Healthy Living Newsletter
Tired of Losing Sleep?
It’s Time to Rest Easy, with the Mercy Sleep Disorders Center
 Although sleep disorders affect millions of people, most don’t recognize the symptoms. Even fewer realize that, once detected, most sleep disorders can be corrected. Talk to your doctor today about a sleep study through the Mercy Sleep Disorders Center.
Counting sheep, watching TV or listening to books on tape — we’ve all used these methods to help us find restful sleep. Perhaps, however, it isn’t your overburdened day, or the kids’ report cards that are keeping you up at night. You could be suffering from a diagnosable and treatable sleep disorder.
Every year, millions of Americans experience fatigue, irritability, depression, lack of concentration and memory, lost productivity, and even worse — car and workplace accidents, all due to sleep disorders.
Such symptoms can obviously affect your job, your marriage, your quality of life and essentially your health. Yet, many people don’t seek professional help because they simply don’t realize it is available. But, if left untreated, some sleep disorders may increase your risk for high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.
Through sleep studies overseen and monitored by a physician panel lead by a specialist Board-Certified in Sleep Studies, you can find the road to a healthier lifestyle through the Mercy Sleep Disorders Center.
What Are Sleep Disorders?
A sleep disorder is any condition that interrupts normal sleep-wake patterns. Sleep disorders include:
Sleep Apnea and Snoring
Snoring is a common problem. Loud snoring, however, can be a symptom of a serious sleep disorder called sleep apnea.
People with this disorder actually stop breathing repeatedly during sleep (as many as several hundred times a night) due to complete or partial blockage of the airway by tissue in the nose or throat. The resulting low levels of oxygen increase blood pressure and may cause the heart rate to slow or even stop for a few seconds. The poor sleep quality caused by sleep apnea leads to excessive daytime sleepiness, problems concentrating, memory problems and headaches.
Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is also a common problem that is characterized by excessive, uncontrollable sleep episodes during the day, which interferes with activities at work or school.
Insomnia
People with insomnia have chronic problems falling asleep or staying asleep. This may be due to a number of causes, the most well-known of which are psychological problems such as stress or depression. However, insomnia may have other causes such as breathing difficulties or involuntary muscle movements.
Periodic Limb Movement Disorder
The notable symptom of this disorder, also known as nocturnal, is the repetitive kicking, jerking or flexing of arms or legs throughout the night due to involuntary muscle contractions. Patients often experience a crawling sensation or a restless feeling in the legs. It can lead to the inability to fall asleep and remain asleep.
Other Sleep Disorders
You can experience sleep disorders which may also be a result of:
- Chronic respiratory problems or lung disease that can worsen during sleep, greatly reducing the oxygen level in the blood.
- Significant changes in your sleep-wake schedule, such as those due to shift work or jet lag.
- Nightmares or night terrors. Nightmares are frightening dreams that can be recalled later. They may occur at any age and, in adults, may be related to psychological factors. Night terrors, on the other hand, cannot be recalled in the morning and are most common in children.
 Offering the ultimate in comfort and medical care, the suites at the Mercy Sleep Disorders Center provide for outstanding medical testing in the atmosphere of a hotel-like environment.
What Can You Do?
If you’re suffering from any of these disorders, you can talk with your doctor about a referral to the Mercy Sleep Disorders Center. Mercy’s new premier center offers full patient evaluations by consultation which includes an interview, physical exam and review of sleep/wake logs. Some patients may require an overnight stay to participate in a sleep study. This is a painless test used to diagnose sleep disorders by monitoring brain waves, muscle tension, eye movement, respiration, oxygen level in the blood and audio monitoring.
To add to your patient comfort and security, the Mercy Sleep Disorders Center is located within Mercy Hospital, in a beautifully remodeled and dedicated center, with ease of access on the hospital’s main floor and its own patient entrance. This new center has been designed for patient convenience and includes private suites, a patient lounge and kitchen.
Take the Sleep Apnea Quiz
Loud snoring is not a joking matter. For many it may signal a breathing problem during sleep. If you think you might suffer from a sleeping disorder such as sleep apnea, take this test. If you answer “yes” to two or more of these questions, speak to your doctor about what could be a serious condition:
- Do you snore?
- Are you sleepy during the day?
- Do you wake up with morning headaches?
- Do you have high blood pressure?
- Are you irritable, fatigued, or have difficulty concentrating?
- Do you find it hard to stay awake while driving, watching TV, reading a book or attending a meeting?
- Do you ever wake up choking, gasping for air or have a skipping or racing heartbeat during sleep?
- Has anyone watched you sleep and told you that you hold your breath, snort and often move during sleep?
To find out more if the Mercy Sleep Disorders Center is right for you, talk to your doctor. For more information about sleep disorders or Mercy Hospital, call (810) 966-1700.
|
