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Dreaming of a restful night’s sleep?
Identify sleep disorders at KRHC sleep lab

It isn’t uncommon for people to have a bad night’s sleep now and then, but ongoing issues with getting your zzzz’s may indicate a sleep disorder.  A sleep disorder can interrupt your regular sleep pattern and may bring about fatigue, irritability, depression, reduced attention, concentration and memory, greater frequency of illness, decreased productivity and other problems.

One fairly common disorder is sleep apnea, which occurs when a person stops breathing for a period of time while sleeping, then starts breathing again.  Since this happens when a person is sleeping, many people suffering from sleep apnea aren’t even aware they have it.  Two types of sleep apnea are obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.  Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the sleeper’s tongue, excess tissue or relaxed throat muscles block their airway.  The person’s breathing generally stops for 10 seconds to a minute and a half before the body struggles for air, waking the sleeper.  Even though the person may not remember it, this process may wake the person hundreds of times over the course of a night.

Central sleep apnea is more rare and generally affects adults over the age of 60.  With this type of disorder the brain forgets to send the message to the breathing muscles to move.  Eventually the lack of oxygen causes the brain to react by waking the sleeper, and breathing resumes.  Although the sleepers may recall waking up, they may not know the cause. 

Some common signs of sleep apnea are loud snoring followed by a long pause with no breath, then a short gasp or snort, restless movements during sleep, high blood pressure, headaches in the morning, impotence, problems with concentration and memory, and extreme tiredness and sleepiness.  If a person drinks alcohol or uses sleeping pills, it can make the disorder worse.  Sleep apnea can bring about other health risks such as irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.  The treatment for sleep apnea depends on the severity of the disorder. Some possible treatments include weight loss, change in sleeping position, medication, oral appliances or a mask that provides continuous airway pressure to keep the airway open.

If you or someone you know is experiencing the signs of sleep apnea, a night in the sleep lab could help them determine the problem and a course of action for treatment.  Kossuth Regional Health Center is partnering with Mercy Medical Center – North Iowa to host a sleep lab in Algona two nights a week beginning this spring.  Sleep center staff will talk with you (and possibly your sleeping partner if applicable) about your sleeping habits, lifestyle and health history.  You may need to spend a night in the sleep study room at KRHC to analyze your sleeping patterns, breathing and other issues that may be occurring while you rest.

Your physician will need to request a referral for the sleep lab.  To find out if you are a candidate for the sleep lab schedule an appointment with your health care provider, call Kossuth Regional Health Center at 515.295.7714 or contact the Mercy Medical Center sleep center at 800.433.3883 ext. 7728.

-Dar Elbert is the assistant administrator at Kossuth Regional Health Center