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Has anyone ever told you that you snore, stop breathing, or gasp for air during the night? Do you feel drowsy during the day, even after you think you’ve had a full night’s sleep? Sleep disorders are more common than many of us realize and can adversely affect your health. 

 

Diagnosis and treatment of sleep related problems are now available close to home. Moundview Memorial Hospital & Clinics began offering sleep study clinics this month through a partnership with Winmar Diagnostics of Fargo, North Dakota. Dr. Mark Hatton, family practitioner at Moundview Clinic, is providing the local physician leadership for this service.

 

“The most common respiratory related sleep disorder is obstructive sleep apnea,” said Luke Premo, cardiopulmonary director at Moundview who coordinates the sleep studies at the hospital through Winmar. “Sleep apnea affects more than 12 million Americans according to the National Institutes of Health. Persons with this condition may stop breathing for a few seconds to more than a minute while they are sleeping, usually due to some kind of obstruction in the airway.” 

 

“Sleep apnea is typically associated with loud snoring and excessive daytime drowsiness and irritability,” said Premo. “In addition, it has been linked to other physical conditions including heart problems, weight gain, high blood pressure, depression, anxiety, impotence and even sudden death. Undiagnosed, a sleep disorder can affect every aspect of your life from social interactions to family dynamics, job performance to normal attention span.”

 

Diagnosing a sleep problem begins with a visit to your family physician who will examine you and determine if a referral should be made to Moundview’s Sleep Clinic. A Winmar sleep technician will then use state-of-the-art equipment to evaluate your sleep patterns during an overnight stay at the hospital. The technician will work with your physician to evaluate the severity of your condition and recommend steps to be taken to alleviate the problem.   

 

“We are pleased to provide this new service at Moundview,” said Jeremy Normington, Vice-President of Patient Care Services at Moundview Memorial. “It is something that can really make a difference in the quality of life for our patients. Anyone who suspects they may suffer from sleep apnea or another sleep disorder should ask their healthcare provider about a referral to this new service.”

 

For more information, call (608) 339-8388.