Sleep Medicine in Istanbul

Sleep medicine is a medical specialty that focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, and therapy of sleep disorders. A physician who specializes in sleep medicine is called a sleep medicine specialist and they have trained in internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, or neurology during residency. They are qualified to assist patients who suffer from conditions or disorders that affect sleep. They deal with a wide range of diseases and conditions, including:

• Insomnia, which is difficulty falling or staying asleep throughout the night.
• Parasomnia, such as sleepwalking.
• Sleep apnea and snoring, which is a condition when a person experiences abnormal patterns of breathing when they are asleep.
• Restless legs syndrome, which is an uncontrollable urge to move your legs that keep you awake.
• Narcolepsy, which is a condition that causes people to suddenly fall asleep during the day.
• Teeth grinding or sleep bruxism.
• Nightmares.
• Circadian rhythm disorder, which is a problem with the circadian rhythm or the “internal body clock” that keeps the body’s biological processes in step.
• Hypersomnia, which is excessive sleepiness at inappropriate times. 
• Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder, which is a condition where a patient physically acts out vivid dreams with sudden arm and leg movements, as well as with vocal sounds.

In order to diagnose and treat these sleep-related disorders, sleep medicine specialists can perform a wide variety of procedures. Some of the most common include, but are not limited to:

• Actigraphy
• Polysomnography (sleep study)
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy
• Sleep apnea tests
• Non-invasive ventilation
• Hypoglossal nerve stimulation therapy evaluation
• Overnight oximetry test
• Oral appliance therapy
• Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).

Sleep medicine specialists can also prescribe medications and refer patients to other specialists as required, such as to a physical therapist to help open the airway so patients can breathe better.

How Long Should I Stay in Istanbul?

The length of stay depends on the specific procedure you underwent. It is advisable to stay in Istanbul for at least 5 to 7 days. However, for some types of treatments, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, you may need to stay longer as the treatment usually requires more than one session.

What's the Expected Recovery Time?

Since the treatment plan can be different from one person to another, recovery time varies widely. In most cases, the procedure itself does not require any recovery time. You should be able to resume your normal activity almost immediately, as long as you do not experience symptoms that prevent you from performing your day to day activity. 

What Aftercare is Required?

Your doctor will give you a set of instructions on how to care for yourself at home. Follow all instructions from your doctor as it will speed up your recovery and avoid complications. In most cases, your doctor may tell you to change your lifestyle, such as improve your diet and establish a regular sleep schedule.

What's the Success Rate?

Sleep medicine is always evolving. With continuous research, specialists now have a better and broader understanding of sleep and its disorders. Innovative technology and new approaches are being implemented on many levels, enabling sleep medicine specialists to diagnose and treat difficult sleep disorders more efficiently. This has increased the success rate of sleep medicine procedures.

Are there Alternatives?

There is no alternative to sleep medicine, but your doctor may refer you to a relevant specialist if your condition is found to be caused by something else unrelated to the field. In certain cases, you may undergo acupuncture, meditation, or hypnotherapy as the alternative, but make sure to consult with your doctor first.

Sleep Medicine in and around Istanbul

About Istanbul

Turkey has the unique distinction of being situated on two continents. You can see the influence of both the Asian and European cultures. Istanbul is the most populous city in this beautiful country and is the historical and financial center of Turkey.

Istanbul overlooks the Bosporus strait, a water body that separates Asia and Europe. Millions of travelers visit every year making it one of the world’s most popular destinations. You can visit UNESCO world heritage sites, old architectural monuments, and also experience the cultural heritage.

Istanbul consists of popular shopping malls. Spread over a huge area, the Grand Market is the first mall in the world that has a covered market style. The city is also famous for seafood restaurants and hotels serving Ottoman cuisine. Istanbul also offers a very active nightlife with many wine houses lining the streets. It also hosts many cultural and music festivals. Some of the renowned museums and monuments add to the list of attractions for tourists.

A recent study reveals that the city is becoming a well-known location for extraordinary healthcare facilities. People from all over Europe, Asia, and other countries come to Istanbul for surgical and non-invasive procedures. It has the advantage of providing an excellent medical system and housing well-qualified doctors as strict medical protocols regulate the industry.

Another interesting fact is that clinics here have affiliations with world-renowned hospitals of the USA and Europe. People come here for different types of surgical procedures. Some of the more common types are Rhinoplasty and breast augmentation procedures.

The medical techniques used here is comparable to any other world-class facility. At the same time, the medical procedures cost only a fraction of the price of developed countries like the UK and the USA. You can come here for any medical treatment and combine it with a relaxing vacation.

There are many excellent Hospitals in Istanbul such as the Hisar Intercontinental Hospital, Medipol Mega University Hospital, and Medicana International Istanbul Hospital.

Popular Areas in Istanbul

Istanbul is divided into 39 districts which all comprise multiple areas and neighborhoods.

• Sultanahmet is the most popular area for tourism in Istanbul as it holds the Hagia Sofia, Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace, and the movie-famous Basilica Cistern. You can stay here but it's a little more expensive in this area for shopping and food.

• Beyoglu is the best area to stay in and ensure that you are close to Istiklal Street, Taksim Square, and Galata Tower. In these areas, you will be in the heart of the city’s never-ending hustle and bustle while feeling like a local. The food and nightlife are excellent here, and the areas are picturesque and beautiful.

• Sisli is one of the high-end business areas in Istanbul and much quieter than Taksim or Sultanahmet.

Weather and Climate in Istanbul

Istanbul experiences hot summers and cold winters with snow being a common feature. Spring (April to May) and autumn (September to late November), are the best times to visit Istanbul when temperatures are cooler.

Getting around in Istanbul

Istanbul has three international airports. The oldest is Atatürk, which was the third busiest airport in Europe. The airport is now closed for commercial aircraft and is open only for cargo, business, and government flights. The new airport, the Istanbul Airport, caters to most of the travelers coming from other countries. Turkish Airlines and other major world airlines connect the City to other big cities in Asia, Europe, and other countries. The third airport, İstanbul Sabiha Gökçen, operates some international flights, but It usually operates more domestic flights.

Istanbul has a vast network of trains, trams, buses, and ferries. These connect all the different parts of the City. In fact, the City has one of the largest ferry services across the Bosporus and the Black Sea. There is an integrated card-less trip enabled system across the city in different modes of transport.

Tourist Visas in Istanbul

Citizens from other countries in the European Union can visit Turkey with their national ID card and do not need a visa. You can find out if you need a visa to visit Turkey from the official website of the Turkish ministry of foreign affairs.

The country has an easy system of e-visa to help travelers from other countries. Citizens from countries like the US, UK, Australia, and others can also obtain a visa on arrival. People from most countries in Asia need an e-visa.

The pre-conditions to obtaining a visa are that your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay and for 60 days longer. The visa issued for visit and trade purposes is valid for 90 days. For longer durations and for medical reasons, you will have to apply to the consulate to get a long-term visa. E-visa fees and visas on arrival are not expensive and you can pay using your credit card.

Additional Information

1. The Local Currency is Turkish Lira or TL. The currency code is TRY. Shopkeepers do not mind taking Euros if you run out of the local currency. The exchange rate fluctuates and depends on political turbulence. Even then it is very inexpensive to live here. The usual exchange rate against the US Dollar may range between 4.0 TRY to 5.5 TRY per Dollar.
2. You can use credit cards in all big places such as hospitals, hotels, restaurants, and shops. However, you must carry a minimum amount of cash to be on the safe side. Taxis, transport, and small shops may not accept card payments. Cash payment may also get you some lucrative discounts in certain places. ATMs are safe and you can withdraw the local currency from one.
3. It is customary to tip at least 5 to 10 % of the bill amount in most places. The staff prefers local currency only.
4. Turkish is the official and the most common language spoken. In most hospitals and tourist places, people speak decent English. In fact, people here are fluent in English and other European languages.
5. Turkey has been influenced by all of the major religions including Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. Yet most follow Islam.
6. Culturally, Istanbul is a diverse country. People celebrate religious and national festivals with a lot of enthusiasm. January 1 New Year’s Day, April 23 National Sovereignty & Children's Day, May 1 Labor & Solidarity Day, and August 30 Victory Day are some of the national holidays here. Apart from this, the Ramadan feast is a significant festival. Dates, however, change every year due to the differences in the religious calendar.