“I look forward to bedtime – it’s no longer the enemy”
There’s little dispute that getting a good night’s sleep does wonders for our overall health and well-being. But nearly 70 million Americans suffer from sleep problems and among them about 60 percent have a chronic disorder, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
While lack of sleep leaves many people feeling irritable, tired and less motivated, an ongoing sleep deficiency can take a serious toll on one’s health, increasing risk to heart and kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and stroke. There’s also another health risk linked to sleep deficiency: obesity.
Daniel Betts, RPSGT, CCSH, supervisor, Center for Sleep Disorders, Community Medical Center, says the majority of patients with sleep apnea are overweight.
“Sleep helps maintain a healthy balance of the hormones that make people feel hungry (ghrelin) or full (leptin). When people don’t get enough sleep, they are hungrier. This is because the ghrelin level increases and the leptin level decreases.”
The Center for Sleep Disorders conducts sleep studies to diagnose and determine the severity of sleep apnea, which may require an overnight stay. The study monitors functions during sleep such as eye movement, muscle activity, heart rate, airflow and blood oxygen levels. One highly effective treatment is continuous positive airway pressure device (CPAP), a mask that fits over the nose and/or mouth and blows air into the airway to keep it open during sleep. Sleep apnea often goes undiagnosed because it only occurs during sleep. During obstructive sleep apnea, the airway collapses or becomes blocked during sleep. This causes shallow breathing or pauses in breathingwhich can last from a few seconds up to 1-2 minutes to greater than 100 times an hour.
“Sleep apnea prevents restful sleep and is associated with high blood pressure and cardiac disease,” says neurologist and sleep medicine specialist Gerald Ferencz, MD, Medical Director, Center for Sleep Disorders, who is board certified in neurology and sleep medicine. “The goal is to get evaluated and treated before serious health issues come into play.”
Tom Roszel, a patient of Dr. Ferencz, describes his experience at the Center for Sleep Disorders as life changing. For years, Tom had many sleepless nights and saw his bed as the “enemy.” His weight issues, high blood pressure and poor diet led to a series of mini strokes. After undergoing two sleep tests at the Center, the Manchester resident was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. Results from the studies revealed he stopped breathing as much as 50 times per hour; five and lower is deemed acceptable.
Since using the CPAP for the past 1-1/2 years, Tom, 56, is finally getting a good night’s sleep. He no longer snores and is much healthier, too. This overall experience inspired Tom to make a lifestyle change. He watches what he eats and has already dropped 35 pounds. According to Dr. Ferencz, “Tom is on the right track working to control his sleep apnea. By using the CPAP and working to lose more weight he doesn’t need to worry about further health complications. By getting down to an ideal body mass index, his sleep apnea may disappear.”
Looking back, Tom says his biggest fear was having a stroke and being a burden to his family. Now, thanks to the Center for Sleep Disorders, he’s healthier and getting proper sleep.
“I look forward to bedtime – it’s no longer the enemy,” says Tom.
Warning signs of sleep complications:
- Exercise fatigue
- Waking up with a headache
- Memory loss/difficulty concentrating
- Waking up throughout the night
- Snoring, choking and gasping for air