We specialize in providing comprehensive care and personalized strategies to help patients overcome sleep issues and achieve restful, rejuvenating sleep. Located in Tyson’s Corner, Virginia, our dedicated team is committed to empowering individuals to improve their sleep quality and overall well-being through the principles of functional medicine and the Mediterranean lifestyle.

Understanding Sleep Issues

Quality sleep is essential for optimal health and well-being, yet many individuals struggle with sleep disturbances or disorders that can significantly impact their quality of life. Common sleep issues include:

1. Insomnia: Insomnia is characterized by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or experiencing non-restorative sleep, leading to daytime fatigue, irritability, and impaired functioning.

2. Sleep Apnea: Sleep apnea is a disorder characterized by pauses in breathing or shallow breathing during sleep, often accompanied by snoring, gasping, or choking sensations. Sleep apnea can lead to daytime sleepiness, fatigue, and an increased risk of cardiovascular problems.

3. Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS): RLS is a neurological disorder characterized by an uncontrollable urge to move the legs, often accompanied by uncomfortable sensations such as tingling, itching, or crawling sensations. RLS can disrupt sleep and lead to daytime fatigue.

4. Narcolepsy: Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, sudden onset of sleep attacks, cataplexy (sudden loss of muscle tone), hallucinations, and sleep paralysis.

Our Approach

At Dr. Pappas Health, we take a holistic approach to addressing sleep issues, focusing on identifying and addressing the underlying factors that contribute to sleep disturbances. Our approach includes:

1. Comprehensive Assessment: We’ll conduct a thorough evaluation of your medical history, sleep patterns, lifestyle factors, stress levels, and any underlying health conditions to identify the root causes of your sleep issues. This comprehensive assessment allows us to develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your individual needs and goals.

2. Functional Medicine Approach: Our team utilizes a functional medicine approach to address the underlying factors contributing to sleep issues, such as hormonal imbalances, neurotransmitter dysregulation, nutritional deficiencies, inflammation, stress, and lifestyle factors. By addressing these root causes, we can help restore balance to your sleep-wake cycle and promote restful, rejuvenating sleep.

3. Personalized Treatment Plans: Based on our assessment findings, we’ll develop a personalized treatment plan that incorporates a variety of interventions to improve sleep quality and address specific sleep issues. These interventions may include dietary modifications, targeted supplementation, lifestyle changes, stress management techniques, relaxation exercises, cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), and other evidence-based approaches.

4. Nutrition Guidance: Nutrition plays a significant role in sleep quality, as certain foods and dietary patterns can impact sleep-wake cycles, neurotransmitter production, and hormone regulation. We’ll provide you with evidence-based nutrition guidance, emphasizing the principles of the Mediterranean diet, which has been shown to support sleep health. Our nutrition recommendations focus on whole, nutrient-dense foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, healthy fats, and moderate amounts of red wine.

5. Lifestyle Modification: Lifestyle factors such as sleep hygiene practices, stress management, physical activity, and relaxation techniques can significantly impact sleep quality. We’ll work with you to identify and address lifestyle factors that may be contributing to your sleep issues, providing guidance and support to help you adopt healthier sleep habits and routines that promote restful, rejuvenating sleep.

6. Ongoing Support and Monitoring: Improving sleep quality requires ongoing support and monitoring. We’ll provide you with regular follow-up visits, monitoring of your sleep patterns and symptoms, and adjustments to your treatment plan as needed to ensure that we’re effectively addressing your sleep issues and optimizing your overall health and well-being over time.