Contact: (814) 723-4973, ext. 1500.

Leadership

Alex Strassburg, M.D.

Contact Information

Two Crescent Park West, Warren PA 16365
(814) 723-4973 ext 1500

What We Do

Seneca Sleep Disorders Center is a comprehensive sleep medicine facility dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of over 80 recognized sleep disorders including sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, narcolepsy, and insomnia. We offer complete patient care from the onset of symptoms through the diagnosis and treatment of sleep conditions, all which is done in a comfortable home-like setting with trained professionals and state-of-the-art equipment. We pride ourselves on treating the whole person, not just their symptoms in order for you to achieve a healthy sleep and the chance to live well.

Sleeplessness...a Growing Problem

You may be one of the 70 million Americans who suffer from a sleep problem, of these, 60 percent have a chronic sleep disorder which prevents restorative sleep. 95% of those who suffer from a chronic sleep disorder, some of which are life threatening. are left undiagnosed and untreated. Medical research has discovered a direct relationship between Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) and cardiovascular illness. SDB can increase the risk of developing and worsen the following illnesses and conditions: heart attack, stroke, coronary artery disease, and high blood pressure. Other risks of living with sleep disorders include diminished quality of life, poor concentration, weight gain, irritability, moods swings, and impotence.

We are here to help.

Sleep Questionnaire

Do you suffer from any of these common symptoms of sleep apnea?

This simple quiz is designed to make you aware of some of the problems that result from poor-quality sleep. Check any of the following indicators of Sleep Apnea, which you may have exhibited.

I have been told that I snore.
I have high blood pressure
I have had a stroke, Heart Attack, Heart Failure
I have been told that I stop breathing while I sleep, although I don’t remember this when I wake up.
My spouse sleeps in another room because of my loud snoring.
Although I exercise regularly, it doesn’t seem to help me rest at night
I have been accused of being irritable and having mood swings.
I feel sleepy during the day even though I sleep through the night.
I have trouble concentrating at work, school or while driving because of sleepiness.
I am overweight
I wake up with a dry mouth or scratchy throat.

Meet Alex Strassburg, M.D.

In order to better diagnose and treat sleep disorders, Seneca Sleep Disorders Center was created and is under the direction of Alex B. Strassburg, M.D. Dr. Strassburg has been a primary care physician for more than a decade. Early in practice, he noticed the profound relationship between the sleep patterns his patients described and their overall health. Irregular of disrupted sleep patterns almost always predicted a high vulnerability to ill of many kinds. He began a serious review of the available literature and found that while sleep was a relatively new area of research; all available data confirmed his belief. Motivated to address this problem, he opened his own sleep center in 2003 in Warren, PA. He continued his study and became a Board Certified Sleep Specialist, now boarded in bother Sleep and Internal Medicine and is a Member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

A sleep study requires referral from your physician.

You will spend the night in a quiet setting while sensors record data about your sleep habits. This data will be reviewed, analyzed and results forwarded to your physician providing him or her with information to prescribe an appropriate treatment plan.

Common Disorders

Some common sleep problems that require a sleep study include:

Sleep Apnea (A spectrum of disorders that include snoring, irregular breathing, fragmented sleep, and daytime sleepiness caused by temporary suspension of breathing during sleep.)
Restless Legs Syndrome (A disagreeable sensation in the legs that becomes worse in the afternoon and evenings Often described as a burning, pulling, itching, "uncomfortable" sensation.)
Insomnia (The inability to fall or stay asleep often mixed with other sleep disorders.)
Narcolepsy (A sleep disorder characterized by daytime sleepiness and uncontrollable urges to sleep.)

Diagnosis

With a physician referral, patients can be diagnosed at the Center by participating in an overnight sleep study. Using a sophisticated testing process called polysomnography, sleep patterns are determined by monitoring the patients’ heart rate, blood pressure, brain waves, eye movement, breathing patterns, muscle activity, and oxygen levels during sleep. Patients can rest comfortably in the Center’s home-like rooms and atmosphere.

Treatment

Depending on the diagnosis, several treatment options exist. For the commonly diagnosed condition of Sleep Apnea, recommended treatment is often continuous air pressure to keep the airway open. Less commonly used methods are surgical and oral appliances. Other sleep conditions may require medication, life-style modifications and improvement of sleep hygiene.