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Stopping Sleep Disorders
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How important is a good night’s sleep? Medical experts say too little sleep can lead to obesity and many serious health problems. But one hospital is making a specialty of helping patients get the rest they need. Reed Galin reports. |
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SCRIPT:
(Locator: Mansfield, Texas)Kamita Harris, Registered Sleep Technician: “You also will have a snore mike on you tonight.”
For Kurt Howse, tossing and turning at night doesn’t make for sweet dreams.
Kurt Howse, Sleep Clinic Patient: “I couldn’t stay awake, even at my doctors’ appointments.”
He sought medical care as drowsiness started affecting his daily life—and his job.
Kurt Howse, Sleep Clinic Patient: “If I wasn’t really engaged in something, I started to get a little bit drowsy again driving. Sometimes, I drive a lot for work, so I was very concerned with that.”
A new clinic at Methodist Mansfield Hospital near Dallas offers the latest help for sleep disorders.
Kamita Harris, Registered Sleep Technician: “We’re going to be monitoring chin movement to see if you have teeth grinding.”
Doctors say a good night’s rest is a sign of good health, and sometimes a lack of shuteye is a wake-up call.
Laura Irvine, President, Methodist Mansfield Medical Center: “There can be heart issues, sleep apnea, just a lot of related health risk.”
Dr. Robert McMichael, Medical Director, Methodist Mansfield Medical Center: “After about age 50, the muscles in the upper airway lose some of their tone and they may not keep the airway open at night. So, age is a risk factor.”
Kurt Howse, Sleep Clinic Patient: “Me and my friends, getting older and a little bit heavier, and thicker in the neck. I think there’s a lot of people that may not notice that they do have problems.”
With advice from the sleep clinic, Howse hopes to get back to sleeping the six to nine hours a night recommended for a healthy adult.
Kamita Harris, Registered Sleep Technician: “The brain is indicating that the patient is in stage REM.”
And experts say there is no substitute for a good night’s sleep.
Kamita Harris, Registered Sleep Technician: “I do believe that we live in a world where patients or people are very sleep-deprived. It can make a big difference in how you function in day to day life.”
TAG:
An estimated 70 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders. Experts at the Methodist Mansfield hospital say sleep apnea is the number one problem they see among patients.
For more information, contact the Methodist Mansfield Sleep Diagnostic Center at 682-622-2000.
Also, see: Methodist center diagnoses sleep disorders
Posted: Jan. 7, 2009