Sleep Disorder Center
Helping Patients Sleep in North Central Arkansas & South Central Missouri
BRMC Sleep Disorder Center
624 Hospital Drive
Mountain Home, AR 72653
(870) 508-1599
Sleep plays an important role in keeping the human body running smoothly.
A biological clock located in the brain regulates circadian (daily) sleeping
and waking patterns. When we don’t get enough sleep on a regular
basis, we establish a sleep debt and are unable to perform at our best
throughout the day. As high as 30 to 40 percent of the adult population
in the US are plagued by sleeping disorders, and many go untreated.
Our team of sleep specialists includes board certified Sleep Disorder Specialist
Dr. Paul Neis and technologists who are registered by the American Board of Sleep Medicine
and the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists. The BRMC Sleep
Disorder Center is an American Academy of Sleep Medicine Accredited Sleep
Center. We work with your primary care physician to identify sleep disorders
and develop a treatment plan for you. Appointments can be made through
a referral from your physician, or by contacting Dr. Neis at (870) 424-4200.
Some of the most commonly treated sleep disorders are described below:
- Sleep apnea - one of the most common and dangerous types of sleep disorders,
characterized by repeated episodes of ceasing to breathe during sleep.
Sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure and cardiac disease. Snoring
often accompanies sleep apnea. Airflow is blocked by relaxation of the
throat muscles and/or tongue or by extra tissue in the upper airway.
- Restless leg syndrome - a neurological disorder marked by unpleasant sensation
in the lower legs. The individual’s sleep is disrupted by the compelling
need to move the legs.
- Narcolepsy - characterized by uncontrolled episodes of falling asleep at
any place or time. These sleep attacks may last anywhere from several
minutes to a couple hours and may vary in frequency from an occasional
episode to several in a single day.
- Insomnia - difficulty falling or staying asleep. There are many causes
for insomnia, the most common being stress, noise, extreme temperatures,
change in the environment, changes in sleep/wake schedules such as those
caused by jet travel and shift work, and side effects of medication. Other
diseases can also cause insomnia, such as arthritis, heart failure, Parkinson’s
disease and depression.
Common forms of treatment include identifying and reducing behavior that
aggravates the condition, sleep aids and relaxation therapy. If you think
you or a loved one may have symptoms of a sleep disorder, contact your
physician today.