In a 24-hour society, where people of all persuasions burn the candle at both ends, restorative sleep has become more whimsy than reality. But, no matter how common, the consequences of continued sleep deprivation can be dire—fatigue, impaired thinking, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic changes that compromise health.

Enter North Texas Lung & Sleep Clinic (NTLSC). Founded in 1991, NTLSC comprises both clinical and sleep study staff who evaluate patients with pulmonary and sleep disorders. The clinic receives many referrals for sleep studies and is heavily involved in clinical research for pharmaceutical companies, including current clinical trials for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and sleep apnea.

When NTLSC Medical Director Dr. David Ostransky became certified by the American Board of Sleep Medicine in 1996, there were only 850 other physicians nationwide who specialized in the field. Today, with 55 million Americans suffering from some form of sleep disorder, Dr. Ostransky and his staff command a captive audience among the sleepless in Dallas-Fort Worth.