Amy Mendes, ARNP

Amy Mendes, ARNP is a Sleep Medicine nurse practitioner practicing at the Sleep Disorders Center of SW FL in Naples, FL. As a partner in preventive health featured on weprevent.org, she is dedicated to empowering patients with proactive, comprehensive Sleep Medicine care. Registered with The Florida Board of Medicine and practicing under the Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 458 (Medical Practice), she understands the crucial role of sleep in overall health and actively works to prevent long-term complications from sleep disorders.

Your general Sleep Medicine physician is your primary partner in preventing long-term health complications from sleep disorders, creating personalized long-term health plans, coordinating necessary screenings, and managing your overall wellness through collaboration with pulmonologists, neurologists, and otolaryngologists. She serves all ages and is currently welcoming new patients to begin their proactive health journey. Call (239) 254-1233 to schedule. Amy Mendes, ARNP, a nurse practitioner in Naples, FL, is accepting new patients. She completed rigorous medical training from recognized institutions, and her approach to care emphasizes collaborative, evidence-based medicine, empowering patients to take an active role in their long-term health. Dr. Amy ARNP provides consultations primarily in English.

A key part of the WePrevent mission is building your personalized prevention roadmap. Dr. Amy ARNP is a vital partner in this journey, focusing on proactive strategies to protect and enhance your long-term health.

By working together, you and Dr. Amy ARNP can create a clear, actionable plan to address your unique risk factors and health goals.

A proactive approach to health involves understanding and managing potential risks. Dr. Amy ARNP provides expert care for a range of conditions, focusing on early detection and effective management to support your long-term wellness. Common areas of focus include:

• Asthma: Managing your asthma effectively through medication and lifestyle changes can prevent sleep disruptions and improve your overall well-being.
• COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease): Protecting your lungs through preventive measures like avoiding smoking and managing respiratory infections can help prevent COPD, which can significantly affect your sleep quality and overall health.
• Insomnia: Preventing the negative consequences of insomnia, such as impaired cognitive function and increased risk of accidents, starts with proactive management strategies.
• Sleep Apnea: Untreated sleep apnea can lead to serious long-term health problems, so identifying and addressing it early is vital for your overall well-being and to prevent future health complications.
• Burnout: Addressing burnout is a key step in preventive healthcare, as it plays a significant role in the development and worsening of many sleep disorders, impacting your overall well-being.
• Mild Headache: Regularly experiencing mild headaches? It's important to discuss this with a healthcare professional to rule out any sleep-related causes and prevent potential long-term complications.
• Sleep-Related Rhythmic Movement Disorder: Recognizing the symptoms of SRMD, like repetitive leg or body movements while asleep, is crucial for preventing potential sleep deprivation and its associated health risks.

This list highlights some common health concerns and is for informational purposes only. The best way to understand your personal health and create a prevention plan is to schedule a consultation. Accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment plans are developed based on individual patient evaluations.

Taking proactive steps is central to long-term health. Dr. Amy ARNP offers a range of key preventive screenings and services designed to provide crucial insights into your health and support your well-being:

• Sleep Study: Take a proactive step towards better health with a sleep study: it's a diagnostic tool that screens for hidden sleep problems that could impact your overall well-being.
• Behavior Management: Take control of your sleep health by learning and implementing healthy sleep behaviors to reduce the risk of developing insomnia or sleep apnea.
• Biofeedback: Proactively improve your sleep health through biofeedback; this technique helps you become aware of your body's responses to stress and teaches you relaxation strategies to fall asleep easier.
• Evoked Potential Test: To prevent long-term sleep problems, consider an evoked potential test; it assesses your brain's electrical activity, which can reveal the root cause of sleep disturbances.
• Bronchoscopy: A bronchoscopy is a procedure that allows doctors to visually examine your airways to detect and address potential breathing problems that might be impacting your sleep.
• Mental Status Examination: Taking a proactive step with a mental status exam can help detect early signs of mental health conditions that often affect sleep quality and overall health.
• Life Coaching: As part of your proactive sleep health journey, life coaching can help you identify and overcome barriers to better sleep, enabling you to live a healthier, more productive life.

Service availability can change, and not all services listed may be appropriate for every patient. For a comprehensive understanding of all available services and to create your personalized screening plan, please schedule a consultation.

All medical services are provided in accordance with the standard scope of practice for Sleep Medicine in Florida.

Dr. Amy ARNP is dedicated to partnering with Caregivers to achieve their unique health objectives. The following examples illustrate how a proactive approach can make a tangible difference in a Patient's life:

• By adhering to a personalized asthma management plan, including medication and lifestyle changes, a patient experienced fewer nighttime awakenings and improved overall sleep quality, enhancing their daily life.
• By prioritizing lung health through smoking cessation and proactive respiratory care, a patient significantly reduced their risk of developing COPD, leading to improved sleep and overall well-being.

These scenarios are illustrative examples of positive health outcomes. Individual results may vary and depend on many factors specific to each patient. She will work with you to define and achieve your personal health goals.

Here are answers to some common questions about proactive Sleep Medicine care with Dr. Amy ARNP:

What is a Sleep Medicine specialist?

A sleep medicine specialist, like Dr. Amy ARNP, is a board-certified doctor who has specialized training in diagnosing and treating sleep disorders. Often coming from backgrounds in pulmonology, neurology, or otolaryngology, they bring a unique perspective to identifying the root causes of sleep problems.

What is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and why is it a health risk?

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep due to a blocked airway. Untreated OSA is a major risk factor for high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. Treatment is a critical step in preventing these serious long-term complications.

What happens during a sleep study (polysomnogram)?

During a sleep study, we monitor your brain waves, heart rate, breathing, and body movements overnight. This non-invasive test provides a complete picture of your sleep patterns, serving as the gold standard for diagnosing sleep disorders and creating an effective prevention plan.

Are there alternatives to CPAP for treating sleep apnea?

Yes, there are alternatives to CPAP, including custom-made oral appliances to reposition the jaw and surgical options to address anatomical blockages. These are important options to discuss with Dr. Amy ARNP as part of a personalized treatment plan.

What is CPAP therapy and how does it work?

CPAP therapy is a common and effective treatment for sleep apnea. A CPAP machine delivers gentle, constant air pressure through a mask to keep your airway open during sleep, preventing breathing pauses. This therapy helps restore healthy sleep and protect your heart.

What is a circadian rhythm disorder?

Circadian rhythm disorders are problems with the body's internal 24-hour clock, often causing a misalignment between our internal schedule and the outside world. A sleep specialist can help identify and treat these disorders, potentially using light therapy and timed melatonin to reset the internal clock.

Why would a Neurologist be involved in my sleep care?

Neurologists specialize in the brain and nervous system. They play a crucial role in diagnosing and treating sleep disorders stemming from the brain's control centers, including narcolepsy, restless legs syndrome, and parasomnias.

Can lifestyle changes like weight loss help sleep apnea?

Yes, significantly. Excess weight can narrow the airway, and for many patients, even a moderate amount of weight loss can dramatically reduce or even eliminate sleep apnea, preventing the need for other therapies.

Sleep Disorders Center of SW FL
11181 Health Park Blvd
Naples FL 34110
Phone: (239) 254-1233

Amy Mendes, ARNP is regulated by the Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 458 (Medical Practice) in Florida and is licensed by The Florida Board of Medicine.

National Provider Identifier (NPI): 1568767325

Registration can typically be verified through The Florida Board of Medicine website or by direct inquiry.

The information on this profile, provided by weprevent.org, is for general informational purposes and to help you connect with preventive health partners. It does not constitute direct medical advice from the physician named. Sleep Medicine like Dr. Amy ARNP are skilled in helping patients create proactive health plans. For urgent or life-threatening emergencies, please call 911 or visit the nearest emergency department. It is always recommended to maintain open communication with your sleep medicine about all aspects of your health and your personalized prevention plan.