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TAYLOR REGIONAL HOSPITAL UNVEILS NEW SLEEP CENTER
Sleep medicine helps diagnose and treat many disorders that cause numerous health problems
Every night nearly 60 million people in America are unable to go to sleep. About a quarter of a million Americans fall asleep uncontrollably during the day. Anywhere from 12 to 18 million Americans stop breathing during their sleep. The current prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea in North America is probably about 5%, which makes it almost as common as asthma. Sleep apnea is a public health problem, because it is common, deadly and can cause harm to the general public, not just to those who are afflicted.
To help combat this common problem, Taylor Regional Hospital has launched a new Sleep Diagnostic Center, which will allow patients to stay in the hospital overnight to be monitored while they sleep. Monitors are attached to the patient’s head, chest and legs to observe respiratory status, arousals, snoring, heart rate and EKG readings. The results are compiled to determine whether or not the patient has a potentially dangerous sleep disorder such as sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome.
“Any of the possible sleep disorders have numerous effects on the people that have them,” says Dr. Asser El-Atfy, Pulmonologist and Sleep Specialist at Taylor Regional Hospital. “They may have poor work performance, they may be excessively tired during the day and many sleep disorders are linked to other diseases and respiratory problems.” Sleep disorders have also been connected to irregular heartbeats, increased blood pressure, heart attack and stroke. If left untreated, long-term sleep disorders can even cause congestive heart failure.
If you or someone you know has trouble sleeping, gets complaints of snoring at night, falls asleep uncontrollably during the day, or complains of unpleasant prickling sensations in the legs and feet, it may be time to talk with a doctor about a sleep test. All of these symptoms are signs of a potentially dangerous sleep disorder, and there are treatments available.
Most sleep disorders can be treated with medication. The most effective medical treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a continuous-positive-airway-pressure, or CPAP. The CPAP is a machine that uses a mask to deliver a stream of air through the nose and prevents airway collapse, which restores normal sleep. Other treatments for sleep apnea include weight loss and surgery.
If you would like to obtain more information about sleep tests or the Sleep Center at Taylor Regional Hospital, call 270-789-5750.
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