use of one or more sensors to monitor you while you sleep at home. The sensors record your breathing, oxygen levels, and heart rate. You return the sensors, and we analyze the information to make a diagnosis.
- Overnight attended (in-laboratory) sleep study: In this test, you spend the night in our state-of-the-art Sleep Medicine Center. A trained sleep technologist applies sensors to your body that provide comprehensive measurements during each stage of sleep.
- Daytime attended (in-laboratory) sleep study: A daytime sleep study provides information about daytime sleepiness and measures your ability to fall asleep or stay awake during the day. This may include a multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) or maintenance of wakefulness test (MWT).
- Nasopharyngoscopy: This in-office procedure involves inserting a thin tube with a camera into your nose and throat to look for blockages in your airway. Your physician may also perform a nasopharyngoscopy while you are sedated to observe your airways during a sleep state.
Sleep Disorder Treatments
At Stanford Health Care, you receive care from compassionate professionals who understand the many challenges of having a sleep disorder. We work with you to find treatments that are consistent with your sleep goals and preferences.
Treatments we offer for sleep disorders include:
Behavioral treatments are often the first approach for sleep disorders. Ranging from lifestyle changes to therapy, they include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT helps change your thoughts and behaviors. Our specialists offer CBT for insomnia (CBTI), which involves a multistep process that is individually customized to help you overcome sleep difficulties.
- Avoiding alcohol and sedative medications before bedtime: Alcohol and sedative medications relax the muscles that support your airway, making breathing-related sleep disorders worse.
- Environmental changes: Changes to your sleep environment may include blocking light or noise, or reducing hazards if you sleepwalk.
- Light therapy: This therapy for circadian rhythm disorders uses light to shift your sleeping pattern.
- Muscle stretching: Regular stretching can improve restless leg syndrome.
- Physical exercise: Routine exercise during the day can help you sleep better at night.
- Positional therapy: This therapy trains you to avoid sleeping on your back—a position that makes some sleep disorders worse.
- Relaxation exercises: Relaxation techniques can help reduce racing thoughts that contribute to insomnia.
- Sleep schedule: Keeping regular bedtimes and wake times and avoiding napping can help you sleep better.
- Weight loss: For breathing-related sleep disorders, losing weight can be an effective treatment.
Your sleep specialist may recommend prescription or nonprescription medications, depending on your specific condition. Our physicians follow safety precautions when prescribing medications.
Positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy uses a machine to help keep your airway open while you sleep. You wear a mask that blows pressurized air into your nose that prevents the collapse of the tissues in your throat. Types of PAP therapy include:
- Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP): Delivers a continuous flow of air
- Automatic positive airway pressure (APAP): Adjusts airflow based on changes in your breathing throughout the night
- Bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP): Blows two levels of air, one during inhalation and one during exhalation
We also offer other more advanced ventilatory modes and devices for patients that have sleep related breathing disorders that are associated with other pulmonary and neurologic diseases.
Oral appliances are a treatment for sleep apnea and other airway-obstruction sleep disorders. The appliance moves your jaw forward while you sleep to keep the soft tissues in your airway open.
Surgery may be an option for severe sleep apnea and snoring if other treatments are not successful. Surgeons in our Sleep Surgery Program are uniquely trained in procedures to open blockages so you can breathe better at night. These procedures may involve expanding your jaw or tightening tissues in your mouth, tongue, throat, nose, or sinuses.
At Stanford Health Care, you also have access to the latest nerve stimulation treatments for obstructive and central sleep apnea. These procedures are minimally invasive, so you can get back to your daily routine in less time than traditional surgery. Options include:
- Hypoglossal nerve stimulation: This obstructive sleep apnea treatment stimulates your hypoglossal nerve, which controls tongue movement. Your surgeon implants a nerve stimulator under your chin and a monitoring device under the skin on your chest. The monitor detects changes in your breathing. If your breathing stops, the stimulator delivers a pulse to your hypoglossal nerve, which pushes your tongue forward to open your airway.
- Phrenic nerve stimulation: This treatment for central sleep apnea stimulates the phrenic nerve in your chest, which controls breathing. An implanted monitoring device tracks your breathing. If your breathing pauses, the stimulator sends a pulse to your phrenic nerve, which tells your chest muscles to breathe.
Innovation Through Clinical Research
Stanford Health Care actively participates in groundbreaking research and clinical trials to evaluate new and better ways to diagnose, treat, and manage sleep disorders. Participating in a trial may give you access to experimental therapies that are not available otherwise.
Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new medical approach, device, drug, or other treatment. As a Stanford Health Care patient, you may have access to the latest, advanced clinical trials.
Open trials refer to studies that are currently recruiting participants or that may recruit participants in the near future. Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but similar studies may open in the future.
Stanford Health Care sleep specialists are world-renowned for the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders. We carefully listen to your needs and goals as part of developing a treatment plan.
Your Doctors
Sleep Medicine Specialist
Sleep medicine specialists are doctors with advanced training in sleep disorders . Their primary medical training may be in psychiatry, psychology, neurology, pulmonology, otolaryngology, internal medicine, pediatrics, or other areas of practice.
View All {0} Sleep Medicine Specialists »Advanced Practice Provider
Our skilled physician assistants and nurse practitioners specialize in diagnosing and treating sleep disorders. They see patients independently and occasionally alongside your physician. APPs can give you a thorough exam, write prescriptions, and help prevent or treat sleep issues.
View All {0} Advanced Practice Provider Doctors »Extended Care Team
Care Coordinators
Care coordinators provide you with information and assistance before and during your appointment.
- Medical Assistants: Medical assistants work with our team to help provide care. They may prepare you for an examination, assist your doctor, or take vitals before your appointment.
- Patient Care Coordinators: Our patient care coordinators help you with scheduling appointments and accessing your lab results. They are your first line of contact before you see your provider and will guide you through your care at Sleep Medicine Center.
- Patient Access Representatives: Patient access representatives can answer any questions you have about insurance coverage. They can help you apply for insurance and refer you to a Stanford financial counselor.
Clinical Research Coordinators
Doctors at the Stanford Sleep Medicine Center are very involved in research to develop new treatments for sleep disorders. Research coordinators help screen candidates for possible participation in current clinical research trials.
View All {0} Nurse Practitioner - Inpatients »Support Services
As part of your care, we offer a variety of support services for you and your family. Our competent and compassionate staff are available whenever you need them.
We make access to care as simple as possible. We anticipate what you need and provide support when you need it. User-friendly digital health tools help you stay connected with your care team. We accept most insurance plans and offer discounted transportation, short-stay options, and international travel and translation services. We help make sense of the details, so you can make decisions that are right for you.
Sleep disorder care is convenient and easy to access at Stanford Health Care. Our Bay Area facilities are your gateway to world-class care.
For Referring Physicians
PHYSICIAN HELPLINE
Fax: 650-320-9443
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Stanford Health Care provides comprehensive services to refer and track patients, as well as the latest information and news for physicians and office staff. For help with all referral needs and questions, visit Referral Information.
You may also submit a web referral or complete a referral form and fax it to 650-320-9443 or email the Referral Center at ReferralCenter@stanfordhealthcare.org.
HOW TO REFER
Fax or email a referral form with supporting documentation to 650-320-9443 or ReferralCenter@stanfordhealthcare.org.
Stanford Health Care Sleep Medicine Center