This article appeared in the Tri-State Memorial Hospital Healthbeat Summer 2010 Newsletter.

Say “good night” and mean it

Saying that Noel Abbott keeps busy is an understatement. After retiring from the American Red Cross, Noel stays involved as the lieutenant governor for the Kiwanis Club, a volunteer for Meals on Wheels, and a volunteer for local and national disaster relief. He also travels, a lot.

It became more and more difficult for Noel to keep up with his activities, but not for lack of passion. He was too tired. After a full night’s sleep, Noel woke up still feeling tired. Every day, he had to make time in his busy schedule for a nap just to make it through.

Noel’s wife Jane finally said enough. She insisted Noel have a sleep study done at Tri-State Memorial Hospital, where he discovered he has sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea causes a person to stop breathing periodically during sleep – sometimes hundreds of times a night. Not only is a person with untreated sleep apnea not getting restful sleep, their brain and other organs aren’t getting enough oxygen.

“I was surprised to find out I stopped breathing at night,” Noel said.

Many people don’t realize they stop breathing and wake up throughout the night, but roughly 1 in 4 adults have sleep apnea.

Recent studies have found correlations between having sleep apnea to having type 2 diabetes, heart disease and uncontrolled high blood pressure.

The diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea will help control both blood sugar and high blood pressure. It will also give you increased energy that will help you keep up with a busy schedule, as well as with weight loss and diet.

If you are having unrefreshing sleep and daytime sleepiness, you may have sleep apnea or another common sleep disorder. Ask your primary physician about having a sleep study at Tri-State Memorial Hospital. Our Sleep Diagnostic Center has helped more than 1,000 people in our region sleep better and we’d love to help you, too.

Call the Sleep Diagnostic Center at 509.751.0223 for more information about sleep studies at Tri-State Memorial Hospital.