Sleep
Health Better sleep. Better everything.

Evaluation and management of sleep disruptions including insomnia, restless sleep, and sleep apnea screening to address the clinical and lifestyle factors impacting your rest, energy, and overall wellbeing.

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Sleep Is Not Optional Sleep Health That Goes Beyond Melatonin

Sleep is a biological necessity that regulates your immune system, hormones, metabolism, cardiovascular health, mental health, and cognitive function. At Superior Health Medical & Wellness, Dr. Akers evaluates sleep disorders as medical conditions that deserve the same clinical attention as any other chronic condition, rather than advising better sleep hygiene and sending you home.

Whether you have difficulty falling asleep, frequent nighttime awakenings, unrefreshing sleep, daytime fatigue despite adequate time in bed, or symptoms suggesting sleep apnea, Dr. Akers conducts a thorough evaluation of your sleep pattern and the downstream effects on your health.

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Sleep Health at Superior Health
Sleep Health What We Evaluate and Treat

Sleep medicine at Superior Health covers the full spectrum of common sleep disorders from insomnia to apnea. Dr. Akers evaluates your specific sleep pattern and identifies what is driving it.

Chronic insomnia affects approximately 10 percent of adults and is significantly undertreated. Dr. Akers evaluates insomnia type, duration, severity, and contributing factors including anxiety, depression, pain, and medications, implementing evidence-based treatment starting with CBT-I and medication when appropriate.
CBT-I is the gold-standard treatment for chronic insomnia, producing more durable improvement than sleep medications. It includes sleep restriction, stimulus control, cognitive restructuring, and relaxation training. Dr. Akers provides CBT-I guidance directly.
Prescription sleep medications can be appropriate for short-term or adjunctive use when CBT-I alone is insufficient. Dr. Akers prescribes sleep medications judiciously, uses the lowest effective dose, and plans for tapering rather than indefinite use.
Obstructive sleep apnea affects approximately 25 percent of adults and is significantly underdiagnosed. Dr. Akers screens for sleep apnea using validated questionnaires and clinical evaluation and refers patients for home sleep testing when warranted.
Untreated obstructive sleep apnea is a major independent risk factor for hypertension, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and stroke. Dr. Akers prioritizes sleep apnea identification in patients with cardiovascular disease or risk factors.
Restless legs syndrome produces an uncomfortable urge to move the legs at rest that significantly disrupts sleep onset. Dr. Akers evaluates for secondary causes including iron deficiency, one of the most common and reversible causes of RLS.
Insomnia and psychiatric disorders have a bidirectional relationship. Dr. Akers evaluates sleep within the context of mental health and treats both dimensions simultaneously rather than managing them in isolation.
Hormonal changes including thyroid dysfunction, low testosterone, perimenopause, and cortisol dysregulation all disrupt sleep. Dr. Akers evaluates hormonal contributors to sleep disruption as part of a comprehensive sleep management plan.
Inconsistent sleep and wake times, blue light exposure before bed, caffeine timing, alcohol use, and bedroom environment significantly affect sleep quality and are addressed as part of every sleep evaluation.
Delayed sleep phase disorder, shift work sleep disorder, and jet lag involve misalignment between the internal clock and desired sleep timing. Dr. Akers evaluates circadian rhythm contributions to sleep complaints and implements appropriate interventions.
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Why It Matters Why Sleep Deserves Medical Attention
Dr. Akers providing preventive care
01 Poor Sleep Affects Everything

Chronic sleep insufficiency impairs immune function, increases cardiovascular risk, disrupts hormonal regulation, impairs glucose metabolism, accelerates cognitive decline, and substantially increases the risk of depression and anxiety. Poor sleep is a major health risk factor that deserves the same clinical attention as hypertension or elevated cholesterol.

02 Sleep Apnea Is Dramatically Underdiagnosed

Obstructive sleep apnea affects approximately 25 percent of adults but the majority of cases remain undiagnosed. It is one of the most common causes of resistant hypertension and significantly worsens cardiovascular risk. Diagnosis and CPAP treatment produces dramatic improvements in blood pressure and daytime function.

03 Medication Alone Is Not Enough

Sleep medications treat the symptom of insomnia without addressing the underlying causes. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia produces more durable long-term improvement than any medication. Dr. Akers prioritizes CBT-I and uses sleep medications as adjuncts rather than primary treatment.

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Understanding Sleep Disorders Why Good Sleep Is So Hard to Get

Sleep is regulated by two interacting systems: the circadian system (the internal clock) and the homeostatic system (sleep pressure that builds during wakefulness). When these systems are disrupted by irregular schedules, stress, light exposure, stimulants, or underlying medical conditions, the normally reliable process of falling and staying asleep becomes unreliable.

Chronic insomnia develops through predisposing factors (genetics), precipitating factors (a stressful life event), and perpetuating factors (behaviors that develop in response to sleep difficulty). CBT-I specifically targets perpetuating factors, which is why it produces more durable improvement than medications.

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Sleep Management What Comprehensive Sleep Care Looks Like

A sleep evaluation at Superior Health covers your complete sleep history, daytime functioning, mental health, medications, and any symptoms of sleep apnea. Dr. Akers uses validated questionnaires to quantify insomnia severity and daytime sleepiness before recommending any intervention.

Treatment is sequenced logically: sleep hygiene optimization first, CBT-I for chronic insomnia, testing for sleep apnea when indicated, and medication when these approaches are insufficient. Dr. Akers follows up to assess response and adjust the plan.

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Frequently Asked Questions Sleep Health
Questions Answered
A sleep disorder is any persistent pattern of sleep disruption that impairs daytime functioning, health, or quality of life. This includes difficulty falling asleep, frequent nighttime awakenings, waking too early, non-restorative sleep, and excessive daytime sleepiness.
Insomnia is defined as difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep occurring at least three nights per week for at least three months, that causes daytime impairment.
Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is the gold-standard treatment recommended by all major sleep medicine guidelines. It produces more durable improvement than sleep medications.
Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by repeated collapse of the upper airway during sleep. Risk factors include obesity, large neck circumference, male sex, and sleeping on the back.
Common signs include loud snoring, gasping during sleep reported by a bed partner, waking with headaches, excessive daytime sleepiness, and non-restorative sleep. Dr. Akers uses validated screening tools and refers for testing when sleep apnea is suspected.
A home sleep test measures breathing effort, airflow, oxygen saturation, and heart rate during sleep to screen for obstructive sleep apnea. It is sufficient for diagnosing straightforward obstructive sleep apnea in most adults.
Melatonin is most effective for circadian rhythm disorders. It has modest benefit for sleep onset insomnia in some populations but is not effective for sleep maintenance insomnia and does not address the underlying causes of chronic insomnia.
Traditional sleep medications carry risks of dependence and cognitive impairment with long-term use. Dr. Akers uses sleep medications as adjuncts when needed, prioritizes the lowest effective dose and duration, and plans for tapering.
Alcohol helps initiate sleep but significantly disrupts sleep architecture in the second half of the night, suppressing REM sleep and increasing nighttime awakenings. Regular alcohol use as a sleep aid leads to increasingly fragmented, non-restorative sleep.
Restless legs syndrome produces an uncomfortable urge to move the legs at rest. It is commonly caused by iron deficiency. Dr. Akers checks ferritin and iron studies in all patients with RLS and treats deficiency before initiating pharmacotherapy.
Yes. Chronic sleep insufficiency disrupts leptin and ghrelin regulation, increasing hunger and reducing satiety. It promotes insulin resistance and preference for high-calorie foods.
Most adults require 7 to 9 hours of sleep for optimal health and function. Consistently sleeping fewer than 7 hours is associated with elevated cardiovascular risk, immune impairment, and accelerated cognitive aging.