ound and restful sleep is fundamental to our health and well-being.  For millions of Americans, though, sleep is regularly interrupted or insufficient.  People who get too little sleep often have problems performing their daily activities.  They may be drowsy, exhausted, and irritable during the day, and have difficulty concentrating.  Over time, untreated sleep disorders can lead to a higher risk of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, depression, heart attack, and stroke.

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Overview

Group photo of our Board Certified Clinicians

The Weill Cornell Center for Sleep Medicine is committed to prompt and effective communication with our patients and their primary care or other physicians and is dedicated to providing the highest level of personalized care.

(From l. to r.): Alan Segal, MD, Christina DiNapoli, NP, Daniel Barone, MD, Olumayowa Abe, MD, Matthew Ebben, PhD, Nitin Sethi, MBBS, Ana Krieger, MD, MPH, Medical Director, Arthur Spielman, PhD, Co-Director

At Weill Cornell’s relocated and newly expanded, state-of-the-art Center for Sleep Medicine, our multi-disciplinary team is expert at evaluating the full range of sleep problems whether they arise from an underlying medical problem such as sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome, other underlying medical and psychiatric conditions, physical airway obstruction, or from poor sleep habits, stress, or anxiety.

Patients treated at the Center for Sleep Medicine are under the care of a comprehensive team that includes specialists in neurology, internal medicine, pulmonary medicine, ear nose and throat (ENT), pediatrics, psychiatry, psychology, bariatric surgery, nutrition, and endocrinology. The Center accommodates patients for outpatient visits and overnight studies promptly and at their convenience.

We monitor patients using state of the art sleep-recording equipment in private rooms, each equipped with its own bathroom. Because pediatric and bariatric patients require special care, we have sleep study rooms with specialized monitoring equipment dedicated to these patients.

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Contact Us:

Telephone: (646) 962-7378 (REST)
Fax: 646-962-0455

Request an Appointment

Location:

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
Weill Cornell Medical Center
425 East 61st Street, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10065

Convenient parking on-site with direct elevator access to Sleep Center.
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Sleep Disorders

The sleep disorders outlined below originate from a variety of biological, psychological, and behavioral factors. The sleep specialists at the Center for Sleep Medicine work together as a team, using their combined expertise and the most advanced sleep monitoring equipment to diagnose these disorders and determine the most effective treatment. When indicated after initial evaluation, patients have immediate access to the full array of renowned specialist of the Weill Cornell Physicians Organization and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital to coordinate a treatment plan.

Sleep disorders include:

  • Sleep-disordered breathing (sleep apnea)
  • Insomnia
  • Restless legs syndrome (RLS)
  • Narcolepsy
  • Parasomnias
  • Circadian rhythm sleep disorders
  • Disorders of excessive sleepiness

Diagnostic Procedures

Sleep specialists at Weill Cornell Center for Sleep Medicine provide a range of diagnostic procedures, outlined below, to determine the source of sleep disturbances.

Sleep Studies: A sleep study, also called polysomnography (PSG), is the principal means of both diagnosing sleep disorders and determining the effectiveness of treatment. During polysomnography, sleep specialists place several noninvasive electrodes on the skin and scalp and use sophisticated monitoring equipment to record changes in brain activity, respiration, oxygen levels, heart rhythm and muscle activity in the face, arms and legs during sleep. In selected cases, nighttime and daytime testing are indicated and performed in sequence over one 18-hour session.

  • Overnight sleep study: During the overnight monitoring study, after arriving at the Weill Cornell Center for Sleep Medicine, patients go to sleep at their normal sleep schedule. Patients spend the night in one of our comfortable private monitoring rooms, wake up at their usual time, and have the option to have breakfast at a nearby restaurant or at the Center, returning if necessary for a daytime sleep study.
  • Daytime sleep study: During the daytime study, a patient’s degree of drowsiness and/or wakefulness during the day is measured using specific tests such as the MSLT (multiple sleep latency test) or MWT (maintenance of wakefulness test). During MSLT and MWT, specific procedures are performed that quantify sleepiness and assess for particular sleep disorders.

Treatments for Sleep Disorders

Sleep disorders can arise from a variety of underlying causes so at the Weill Cornell Center for Sleep Medicine we devise individualized treatment plans. Depending on the source of the problem, treatment approaches can include devices that support breathing during sleep, medications, surgery, and behavioral therapy.

Patients diagnosed with sleep-disordered breathing are often equipped with a specialized mask to wear while they sleep. We ensure that patients are fitted with a comfortable mask that provides an appropriate seal for the positive air pressures during a special training session. One of the main treatments for sleep disordered breathing is CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure), in which the mask is connected to an air pressurizer, a small machine that generates air pressure slightly above the atmospheric pressure. The mask is fitted so that it covers either the nose or nose and mouth. When the system is sealed, it increases the pressure in the throat so that it remains open, allowing the patient to breathe normally throughout the night. Patients with sleep apnea related to obesity, heart failure, or a neuromuscular disease may be equipped with a more complex system called BIPAP (bi-level positive airway pressure), which supplements the breath with each inhalation. We also offer a treatment with a more refined equipment called Adaptive Servo Ventilation. This advanced device analyzes the breathing pattern and provides or withdraws treatment according to each patient’s needs, using specific guidelines established by our sleep specialists.

Treatment for sleep disorders related to an underlying psychological or neurological condition may include medication and behavioral therapy. Our sleep experts have a specialized training and experience treating sleep disorders that require a combination of behavioral and pharmacological therapies. Weill Cornell Center for Sleep Medicine provides individualized care for patients with the entire range of sleep disorders that respond to these treatments alone or in combination. We provide comprehensive follow-up for our patients and coordinate care with the patient’s physicians.

Clinical Trials and Education

The comprehensive care team at Weill Cornell Center for Sleep Medicine is committed to advancing sleep science and to educating and training the next generation of sleep specialists. Our specialists participate in ongoing research studies supported by the National Institutes of Health and other grant-giving institutions. In this way they have access to the most cutting-edge diagnostic and therapeutic modalities to help patients with even the most difficult sleep disorders.

Please click here to view our currently enrolling clinical trials.

For Referring Physicians

When you refer a patient to us for diagnostic tests or treatment, Weill Cornell Center for Sleep Medicine promises timely and thorough communication, and prompt diagnosis and treatment planning. We make every effort to ensure that patients are seen by the appropriate specialist on their initial visit. We have expanded our facilities and our staff to enable us to care for more patients more expeditiously. While sleep studies are complex and require comprehensive analysis and evaluation, we are committed to promptly communicate the studies’ results to your office. If your patient has an urgent problem and needs immediate attention, please feel free to reach our medical staff at anytime. Study request forms are available below for download and can be sent by fax to (646) 962-0455.