St. Luke's launches first ever Comprehensive Insomnia Management Program in PH

According to a study published in 2018, six out of ten adults worldwide experience a medical issue that impacts their sleep. Included in this list are insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea.

In the Philippines, more than 10 million adults are said to suffer from insomnia according to extrapolated statistics of Health Grades Inc. in 2014, and this is considered to have one of the highest rates of sleep deprivation in the world.

Insomnia is defined as the inability to fall asleep or to stay asleep, even when given a chance to do so. It is associated with fatigue and irritability and can occur three times a week for a period of one month or longer.

St. Luke’s Medical Center offers the Comprehensive Insomnia Management Program – the first multi-disciplinary program targeting insomnia in the Philippines.

“Among all the sleep disorders, insomnia is the most common. Yet none of the hospitals have a specific service targeting insomnia,” shares Dr. Jimmy V. Chang, Head of the St. Luke’s Comprehensive Sleep Disorders Center Quezon City. “All of the sleep centers focus on Obstructive Sleep Apnea, which is only the second most common sleep disorder. Therefore, patients with insomnia do not know where to go.”

The program is designed to specifically address concerns of patients suffering from insomnia. It is composed of specialists, such as sleep psychiatrists, neurologists, psychologists, and sleep doctors.

“Since the name of the center is Comprehensive Sleep Disorder Center, we do not just want to focus on one,” says Dr. Chang. “We want to cater to all sleep disorders.”

In line with this, the Center recently acquired a portable Sleep Study machine that is effective in diagnosing uncomplicated Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The machine, which has four cardiorespiratory signals or polygraphs, works to monitor and record patient’s breathing, oxygenation, and pulse rate during the patient’s sleeping hours. This test may be done outside of the Sleep Center, thereby avoiding the long waiting time for scheduling typically encountered in sleep centers.

The portable Sleep Study machine is ideal for Wellness patients with signs and symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Patients can be diagnosed sooner and hence, treatment delay can be avoided.

St. Luke’s Comprehensive Sleep Disorders Center offers the most comprehensive range of services and treatments for the full spectrum of pediatric and adult sleep disorders, including Sleep Apnea, Insomnia, Periodic Leg Movements, Restless Legs Syndrome, Narcolepsy, and Snoring. The Center provides comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of the more than 80 different types of sleep disorders by a multidisciplinary team of specialists using a state-of-the-art sleep laboratory.

If you are experiencing any trouble sleeping, you may contact the St. Luke’s Comprehensive Sleep Disorders Center at 723-0101 ext. 727-5559 (Quezon City) or 789-7700 ext. 2009 (Global City).