Dr. Harneet Walia, MD

Dr. Harneet Walia, MD is a Sleep Medicine physician dedicated to empowering patients with proactive, comprehensive care at Baptist Health Cardiology | Kendall (Galloway) in Miami, FL. She is registered with The Florida Board of Medicine and practices under the Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 458 (Medical Practice). As a partner in preventive health, she recognizes the critical role of sleep in overall well-being. 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 (786) 345-7208 to schedule.

Dr. Walia brings over 20 years of dedicated experience in Sleep Medicine care, coupled with a strong commitment to patient-centered care. She earned her medical degree from Kasturba Medical College Of Mangalore (KMC) in 2004 and completed residency training in Sleep Medicine at St. Elizabeth Health Center, Humility Of Mary Health Partners, followed by fellowship training in University Hospitals Of Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Walia is Board Certified in Family Practice and Sleep Medicine by the American Board of Family Medicine. She is the director of Sleep Medicine and Continuous Improvement at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, and her experience includes leading clinical trials and real-world research projects on sleep-disordered breathing and health outcomes. She prioritizes open communication with her patients, empowering them to understand their treatment options and take an active role in their health. Dr. Walia provides consultations primarily in English.

A key part of the WePrevent mission is building your personalized prevention roadmap. Dr. Harneet Walia 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. Harneet Walia 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. Harneet Walia 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:

• Insomnia: Don't let insomnia disrupt your life – early detection and management can help improve your mood, energy levels, and overall well-being.
• Narcolepsy: Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder where you experience overwhelming daytime sleepiness and sudden sleep attacks, impacting your daily life and increasing your risk of accidents; early diagnosis and management are key to preventing these risks.
• Primary Central Sleep Apnea: Primary central sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder where your brain doesn't properly signal your breathing muscles, leading to pauses in breathing during sleep; early diagnosis and treatment can prevent heart problems and other health issues.
• Primary Insomnia: Primary insomnia, meaning sleep problems not stemming from other health issues, needs attention because it can affect your physical and mental health; managing it effectively is a critical step in preventing long-term health consequences.
• Sleep Apnea: Sleep apnea is a serious condition where your breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep, and early diagnosis and treatment can prevent heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
• Sleep-Walking: Preventing falls and accidents associated with sleepwalking is crucial for maintaining your overall health and safety, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and management.
• Anxiolytic Dependence: Anxiolytic dependence, or relying too heavily on anti-anxiety drugs, can negatively impact sleep quality and increase the risk of developing sleep disorders, emphasizing the need for proactive anxiety management strategies.

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. Harneet Walia offers a range of key preventive screenings and services designed to provide crucial insights into your health and support your well-being:

• Sleep Study: A sleep study is a test that helps doctors identify sleep disorders like apnea or insomnia, allowing for early intervention and preventing serious health problems down the line.
• Grief Therapy: Grief therapy can help you process difficult emotions and improve your sleep, which is essential for overall health and well-being.
• Coping Strategy: Proactive coping strategies can help you prevent sleep disorders from worsening and avoid potential health complications down the line.
• Sleep Apnea Oral Appliances: Proactively address your sleep apnea symptoms with oral appliances, a comfortable and effective treatment option to prevent serious health risks.
• Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP): CPAP therapy uses gentle air pressure to keep your airway open while you sleep, helping prevent pauses in breathing and improving your overall sleep quality.
• Treatment of Mood Disorders: Take proactive steps to manage mood disorders, as untreated conditions can significantly impact sleep quality and overall health.
• Psychological Counseling: Proactively address potential sleep disruptions by seeking psychological counseling; it can detect and treat anxiety, depression, or trauma impacting your sleep patterns.

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. Harneet Walia 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 understanding the root causes of their sleep difficulties and implementing a personalized sleep plan, a patient experienced significant improvements in their mood and energy levels, finding a greater sense of well-being.
• By proactively addressing potential narcolepsy symptoms, a patient was able to significantly reduce the risk of disruptive sleep attacks and maintain a fulfilling daily routine. This early intervention provided the peace of mind needed to focus on 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. Harneet Walia:

What is a Sleep Medicine specialist?

A sleep medicine specialist 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 cause 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 critical to 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, acting as the gold standard for diagnosing sleep disorders and creating a personalized prevention plan.

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 timing and the external world, like the sleep-wake cycle. A sleep specialist can help identify the specific disorder and develop a personalized treatment plan, potentially including light therapy and timed melatonin to reset the internal clock.

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.

What is Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)?

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological sensory disorder causing an overwhelming, uncomfortable urge to move your legs, often worse in the evening or night. It's not just a muscle cramp, but a condition requiring diagnosis and treatment to prevent significant sleep disruption and improve your quality of life.

What is the difference between a home sleep apnea test and an in-lab study?

A home sleep apnea test is a simpler screening tool for straightforward obstructive sleep apnea. An in-lab study is a more comprehensive test, used for complex cases or to diagnose other sleep disorders like narcolepsy or parasomnias.

Can my child have sleep apnea?

Yes, sleep apnea in children is common, often due to enlarged tonsils and adenoids. Early diagnosis is crucial, as untreated sleep apnea can impact growth, learning, and behavior. Fortunately, treatment is a key step in preventing these developmental issues.

Baptist Health Cardiology | Kendall (Galloway)
7400 SW 87th Ave Ste 100
Miami FL 33173
Phone: (786) 345-7208

Dr. Harneet Walia, MD 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): 1659510618

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. Harneet Walia 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.