Vim & Vigor - Fall 2012 - Phelps County Regional Medical Center - (Page 6)

Snore No OK. I admit it: I snore. Perhaps not every night, but at least some of the time. And recently I was extremely fatigued, to the point that when I woke up in the morning I felt exhausted. At an appointment with my primary care physician, I explained that even though I’m busy, I still felt as if something else “wasn’t quite right.” She suggested I have a sleep study. A sleep study? Sure, I snored, but I was positive I didn’t have sleep apnea. After all, wouldn’t I know if I did? As it turns out, not necessarily. WHAT IS SLEEP APNEA? An estimated 18 million adults in the U.S. have sleep apnea, a disorder in which a person stops breathing when asleep. Of the three types, the most common is obstructive sleep apnea, which occurs when the airway is blocked, often when the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses and closes when your muscles relax during sleep. People who have untreated sleep apnea stop breathing while sleeping, sometimes hundreds of times per night and often for a minute or longer. The resulting poor sleep can lead to chronic fatigue, severe decreases in oxygen levels, increased strain on the heart and other health problems. If you are experiencing symptoms such as excessive daytime sleepiness, a tendency to doze off during the day, loud snoring at night, morning headaches, depression or trouble remembering things, you might have sleep apnea. Luckily, treatment options are available at the Sleep Center at Phelps County Regional Medical Center (PCRMC). ABOUT THE SLEEP CENTER The PCRMC Sleep Center’s six sleep areas are set up to resemble high-end hotel rooms, with luxurious and comfortable queen-sized beds, ﬂat-panel televisions and private bathrooms. “We try to make sleep study patients feel as relaxed and ‘at home’ as possible,” says lead technologist Amy Black. “We also accommodate most people’s schedules by offering sleep studies six nights a week.” > million An estimated adults in the U.S. have 18 sleep apnea 6 Vim & Vigor · FALL 2 012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Fall 2012 - Phelps County Regional Medical Center

Vim & Vigor - Fall 2012 - Phelps County Regional Medical Center
Contents
Opening Thoughts
The Innovator
Snore No More
30 Days to Better Sleep
I Can’t Ask My Doctor That!
He Said, She Said
Hold On to Your Health
Still A Screening Star
Your Joints: An Owner’s Manual
Weighing Your Options
No Greater Gift
Weather Alert
Virtual Health
Remaking a Statement
The Highest-Tech Heart Care
Available Just for You!
Age Is Just a Number
Foundation
Auxiliary

Vim & Vigor - Fall 2012 - Phelps County Regional Medical Center