A Good Night’s Sleep

Thanuja Hamilton, MD, Sleep Specialist

“Patients might be diagnosed with hypertension, atrial fibrillation or mood disorders, such as depression or anxiety, but really, it might be an untreated sleep disorder.”

Imagine a powerful remedy that could enhance your mood, sharpen your mind, boost your energy and even extend your lifespan.  Surprisingly, this transformative treatment isn’t found in a bottle but in your bedroom. It’s sleep – nature’s most powerful elixir – and it’s been a lifelong focus for Thanuja Hamilton, MD, a double board-certified sleep medicine physician. 

Dr. Hamilton has dedicated her career to helping patients achieve the rest they need to live their best lives. Locally trained but nationally known, she completed her Fellowships in Sleep Medicine and Internal Medicine at Drexel University College of Medicine at Hahnemann University Hospital. She has also been featured numerous times as a sleep expert on local and national radio and television programs. Her goal, she says, is to help people sleep so they can improve their health and overall wellbeing.

“I think sometimes people forget how important sleep is,” says Dr. Hamilton. “They say, ‘I could be having fun instead of sleeping’ or ‘I’ll sleep when I’m dead.’ In fact, if you want to be healthier and happier, if you want to be more successful, if you want to think and perform at your best, you need to prioritize sleep.”

Dr. Hamilton treats the full range of sleep disorders from sleep apnea to insomnia, restless leg syndrome, narcolepsy and more. Getting to the root of the issue takes some expertise. 

“A patient may come in thinking they have insomnia, but it was sleep apnea waking them up,” she says. “Or they might be having trouble focusing or with memory, and that’s related to sleep. If they’re high functioning and fighting drowsiness, they could have a mild form of narcolepsy. There could be other signs, too. Patients might be diagnosed with hypertension, atrial fibrillation or mood disorders, such as depression or anxiety, but really, it might be an untreated sleep disorder.”

With each patient, Dr. Hamilton conducts an in-depth interview about sleep habits and symptoms, and that’s typically followed by a sleep study if needed. “Traditionally, this was done in a lab, but there are newer sleep tests that can be done at home,” she says. Sleep issues can then be treated with medication, or in the case of sleep apnea, with a CPAP machine or implanted device. Lifestyle changes like diet, exercise and limiting technology before bedtime also can help. 

“There is so much we can do to help anyone who needs to improve their sleep,” adds Dr. Hamilton. “And it can make all the difference in the world.”  

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