It is our commitment to the whole patient – and our follow-through to insure that a sleep study leads to better quality of life – that sets us apart from the faceless alternatives.
—Dr. Vernon Rowe
Why See a Sleep Doctor?
Sleep is as important to our quality of life as the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. Because so many people have problems with sleep these days, in our 24-7 world, the Sleep Industry itself is a multi-billion dollar industry. People try to sell all sorts of drinks and drugs to keep us awake, and drinks and drugs to put us to sleep. They try to sell us pillows and bedding that sometimes costs many thousands of dollars to use in bed. And they try to keep us awake while we’re in those beds. Pretty ironic.
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They also sell products to keep us from snoring—but snoring is never normal. It is an indication that the airway is closing up in sleep. So snoring is an indication of a serious sleep disorder, not just something to prevent to stop annoying your partner.
We know sleep is important for the functioning of our brain. It’s when all those unnecessary connections are “pruned” so we’ll consolidate memories and have room to learn new things the next day. It’s important for the repair of our joints, bones, and muscles. Normal sleep is good for our hearts and blood vessels, and virtually every organ system in our bodies need rest.
Abnormal breathing in sleep, likewise, can lead to strokes and heart attacks. And excessive daytime sleepiness can lead to traffic accidents and worsen epilepsy. And even mild problems with breathing in sleep can lead to literally a dizzying array of symptoms in Neurology.
This is particularly important in patients who are hypermobile, who have a higher prevalence of sleep disordered breathing than the general population. In the Hypermobility Syndromes, joint pain including back and neck pain, as well as other symptoms such as headache and sleep disorders, may be caused by ligaments that are lax due to a connective tissue disorder.
Dr. Vernon Rowe opened an accredited sleep center in Kansas City fifteen years ago to improve his treatment of neurology patients. Since then, the RNI Sleep Center has grown into one of the only sleep study providers in Kansas City where patients are seen as an entire person, complete with lifestyle, habits, and a goal for better daytime function and higher quality of life.
Dr. Rowe is still seeing sleep patients, but the RNI no longer has its own sleep laboratory. However, Dr. Rowe has identified an excellent sleep facility in the area where he can refer you and follow up on the results of your sleep study.
Get the benefit of cutting-edge research
We don’t just read research papers. RNI has generated our own cutting-edge research, documenting links between sleep disorders and other conditions like migraine headaches and back and neck pain. We are able to make these innovations thanks to our intense sub-specialization in these areas of neurology, and thanks to our commitment to understanding each patient as a whole, complex person.
Many patients come to the RNI with other complaints, but in many cases, the resolution of their sleep disorders greatly reduces other problems and greatly improves their quality of life.
Seeing is believing: We help you understand your sleep study results
We believe it is extremely important for a patient to see their sleep study in detail. Treatment for sleep disorders can require some adjustment at first, and it can be frustrating. So we sit down with patients to let them see for themselves what really happens when they’re asleep. At RNI this includes showing video and audio of the sleeping patient, along with a patient explanation of some of the more technical aspects of polysomnography as needed.
Wherever you get a sleep study done, demand that your doctor sit down and show you how you really sleep, and explain what all the readings mean. And if you are prescribed treatment such as CPAP, make sure your doctor follows up to ensure a correct fit.
Be your best self again. We’ll show you how.
Can you cure insomnia?
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: “Do you recommend sleep medications?”
A: Only for specific uses. You probably know some of the prescription sleep aids by name. Drug companies advertise them widely, and general doctors prescribe them easily. But if you use them regularly, then you have a problem that isn’t being addressed.
Sleep medications can’t improve the quality of your sleep. Most sleep disorders, including insomnia, are caused by little disturbances of your sleep that prevent you from staying in deep sleep. A sleeping pill will not prevent these disturbances, and therefore will not help you reach the deep sleep your body requires to function well.
If you drink a lot of caffeinated beverages, that can also be a warning sign.
Q: “What health problems are associated with lack of sleep?”
A: If you drive a car, the most immediate danger is your lack of alertness. Never drive drowsy, you’re about to fall asleep (possibly with your eyes open). Park and rest.
Heart attacks and arrhythmias are known to be caused by sleep apnea. Stroke can also result, since heart arrhythmias or fibrillations can send blood clots into the brain to cause stroke.
Depression and anxiety are common in sleep disorder patients. Other conditions that accompany sleep disorders include: headaches, high blood pressure, irritable bowel syndrome, acid reflux.
More FAQ
How do I know if I need to see a sleep specialist?
People tell me I "look tired"...?
When people stop telling you you look tired, when lack of energy has become “your normal,” you have a problem.
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What can I do If I can’t come to the Rowe Neurology Institute in Lenexa KS or Los Angeles?
Dr. Vernon Rowe has web-based informational website that provides in-depth information about each of the neurological conditions that we specialize in, including informational videos like this one, with transcripts, that are unlike anything else on the web–they are NOT SPONSORED by any pharmaceutical company or other commercial entity. It is DOCTORROWE.COM. The information provided will help you navigate your care wherever you go, with knowledge about the questions you should ask your doctor, and the tests that may be recommended, as well as some tips on how to obtain cost effective care, wherever you live.
by Vernon Rowe, M.D. –