KDSN RADIO News
RELEASE: Manning Regional Healthcare Center Share Tips to Help You Get a Better Night’s Sleep
The amount of sleep you get every night affects your well-being, but the quality of your sleep
makes a difference too. According to the Centers for Disease Control, inadequate sleep doesn’t
just make you tired, it can increase the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, obesity
and depression.
“Not only does insufficient sleep put people at risk for chronic diseases, not getting enough
sleep also contributes to motor vehicle crashes and machinery-related injuries,” said MRHC
Registered and Certified Respiratory Therapist, Tina Gehling, RRT, RCP, EMT.
For those struggling to sleep, Gehling offers these tips for a more restful night:
=623; Stick to a sleep schedule
=623; Pay attention to what you eat and drink
=623; Create a restful environment
=623; Limit daytime naps
=623; Include physical activity in your daily routine
=623; Manage stress
=623; Know when to contact your doctor
Daylight savings will take effect on March 14 – causing all of us to “lose” an hour of sleep. But if
you are among those whose sleep continues to suffer, there may be a reason, other than the
time change, to blame.
“Nearly everyone has an occasional sleepless night — but if you often have trouble sleeping,
contact your doctor. Identifying and treating any underlying causes can help you get the better
sleep you deserve,” said Gehling.
If you are having trouble sleeping, repeatedly waking up in the middle of the night, waking up
not feeling rested or experiencing weight gain, obesity, or even snoring, it could be because of
your sleeping habits. In order to diagnose and treat sleep disorders, Manning Regional
Healthcare Center provides convenient sleep study options for patients. Testing can be
completed in one night with the ability for the patient to go to work immediately after the
study. Sleep studies can occur at MRHC or in the convenience of the patient’s own home.
As part of the exam at MRHC, patients will sleep in a comfortable, home-like room and
connected to monitors where staff can record brain wave activity, eye activity, heart rate, air
flow from the mouth, oxygen levels in the blood, body position and muscle movements. This data is then reviewed by a physician to provide an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan to
help increase sleep quality and quantity.
“While it can seem intimidating to be connected to monitors for one night, the good news is
that most sleep disorders are easily diagnosed and treated from just one study,” said Gehling.
One of the most common and potentially life-threatening sleep disorders that staff routinely
see is sleep apnea. Gehling notes this is a condition in which there is a delay in breathing that
can last for at least ten to 30 seconds during sleep. In severe cases, this can happen multiple
times a night without the individual noticing or waking up. As a result, sleep apnea has been
linked to heart attacks, heart arrhythmias and strokes.
“If left untreated, sleep apnea can be deadly,” said Gehling.
Some symptoms of sleep apnea include daytime sleepiness or fatigue, morning headaches,
frequent nighttime urination, loud snoring, irritability and more. Risk factors include family
history, neck circumference, large tonsils and age – among many others.
Sleep Apnea Questionnaire
Do you:
=623; Snore or have been told that you snore?
=623; Often get sleep in the daytime?
=623; Feel drowsy when driving?
=623; Wake up with morning headaches?
=623; Have frequent memory or judgement problems during the day?
=623; Experience frequent irritability during the day?
=623; Noticed or told you have a personality change?
=623; Wake up and/or make frequent trips to the bathroom during the night?
=623; Weight 20% or more than your ideal body weight?
=623; Have a neck size 17 inches or greater (male) or 16 inches are greater (female)?
=623; Have high blood pressure?
=623; Have a decrease in sexual drive?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, consult with your primary care provider about
scheduling a sleep study at Manning Regional Healthcare Center by calling (712) 655-2072.
