If migraines are affecting your quality of life we can help you manage your symptoms.

Did you know that migraines are the 3rdmore prevalent illness and the 6thmost debilitating illness in the world? Migraines are severe headaches that can affect both men and women of all ages, from teens to older adults. While there are some people who may experience migraine attacks once or twice a month, there are some people who deal with them daily. From the office of our Winchester, VA, neurologists, find out more about migraines and how we can help.

Is it a migraine?

So, how can you tell if you are dealing with a migraine or just a really awful headache? While a headache can be painful, a migraine is actually a neurological disease that causes severe and sudden throbbing and stabbing pain, usually originating on one side. Along with severe pain, the patient may also experience,

• Nausea and vomiting
• Sensitivity to light or sound
• Dizziness
• Tingling or numbness in the face or extremities
• Visual disturbances (also known as auras)

Some patients may experience these symptoms prior to the migraine’s onset. A migraine can last anywhere from four hours to 3 days. Patients who have anxiety, depression or other mental disorders are also more likely to deal with chronic migraines.

When should I see a doctor about my migraines?

It’s time to see a neurologist in Winchester, VA, if,

• Your migraines are interfering with your life
• You are dealing with weekly or daily migraines
• You can’t seem to get your symptoms under control
• You are self-medicating regularly (taking over-the-counter pain relievers more than twice a week)

How are migraines treated?

Here in our office, we offer a migraine clinic, which provides diagnosis and treatment plans for patients suffering from migraines. Even though migraines cannot be cured we can create specialized treatment programs to reduce the severity and frequency of your attacks. Some of these treatment options include,

• Prescription migraine medications
• Exercises
• Stress management & relaxation techniques
• Diet and lifestyle changes
• Cognitive-behavioral therapies

If you are dealing with migraines in Winchester, VA, then it’s time to find an effective way to get your migraines under control. Call Winchester Neurological Consultants today to schedule your consultation.

In the US, sleep disorders are now a public health epidemic. Around 40 million Americans suffering from chronic sleep disorders and around 22 million Americans suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a condition that causes a person to stop breathing throughout the night. What makes matters worse is that approximately 80 percent of people with moderate to severe OSA are undiagnosed. The goal of our Winchester, VA, neurologists is to diagnose sleep disorders as soon as possible so that we can create a treatment plan that promotes better sleep and improves your health. Know when to turn to us.

Untreated Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea causes a person to stop breathing multiple times throughout the night, which restricts blood flow to the brain. Along with experiencing poor sleep, extreme exhaustion throughout the day and difficulty concentrating, untreated sleep apnea can also lead to more serious health problems in the long run including,

• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Heart attack
• Stroke

To prevent these issues from happening it’s crucial to be able to recognize the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea so you know when to seek medical attention. Common signs and symptoms include,

• Chronic, loud snoring
• Choking or gasping for air while asleep
• Morning headaches
• Sore throat, particularly in the morning
• Extreme and excessive sleepiness
• Trouble concentrating and memory issues
• “Brain fog”
• Irritability
• Increase in accidents

If you or a loved one is experiencing these sleep apnea symptoms it’s time to schedule an evaluation with one of our neurologists as soon as possible.

Treating Sleep Apnea Effectively

The goals of sleep apnea treatment include,

• Keeping the airways open and preventing blockages while you sleep 
• Managing symptoms of sleep apnea to promote restorative sleep
• Reducing the risk for serious and chronic health problems

The most common OSA treatment is CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) therapy. Patients with OSA are instructed to wear a facemask while their sleep. The mask is attached to a pump that delivers pressurized air to the passages to prevent obstructions. When fitted properly and used as directed, CPAP therapy can be incredibly effective at treating your symptoms. It can take some time to get used to wearing a facemask while you sleep.

Our Winchester, VA, neurology consultants are happy to provide tips and advice for making the transition to using CPAP easier. When used properly, CPAP treatment can greatly reduce your risk for stroke and other serious cardiac events. Using this treatment night after night can help you get quality, restful sleep on a regular basis.

If you are experiencing symptoms of sleep apnea it’s important that you turn to a board-certified sleep physicians in Winchester, VA, who can help. Call Winchester Neurological Consultants today and let us know how we can help you sleep more soundly.

Your snoring isn’t just a problem for your partner—it can also be a problem for you. Habitual snoring affects 40 percent of men and 24 percent of women, and oftentimes, this habitual snoring is a warning sign of a common sleep disorder known as obstructive sleep apnea. If you suspect that you might have sleep apnea, it’s important that you visit our Winchester, VA, neurologists for an evaluation as soon as you can.

Is my snoring caused by sleep apnea?

While this can be hard to pinpoint on your own, if you either wake up feeling exhausted throughout the day despite getting sufficient sleep or if your partner says that you wake up gasping for air in the middle of the night, then you very well could have sleep apnea. While many people with obstructive sleep apnea snore, not everyone that snores has sleep apnea. If you are a chronic loud snorer who fits the profile above, it’s well worth scheduling a consultation with one of the neurologists here at our office in Winchester, VA.

What happens if sleep apnea is left untreated?

Obstructive sleep apnea is when the tongue or tissue in the back of the throat blocks the airways while you sleep, an effect that greatly reduces how much oxygen gets to the brain. As a result, you will often feel extremely tired even after getting, supposedly, enough sleep. If sleep apnea goes untreated, it can also lead to a whole host of serious and potentially life-threatening health problems including,

• Diabetes
• Cardiovascular disease
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Serious accidents or injuries

This is why it’s so important to seek a proper medical evaluation for your snoring, especially if you suspect that you might be dealing with sleep apnea. After all, the sooner you can treat the problem, the sooner you can reduce your risk of experiencing the above-listed health problems.

How is sleep apnea treated?

The most common treatment option for sleep apnea is CPAP therapy, a treatment provides patients with pressurized oxygen and air that is administered through a facemask while the person is asleep. This equipment is used every night to help keep the airways open.

Since sleep apnea isn’t curable, CPAP therapy will need to be used every night in order to get symptoms under control. Fortunately, most people will experience more restful sleep after just a few nights of using CPAP therapy.

Concerned? Give us a call

If you are dealing with snoring and poor sleep in Winchester, VA, it’s important that you see someone who can address the issue and find out what’s going on. Call Winchester Neurological Consultants today at (540) 667-1828 today to schedule a consultation.

Imagine if you found yourself having trouble breathing, gasping for breath or coughing several times an hour throughout the day. For millions of Americans, this problem occurs every time they fall asleep. This condition is known as sleep apnea, and if left untreated it can lead to serious health issues. Here are the warning signs that mean it’s time to visit one of our Winchester, VA, neurologists for an evaluation.

What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?

Unfortunately, there are many people who have sleep apnea but don’t even know it. Sometimes a person doesn’t even know that something is wrong until their partner tells them that they are displaying symptoms of sleep apnea. It’s time to see your Winchester, VA, sleep specialist if you are experiencing,

Persistent, loud snoring: While snoring doesn’t always mean that you have sleep apnea, the majority of people with sleep apnea do snore on a regular basis.

Excessive sleepiness: If you have one night of bad sleep it’s normal to feel a little tired, but if you deal with sleep apnea you’ll experience extreme fatigue and sleepiness throughout the day no matter how many hours of sleep you get.

Gasping for air: While this won’t happen to everyone, if you do have sleep apnea you may find yourself waking up throughout the night gasping for air or feeling as if you are choking.

Unpleasant morning symptoms: Those with sleep apnea often wake up with dry mouth, sore throat and morning headaches.

Restless sleep: If you wake up frequently throughout the night or feel as if you toss and turn to fall back to sleep this is another symptom of sleep apnea.

If you are dealing with sleep apnea in Winchester, VA, relief is on the way. Winchester Neurological Consultants has a sleep disorder clinic where we can diagnose and treat your sleep problems to help you get better sleep and improve your health. Call us today at (540) 667-1828 to schedule your sleep study.

Worried your sleep woes may be caused by a sleep disorder?

While most people will deal with sleep problems at some point during their lifetime, there are approximately 70 million Americans suffering from a sleep disorder. A sleep disorder is any condition that affects someone’s ability to have quality sleep. While there are over eighty different kinds of sleep disorders there are some that our Winchester, VA, neurologists see more often than others.

These common sleep disorder include,

• Insomnia
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Restless leg syndrome
• Narcolepsy

Insomnia

Insomnia refers to a person’s inability to get the proper amount of sleep. Insomniacs may have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. If you have trouble falling asleep three nights per week for over three months then this is considered chronic insomnia, which should be evaluated by one of our physicians.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

There are many people who have obstructive sleep apnea but never know it. This condition often presents itself as loud, chronic snoring. The patient may also wake up in the middle of the night gasping for air. Sleep apnea is a medical condition that causes a person to stop breathing for several seconds throughout the night. As a result, untreated sleep apnea can lead to serious health problems such as stroke, heart attack, heart failure and high blood pressure.

Restless Leg Syndrome

Just as the name suggests, this neurological disorder results in a tingling, aching or burning sensation in the legs that make a person feel that sudden urge to move. The symptoms may lessen when walking or stretching. Those with RLS may also have trouble falling asleep due to leg restlessness.

Narcolepsy

People with narcolepsy fall asleep suddenly, often at inopportune or inappropriate times throughout the day. Patients will narcolepsy can be hit with a sudden sleep attack at any time and it may be in response to something emotionally charged. Sleep paralysis and hallucinations may also occur.

When should you see a sleep specialist?

If you are dealing with excessive fatigue and exhaustion throughout the day, if you don’t feel refreshed after a full night’s rest, if you snore loudly or if you feel like you are tossing and turning throughout the night it’s a good idea to see a sleep specialist who can perform a simple sleep study to determine whether you may have a sleep disorder.

Are you having trouble counting sheep in Winchester, VA? If sleep has become elusive and you are dreaming of getting a good night’s rest then call the doctors at Winchester Neurological Consultants to schedule an evaluation. Call (540) 667-1828.