The patient is a 57-year-old CEO of a large corporation. He reports chronic difficulty in concentrating and performing his routine tasks. He has even dozed off in the early afternoon while sitting at his computer. His wife reports that he snores, although she indicates that his breathing appears normal during sleep. She has never witnessed any unusual events during the night. The subject is seeking help because he is concerned about being tired and sleepy during his afternoon work hours. A physical examination reveals no underlying problem. With further questioning, the patient discloses that he drinks several cups of coffee in the afternoon to increase alertness. He also states that he often drinks alcoholic beverages before bedtime. He sleeps soundly during the first part of the night, but he then awakens and has difficulty going back to sleep. a) Based on the above scenario, identify the key symptomatology experienced by the patient and name his condition. b) Why is it important that the patient’s wife confirms that his breathing is normal during sleep? c) The wife never witnessed any unusual events while the patient was asleep. What unusual events might she have been expected to have noticed?
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The patient is a 57-year-old CEO of a large corporation. He reports chronic difficulty in concentrating and performing his routine tasks. He has even dozed off in the early afternoon while sitting at his computer. His wife reports that he snores, although she indicates that his breathing appears normal during sleep. She has never witnessed any unusual events during the night. The subject is seeking help because he is concerned about being tired and sleepy during his afternoon work hours.
A physical examination reveals no underlying problem. With further questioning, the patient discloses that he drinks several cups of coffee in the afternoon to increase alertness. He also states that he often drinks alcoholic beverages before bedtime. He sleeps soundly during the first part of the night, but he then awakens and has difficulty going back to sleep.
a) Based on the above scenario, identify the key symptomatology experienced by the patient and name his condition.
b) Why is it important that the patient’s wife confirms that his breathing is normal during sleep?
c) The wife never witnessed any unusual events while the patient was asleep. What unusual events might she have been expected to have noticed?
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