Insomnia and Snoring are Not Innocuous Sleeping Issues. They are Warning Signs of Underlying Health Problems Requiring Medical Attention.
Sleep is an integral part of daily life, accounting for nearly one-third of our lifetime and playing a crucial role in maintaining overall health. You should not neglect sleep-related problems, as they are significant health issues that require proper medical attention, especially in Thai society, which is transitioning into an aging society.
“Did you know that more than 50% of people over 60 experience insomnia? It is the essential responsibility of sleep medicine doctors to develop effective treatments for these conditions. We know that insufficient sleep can lead to a wide swath of diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, and depression. Furthermore, it also significantly raises the risk of accidents.”
This quote from Dr. Jirayos Chintanadilok, a specialist in Sleep Medicine and the Head of the Sleep Medicine Center at MedPark Hospital, is enough to spark interest. Today, he will share his journey as a Sleep Medicine specialist. Let us get to know him better in this edition of MedPark Stories.
From Two Decades in the United States to a Sleep Medicine Specialist at MedPark Hospital
Before joining the Sleep Medicine Center at MedPark Hospital, Dr. Jirayos spent nearly 20 years practicing medicine in the United States, where he was known as Dr. Chin.
“I graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, in 1985. After graduation, I interned at the Central Chest Institute of Thailand for two years -- before applying and interviewing for a position in the United States. I attended Bronx-Lebanon in New York to study Internal Medicine and then moved to Mount Sinai in Queens to focus on Pulmonary Medicine. Following that, I headed to the University of Florida to further my fellowship in Pulmonary Medicine.”
Practicing medicine in the United States provided him with valuable experience and insights into healthcare systems that have gained acceptance worldwide.
“During my 20 years in the US, I witnessed sea changes, experiencing the evolution of Electronic Health Records from a paper-based system. Despite the strong influence of financial returns on the US healthcare system, it has nevertheless led to improvements in the quality of life. It had also spawned innovative services that address diverse needs, from home health care and nursing homes to what later became hospice care.”
“I snore, too:” The Beginning of a Foray into Sleep Medicine
Dr. Jirayos is a widely acclaimed leading specialist in Sleep Medicine. However, his expertise extends across three distinct medical specialties. What makes his background particularly compelling is how these disciplines intersect, allowing him to deliver truly comprehensive patient care.
“The three specialties I chose are closely intertwined. I began as a pulmonologist because my initial goal was to work in the ICU. That experience allowed me to learn a wide range of medical procedures. I learned how to manage internal medicine cases and later expanded into Geriatric Medicine, as elderly care was becoming a major focus in the United States at the time. While I was in Gainesville, I also had the opportunity to engage in geriatric research with a professor who specialized in the field.”
His professional venture into Sleep Medicine began with a personal discovery that he, too, was affected by sleep disorders.
“At that time, Mount Sinai had just opened a new sleep laboratory. I went there to learn and gain exposure to various sleep-related conditions. Because I snored too, I decided to have a sleep study. That was when I discovered that I had sleep apnea. To be honest, it spooked me. My father passed away in his sleep, and that experience inspired me to become a savant in this field. It felt like the most compelling life calling for me.”
Sleep Disorders Are Not Limited to Sleep Apnea
“There are numerous conditions that can cause insomnia.” Dr. Jirayos briefly stated before explaining the full spectrum of sleep-related disorders that many people may not realize.
“Sleep disorders are not solely about breathing interruptions during the night. For example, narcolepsy is relatively common in the United States, particularly among young adults. While the diagnosis is rare in Thailand, I am confident that with a heightened awareness, it will increase in the future. In addition, insomnia may also be due to stress or genetic predisposition.”
He also addressed sleep adaptation and poor sleep hygiene. Sleeping too little or too much, jet lag, neurological conditions, and movement disorders can all contribute to sleep-related problems. It is the responsibility of a sleep medicine specialist to pinpoint the underlying causes and provide appropriate treatment.
The Modern Sleep Test: Less Cumbersome, More Convenient.
Sleep Medicine has been a burgeoning discipline in the United States for over 20 years now. The bloom is due to the discovery of Sleep Apnea, or cessation of breathing during sleep. Believe it or not, back then, the treatment for this condition was a tracheostomy (a surgical opening in the windpipe). As medical science progresses, more efficacious therapeutic devices emerged in the form of the CPAP machine, which has further developed into APAP, BiPAP, and many other options.
Dr. Jirayos discussed the evolution of Sleep Medicine treatments over the past two decades. He also addressed looming developments on the horizon, particularly the all-important diagnostic tool -- the sleep test (polysomnography) -- which is likely to be supplanted by more sophisticated technologies designed to provide significantly greater comfort and convenience for patients.
“Nowadays, technology has advanced by leaps and bounds. We have devices like WatchPAT or dedicated tools for monitoring jaw movement. For Home Sleep Studies, some devices focus exclusively on respiratory patterns without the need for brainwave monitoring (EEG). Therefore, it is highly likely that in the not-too-distant future, Sleep Tests will no longer require the tangle of wires and cables of today.”
The Impact of Teamwork Among Physicians on Patient Care
“The most memorable case I came across during my time at MedPark Hospital involved a patient admitted with severe pneumonia who required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for life support. The complexity of the case called for the close collaboration of multiple specialists, and through this collective effort, the patient ultimately survived. This experience allowed me to witness something I had never experienced during my years working overseas. It was the spirit of camaraderie, the comprehensive patient care, the close collaboration of the nursing team, and the specialists from various disciplines coming together in conferences with the patient. That created an indelible impression that is truly hard to find.”
Dr. Jirayos and the Sleep Medicine Center at MedPark Hospital are firmly committed to a core mission: creating “Day & Night Wellness” to help people achieve high-quality sleep, for a better quality of life and robust health every day.
“I have always devoted myself almost singularly to my work, fitting in some exercises now and then, but I do not have any specific hobby. In my free time, I read, conduct research on sleep and related fatigue, and study occupational fatigue, an area of special interest to me. I hope that one day I can apply this knowledge to create solutions that truly address the needs of society.”
