Sleeping disorders make it hard for some to catch ZZZs

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Dale Warfel of Geneva uses a machine, which is connected to a mask he must wear, to control his sleep apnea. (Sandy Bressner – sbressner@kcchronicle.com)

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Dale Warfel knew that he had a snoring problem.

“My wife was constantly complaining I was snoring and I would stop breathing,” said the 44-year-old Geneva resident.

Three years ago, Warfel decided to go through a sleep study at Delnor Hospital. Warfel was diagnosed with sleep apnea, a disorder affecting an estimated 18 million Americans, according to Wisconsin-based The Sleep Wellness Institute.

“I would wake up in the morning never feeling refreshed,” Warfel said.

People with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep.

Warfel is sleeping much better these days after receiving a sleep apnea machine following the diagnosis that he had a severe case of sleep apnea. At night, he will don a mask that is attached to the machine, which supplies enough air pressure to keep the airway in his throat from being blocked as he sleeps.

“I’m more awake now,” Warfel said. “I’m not groggy all the time.”

Sleep labs at Delnor Hospital in Geneva and Provena Mercy Medical Center in Aurora diagnose sleep disorders such as sleep apnea. Delnor’s sleep disorders clinic recently moved to its main campus on Randall Road in Geneva.

“Sleep apnea represents the bulk of sleep disorders I see,” said Dr. Sunil Desai, director of Delnor’s sleep disorders center.

Participants in Delnor’s sleep disorders center are made to feel at home. The center features four large private bedrooms with recliners and dressers and nightstands.

“We try to duplicate their environment as much as possible,” Desai said. “With third shift workers, we will do the study during the daytime if needed.”

During the sleep study, patients are examined for such factors as drops in oxygen levels as well as leg movements.

“We look at what is happening during sleep,” Desai said.

More than 100 million Americans have a hard time sleeping, according to The Sleep Wellness Institute. That doesn’t come as a surprise to Desai.

“We now live in a 24-hour society,” Desai said. “You could be awake and be busy 24 hours a day if you wanted to be. People tend to burn the candles at both ends.”

And only you can judge how much sleep you need a night.

“Eight hours a day is a good guideline,” Desai said. “But some people can function fine on five hours.”

Not getting enough sleep can cause significant problems, he said.

“Short-term memory decreases with not enough sleep,” he said. “Sleep apnea may contribute to high blood pressure. Getting better quality sleep will improve daytime functions across the board.”

Provena Mercy Medical Center in Aurora from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday will present the lecture, “The ABCs of getting your ZZZZZs.”

The lecture will be in the behavioral health services building at 1325 North Highland Ave., Aurora. One can register for the lecture by calling 1-866-776-8362.

Obstructive sleep apnea affects one in five people in the United States, Provena officials said. But up to 90 percent of those who suffer from sleep apnea are undiagnosed.

Those who attend the lecture will be given a tour of Provena Mercy’s sleep lab.

But there are things one can try before going through a sleep study to get a better night’s sleep.

“People should maintain a regular sleep schedule,” Desai said. “Exercise regularly. And limit caffeine to the morning hours.”

Tips to a good night's sleep:

• Maintain a regular sleep schedule and wake up at a regular time.

• Exercise regularly.

• Limit caffeine to the morning hours.

Source: Dr. Sunil Desai, director of Delnor Hospital's sleep disorders center

 

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