 |
 |
|
| |
 |
Extreme sleepiness during the day is the most common symptom of a condition called Sleep Apnea. Sleep Apnea is a common, yet serious disorder that occurs when breathing stops for 10 seconds or more during a night’s sleep. Certain problems in the airway cause interruptions in breathing during sleep. When the airway narrows, it can result in snoring, periods of no breathing, and frequent arousals in sleep.
Besides feeling very drowsy and waking up at night, other symptoms of Sleep Apnea include:
- Excessive Daytime Sleepiness
- Irregular Breathing During Sleep
- Snoring
- High Blood Pressure
- Overweight
- Large Neck
- Apnea Events
- Loud snoring, choking, or gasping during sleep
- Morning headaches
- Trouble with concentration or memory
- Mood changes, depression
Not to Be Dismissed
Sleep Apnea is serious. Untreated, it raises the risk of high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, irregular heart rhythms, heart attack, stroke, memory loss, vehicle accidents, and even death. Drowsy driving accounts for more fatal car accidents than all other vehicle accidents including intoxicated drivers. Some people also lose their jobs due to falling asleep at work or reduced productivity.
If you have symptoms of Sleep Apnea night after night, talk to your doctor. You may need to complete a sleep study. During the sleep test, electrodes and sensors monitor a patient’s brain waves, cardiac rhythms, oxygen levels and respiration.
Better, Healthier Sleep
It you have Sleep Apnea:
- Avoid drinking alcohol to excess
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Avoid smoking
- Try not to sleep on your back; you may also want to raise the head of your bed
Treatment Available
St. James Parish Hospital has a Sleep Disorders Center to diagnosis and treat Sleep Apnea. The test requires the patient to spend the night in the Sleep Disorders Center where the monitoring takes place. For most patients, one overnight stay is all that is needed to determine the sleep disorder and its cause.
If you or a loved one is suffering from one or more symptoms of Sleep Apnea, discuss it with your physician soon. You can get the help you need at St. James Parish Hospital’s Sleep Disorders Center.
For more information, call St. James Parish Hospital’s Sleep Disorders Center at 225-869-9648. |
- - - - - -
St. James Parish Hospital | 1645 Lutcher Avenue | Lutcher, LA 70071 | Phone: (225) 869-5512 | Fax: (225) 869-4956
|
|
|