Sleep Medicine for Men

How well you sleep can have a major impact on your health, including your heart and sexual function. But if you are like millions of men, you may frequently have restless nights, which can also affect your work and relationships.

Whether your problem is snoring, sleep apnea, insomnia or another sleep disorder, experts at the Men’s Wellness Clinic can help you find ways to feel more energized and productive in your daily life.

Prioritizing Your Sleep and Health

At the Men’s Wellness Clinic, we consider your sleep quality to be an important part of your overall wellness and offer a multidisciplinary approach to caring for sleep disorders.

Our sleep medicine experts work alongside urologists, cardiologists, endocrinologists, primary care physicians, weight management specialists and other men’s health experts to determine the best approach if you are struggling with sleep issues that may harm your health. We also offer the latest therapies to help you get the critical sleep your body needs.

Comprehensive Sleep Studies at the Hospital or at Home

Sleep studies, also known as polysomnograms, can provide valuable insights into the quality of your sleep and help doctors diagnose serious problems like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) that are especially common — and harmful — in men.

In addition to offering sleep studies in a private “home-like” bedroom, we also can provide you with sleep study equipment that you can use in the comfort and convenience of your own home.

Proven Treatments for Sleep Disorders in Men

We offer a range of noninvasive and minimally invasive therapies to help you get the rest you need. Depending on your condition, options may include:

Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia
Medications for insomnia or sleep-wake disorders
Evaluation and treatment of narcolepsy and other hypersomnias (sleep disorders with excessive daytime sleepiness)
Therapeutic plans and treatment for circadian rhythm disorders, including shift work disorder and jet lag
Dental devices (similar to retainers or mouthguards) that treat snoring and sleep apnea
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices for sleep apnea
Implantable devices that do not require masks for treating sleep apnea
Surgical options to reduce airway obstructions for sleep apnea

Lifestyle changes like quitting smoking and improving your sleep hygiene can also help you rest better and regain your energy. At UChicago Medicine, our experts provide resources and support so you can replace unhealthy habits with new routines that promote better sleep. If extra pounds are contributing to your sleep problems, our sleep medicine specialists can work with weight management experts to develop a care plan that works for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do sleep disorders affect a man’s health?

Sleep disorders can have range of harmful effects on a man’s health. For example, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is three to five times more common in men than women, is associated with a higher risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, atrial fibrillation (irregular heart rhythm) and stroke. OSA may also contribute to weight gain and raise the risk for diabetes, dementia and other conditions.

In addition, some research suggests that obstructive sleep apnea may contribute to low testosterone levels in men, which can affect their sexual function.

What are some symptoms of sleep apnea in men?

Obstructive sleep apnea, the most common type of sleep-disordered breathing, can cause a range of symptoms that can affect your quality of life. These symptoms include:

Loud snoring
Waking up short of breath during the night
Daytime sleepiness
Fatigue
Poor concentration
Irritability
Headaches, especially in the morning
Dry mouth or sore throat in the morning
Decreased sexual drive
Erectile dysfunction (ED)

If you have any of these symptoms, experts at the Men’s Wellness Clinic can perform a comprehensive evaluation, which may include checking you for sleep apnea or other sleep disorders.

Are certain men more at risk for sleep apnea?

The following factors can raise the risk for sleep apnea in men:

Age (sleep apnea usually affects men in their 40s and 50s)
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Obesity
Diabetes
Heart failure
Large neck, large tongue or large tonsils
Sleeping on your back
Alcohol use
Some medications

If you are concerned about your risks, our experts can discuss strategies that may help prevent sleep apnea. If you already have symptoms like snoring or waking up at night, they can recommend the next step, such as a sleep study, to help you take charge of your health.

Do I have to go to the hospital to have a sleep study?

My CPAP mask doesn’t fit well. What can I do to fix it?

Having CPAP therapy that is individualized for you can help reduce the health risks associated with sleep apnea. But many CPAP masks don’t fit properly or aren’t comfortable for sleeping. At the Men’s Wellness Clinic and other UChicago Medicine locations, our sleep medicine specialists will take the time to optimize the fit and settings of your CPAP equipment so you can get the most from your treatment.

Does testosterone therapy affect sleep apnea?

Sometimes. For some men, taking testosterone therapy for a low libido can affect muscle tone in the airways, causing sleep apnea to get worse. But in other men, testosterone may not negatively affect their sleep.

Monitoring the effects of hormone therapy on your body requires a multidisciplinary approach. At UChicago Medicine, sleep medicine experts collaborate with urologists, endocrinologists and other men’s health experts on care plans for patients with sleep and sexual health issues.

I get up frequently at night to urinate. Could that be a sign of a sleep problem?

Frequent urination at night (also known as nocturia) is a common symptom of an enlarged prostate, which can be managed with the help of a urologist. But it can also be a sign of sleep apnea. If you are waking up throughout the night because of obstructed breathing, you may notice that your bladder is full and then use the toilet more often.

It’s important not to ignore nocturia. Your urologist may recommend that you also see a sleep medicine specialist, particularly if you snore. At the Men’s Wellness Clinic, you can see both specialists in the same convenient location.

Our Men's Wellness Team

Sleep Medicine

Kenneth Lee, MD

Neurology

Physical Therapist

Sarah Macaraeg, PT, DPT, OCS, WCS

Registered Dietitian

Jennifer Martin, MS, RD, LDN, CDCES

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