Gò0dNews from the Physician’s Desk
H
Sleep in Heavenly Peace artley Bartley and his wife, Lacey, live on a farm
You are more at risk for sleep apnea if you are
in Crandall, Georgia. As a farmer and a welder,
overweight, male, have a family history of sleep apnea,
good health is very important. When Lacey
or have small airways. When your sleep is interrupted
alerted Harley to a possible health issue, he didn’t delay
throughout the night, you can become drowsy during
in seeking treatment.
the day. Because of this, people with sleep apnea are at a
“My wife encouraged me to go to doctor because of my snoring,” says Harley. “She had started sleeping in another room because it was so loud.
higher risk for car crashes and work-related accidents. “Left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to multiple health issues. From a preventative medicine standpoint, the condition should be screened with the same urgency as diabetes and high blood pressure,” says pulmonologist Erick Kimmerling, DO. Harley was prescribed a nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. A CPAP machine consists of a mask, a tube, and a continuous air pump. It sends a constant force of air through the patient’s nasal passages to prevent the airway from collapsing during sleep. “I feel so much better now,” says Harley. “I have more energy. I can tell a difference when I wear the CPAP and when I don’t.” Photo Credit: Arc Photography
“I suggested that he go see his primary care physician to find out if there was a solution,” says Lacey. Harley was referred to Hamilton Regional Sleep Center for
Do you think you or a loved one
has sleep apnea? Ask your primary care provider for a referral to Hamilton Regional Sleep Center. Hamilton Regional Sleep Center is accredited by the
an overnight sleep study. A sleep study consists of a test
Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) for
called a polysmonography, which records the electrical
sleep testing and sleep lab/center services.
activity of the brain, muscle activity, eye movement, heart
Hamilton Regional Sleep Center
rate, respiratory effort, airflow, and blood oxygen levels during sleep. Harley’s sleep study showed that he had obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is a common disorder that causes a person’s airway to collapse or become blocked during sleep. People with sleep apnea often snore loudly. However, not everyone who snores has sleep apnea.
44 // December 2020
706.278.4757 HamiltonHealth.com/sleep 1411 Chattanooga Avenue Dalton, Georgia
