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Sleep Care in St. Petersburg

Evaluation and treatment for sleep apnea, insomnia, restless legs, and daytime sleepiness from our internal medicine team. We look for the medical causes, arrange the right sleep test, and follow your treatment over time.

Call (727) 820-7800

Why Sleep Belongs in Primary Care

Poor sleep is more than tiredness. Untreated obstructive sleep apnea raises the risk of high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and stroke, and chronic insomnia is closely tied to depression and anxiety. Because your internist already manages those conditions, we are well placed to connect the dots.

Many sleep problems also have a medical cause that is easy to miss, from thyroid disease and acid reflux to low iron, chronic pain, or a medication taken at the wrong time of day.

Sleep Apnea Evaluation

Screening for loud snoring, witnessed pauses in breathing, and daytime sleepiness, followed by home or in-lab sleep testing when needed.

Insomnia Care That Starts with CBT-I

Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia is the recommended first treatment for chronic insomnia, ahead of sleeping pills.

Finding Medical Causes

Checking thyroid function, iron levels, heart and lung health, mood, and your medication list for anything that disrupts sleep.

Sleep Conditions We Evaluate

Obstructive Sleep ApneaInsomniaRestless Legs SyndromeNarcolepsy & Daytime SleepinessChronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)Obesity

How We Evaluate and Treat Sleep Problems

  1. Step 1

    A detailed sleep history

    We ask about your sleep schedule, snoring, nighttime awakenings, and how sleepy you are during the day, often using standard questionnaires such as STOP-BANG for sleep apnea and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. A bed partner's observations help.

  2. Step 2

    Labs and a medication review

    Blood work can uncover thyroid disease or low iron, a common and treatable cause of restless legs. We also review prescriptions and supplements that can keep you awake or make you drowsy. See our in-office lab work.

  3. Step 3

    The right sleep test

    When sleep apnea is likely, a home sleep apnea test is often the simplest first step. An overnight study in a sleep lab is used when other sleep disorders are suspected or home testing is not appropriate. Learn more in our sleep apnea diagnosis guide.

  4. Step 4

    Treatment and follow-up

    Treatment may include CPAP, an oral appliance, CBT-I for insomnia, weight loss support including GLP-1 medication when appropriate, or referral to a sleep specialist. We follow up to make sure the treatment is working and that you can stick with it.

Sleepy behind the wheel?

If you have nodded off or drifted out of your lane while driving, do not drive until you have been evaluated. Call us to be seen promptly.

Sleep Care Questions

Do you treat sleep apnea in St. Petersburg?

Yes. Our internal medicine team evaluates snoring, pauses in breathing, and daytime sleepiness, arranges the right sleep test, and starts and follows treatment such as CPAP. When a case is complex, we work with a sleep medicine specialist.

Do I need to spend the night in a sleep lab?

Not always. For many adults with suspected moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnea and no major heart or lung disease, a home sleep apnea test is an accepted option. An overnight study in a sleep lab is better when other sleep disorders are suspected or when a home test is negative but symptoms continue.

Does Medicare cover sleep studies and CPAP?

Medicare Part B covers sleep testing when it is medically necessary. After obstructive sleep apnea is diagnosed, Medicare covers a 3-month CPAP trial, and it continues coverage if you meet with your doctor and your records show you are using the machine and it is helping. Your plan details and supplier rules still apply.

What if I cannot tolerate CPAP?

Most problems can be fixed with a better-fitting mask, heated humidification, or a pressure adjustment, so tell us early. Other options include an oral appliance made by a dentist, sleeping position changes, weight loss, and, for selected patients, procedures offered by a sleep or ENT specialist.

Can weight loss medication help sleep apnea?

For some patients, yes. In December 2024 the FDA approved tirzepatide (Zepbound) to treat moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity, used with a reduced-calorie diet and more physical activity. We can discuss whether it fits your situation.

Are sleeping pills safe for older adults?

Many are riskier after 65. The American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria advise older adults to avoid benzodiazepines and drugs like zolpidem because they raise the risk of falls, fractures, confusion, and car accidents. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is the recommended first treatment.

Is melatonin safe to take?

Melatonin is sold as a supplement, so its dose and purity are not checked the way prescription drugs are, and its effect on chronic insomnia is modest. Low doses taken at the right time are generally well tolerated, but talk with us before using it every night, especially if you take other medications.

Get Your Sleep Evaluated in St. Petersburg

If snoring, poor sleep, or daytime exhaustion is wearing you down, call to schedule a visit with our internal medicine team.

Call (727) 820-7800

References

Trusted Resources for Sleep Medicine

For further reading, our team recommends the following authoritative sources. These external links open in a new tab.