National Sleep Awareness Week, March 7-13, is an annual public education and awareness campaign to promote the importance of sleep. With nearly 50 percent of Americans snoring on a regular basis, and over 40 percent not getting enough shut-eye, National Sleep Awareness Week provides an opportunity to reevaluate attitudes toward sleep, help those who are deprived of it and remedy the problems.
Sleep is vital to overall health and it helps regulate metabolism. The most common sleep disorder is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), according to the National Sleep Foundation, more than 18 million Americans suffer from OSA. If left untreated, OSA can increase high blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias, cardiovascular disease, increase risk of stroke, mood disorders, memory loss and impotency, and also can lead to an increased risk of motor vehicle accidents due to drowsy driving.
Key signs and symptoms of OSA:
• Excessive daytime sleepiness.
• Loud disruptive snoring.
• Gasping or choking during sleep.
• Grogginess and morning headaches.
• Depression.
• Irritability.
The Hannibal Regional Hospital Sleep Diagnostic Laboratory provides the following services:
• Overnight Diagnostic Sleep Study: performed to diagnose sleep disorders.
• Daytime Diagnostic Sleep Study: performed to diagnose sleep disorders for nightshift workers.
• Multiple Seep Latency Test (MSLT): performed to quantify overall daytime sleepiness and help diagnose narcolepsy.
• Pre-test and post-test education: optional sessions scheduled with each patient free of charge to help educate and answer questions about their specific treatment needs.
Sleep loss affects everyone, regardless of age, gender, race or profession. To know more about sleep disorders and how they are diagnosed and treated, contact the Hannibal Regional Hospital Sleep Laboratory at 573-248-5344.