Course Objectives
At the conclusion of this activity, participants will be able to:
Recognize the theories about why we sleep and the essential role that sleep plays in promoting health.
Appraise the diagnostic modalities in evaluating and measuring sleep using sleep questionnaires, a sleep log and techniques such as actigraphy, polysomnography, home sleep apnea tests, multiple sleep latency testing and wearable devices.
Appreciate the causes of sleepiness in specific patient populations most likely to be encountered in primary care practice and by specialists in family medicine, primary care, psychiatry, neurology, pediatrics, and geriatric medicine.
Identify the unique mechanism of narcolepsy and identify diagnostic approaches for accurate evaluation.
Understand the pharmacological management in managing excessive sleepiness in the setting of central disorders of hypersomnia, including narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia.
Comprehend the underlying physiologic basis giving rise to sleep and wakefulness.
Appreciate the clinical evaluation of sleep-disordered breathing, particularly physical exam findings and new diagnostic approaches based on emerging data on the use of home monitoring equipment and wearable devices.
Appraise conservative management techniques to address obstructive sleep apnea, including the use of surgical interventions, upper airway stimulation and pharmacologic interventions.
Recognizing the critical importance contributes to cognitive decline and might also increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease dementia by increasing the β-amyloid burden.
Appraise the underlying mechanisms for generating sleep-wake circadian rhythm and recognize disturbances in circadian rhythms and their impact on health.
Investigate the causes of sleep problems in older adults and their potential treatments in patients with neurodegenerative disorders.