 For
many, the thought of sleeping in a lab rouses the vision of
bleach-white walls. Alan Cunningham knows people about to undergo a
sleep study tend to be afraid, but as the Director of the Lee
Memorial Health System Sleep Disorders Center, he knows sleeping in
his lab feels less like a hospital and more like a hotel.
“Here, you have a private room, a queen size bed, a flat-screen TV,
your own thermostat, your own bathroom,” Alan says. “We serve you
food when you’re hungry, just like room service. You don’t feel like
you’re under a microscope, you feel like you’re in a hotel.”The
American Sleep Apnea Association reports sleep apnea has become as
common as adult diabetes, affecting more than 12 million Americans.
The Greek word “apnea” literally means “without breath,” and those
suffering from sleep apnea may
quit breathing as many as 800 times a night, says Alan. “When your
airway closes off, you can’t breathe, and you wake up gasping for
air,” he adds.
Such fragmented sleep can cause inability to focus, memory
problems, weight gain, headaches, increased blood pressure and a
poor immune system, not to mention job impairment. “When you look
back at big oil spills or major news events, many were caused by
sleep deprivation at the wheel,” says Alan, a registered respiratory
therapist. “People who are sleep deprived know how disruptive
inadequate sleep can be, because they crave it throughout their
day-to-day routine.”
So if your doctor orders a sleep analysis, bring your favorite
pillow or a good book, and know a few lightweight wires will monitor
your brain, your heart and your breathing pattern,
all to bring you closer to a good night’s sleep. Plus, there will be
breakfast in the morning.
To learn more about the Sleep Center,
click here.
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