Are You In Search of a Good Night’s Sleep?
There are few things more relaxing than a good night’s sleep. However, our fast–paced society often makes it hard to get that sought–after slumber. If you’re plagued by sleepless nights, it might be time to consider a visit to Abbeville Area Medical Center’s Sleep Disorders Lab.
Before Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, people slept an average of 10 hours a night. Sounds nice, right? Those days are long gone though, and Americans today get less than seven hours of rest on weeknights. The effects of this epidemic are wracking up, as over 70 million people in the United States suffer from sleeping problems.
“We are a sleepless society, yet most people don’t even know they have a sleeping disorder,” says Mack Rolin, R.R.T., R.C.P., director of respiratory services at AAMC. “That’s a troubling issue when you consider the wide-ranging health problems related to a chronic sleep deprivation.”
Good Sleep, Good Health
According to a Sleep in America poll administered by the National Sleep Foundation, almost 70 percent of participants said they experience frequent sleep problems. Directly related to the astonishing percentage of undiagnosed conditions is the prevalence of sleep myths, such as “older adults require less sleep,” and “sleeping in on the weekend makes up for lost weeknight sleep.”
“Many times we’re contacted by a patient’s partner because the patient is either unaware they have a sleeping problem or unwilling to seek professional help,” says Pam Lake, R.R.T, R.C.P., technical director of respiratory care at AAMC. “It’s important that people get the care they need so they can enjoy the benefits associated with healthy sleep patterns.”
Studies show that sleep is central to good health in many ways. Aside from getting the body ready for the next day, sound sleep boosts the immune system and decreases the likelihood of obesity, depression, diabetes, stroke, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.
Here for You
To remedy sleep ailments, the Sleep Disorders Lab at AAMC offers cutting–edge diagnostic testing to identify a wide array of sleep disorders, including these:
• Insomnia—the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep
• Narcolepsy—falling asleep without warning at inappropriate times
• Sleep apnea—waking and gasping for breath throughout the night
Once a diagnosis is made, patients are able to obtain the appropriate take–home medical equipment to treat their condition through AAMC’s Durable Medical Equipment service.
“Our sleep lab is outfitted with the best sleep study machinery available in a home-like, comfortable setting,” says Rolin. “After receiving a primary care physician referral, patients work through our program and we are able to set them on a path towards better, healthier sleep.”
To learn more about services offered through the AAMC Sleep Disorders Lab, ask your physician for a referral or call (864) 366–3348.
|