Why is sleep important to your health?
Scott Geisler, MD
Physicians’ Clinic of Iowa, P.C. and Eastern Iowa Sleep Center
A good night’s sleep can make or break a day. If we wake up feeling refreshed, relaxed and ready to go we feel like we can accomplish anything. A restless night can lead to difficulty concentrating, headaches and feelings of depression.
Lack of sleep may also cause or worsen an individual’s health. One potential cause of sleep problems may be sleep apnea. There are many people who have sleep apnea and don’t know they have it because it only occurs during sleep. A family member or bed partner may be the first to notice signs of sleep apnea.
The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea. This most often means the airway has collapsed or is blocked during sleep. The blockage may cause shallow breathing or breathing pauses.
Obstructive sleep apnea
"Not everyone who has trouble sleeping or snores has obstructive sleep apnea," said Scott Geisler, MD, Physicians’ Clinic of Iowa, P.C., and Eastern Iowa Sleep Center. "Individuals should consult their healthcare provider when their bed partner notices loud snoring, especially when it’s punctuated by periods of silence. Or if the individual is feeling chronically fatigued or experiencing excessive daytime drowsiness."
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) it’s estimated that more than 12 million American adults have sleep apnea.
"When the oxygen levels drop to dangerous levels the brain has to wake up and fix the problem, which disturbs someone’s sleep," said Dr. Geisler. "This helps open the airway and normal breathing starts again. The frequent drops in oxygen and reduced sleep trigger the release of adrenaline, stress hormones, which may raise the heart rate and increase your risk for heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure and diabetes."
Diagnosing sleep apnea
Doctors diagnose sleep apnea based on medical and family history, a physical exam and sleep study results.
If sleep apnea is diagnosed lifestyle changes, mouthpieces, breathing devices and/or surgery may be used for treatment.
"Once someone is diagnosed with sleep apnea it requires lifelong treatment," said Dr. Geisler. "The impact of a good
night’s sleep is huge. It’s very rewarding to have patients come back to me after we’ve addressed this and say ‘you know I had forgotten what a good night’s sleep feels like, thank you.’ So not only are they sleeping better but their overall health is better for it as well."
To learn more contact the Eastern Iowa Sleep Center at 319/362-4433.
Products to enhance sleep
St. Luke’s Home Care offers a variety of sleep products aimed at helping you get
a good night’s sleep. St. Luke’s Home Care has four registered respiratory therapists.
Our respiratory therapists work with patients to ensure they understand how to use their CPAP and BiPAP machines. St. Luke’s Home Care offers a 30-day mask exchange guarantee to ensure patients are fitted with a mask that is comfortable.
To learn more about St. Luke’s Home Care products and services call 319/369-8686.
