What makes bears, bats and gophers different from people? They
know the value of sleep.
Fayette Community Hospital’s Sleep Diagnostic Laboratory
wants to educate Fayette citizens about the importance of sleep,
and is encouraging residents to follow Mother Nature’s lead
by adding more sleep to their schedules this fall and year-round.
As the season’s transition and the time falls back an hour,
some animals will go into a prolonged period of rest, or hibernation,
unlike humans. More than 60 percent of American adults consistently
fail to get the recommended eight hours of sleep each night,
according to the National Sleep Foundation. The results of prolonged
sleep deprivation can be devastating.
“Even occasional sleeping problems can make daily life
more stressful or cause you to be less productive. Insufficient
sleep also can be extremely dangerous, leading to serious or
even fatal accidents,” said George Leslie, director of Fayette
Community Hospital’s Cardiopulmonary Services. “Adequate
sleep is essential for good health, and mental and emotional
functioning.”
Fayette Community Hospital opened its Sleep Diagnostic Laboratory
last December. The Lab evaluates adult and pediatric patients
suffering from excessive daytime sleepiness, difficulty falling
and/or staying asleep, snoring and other sleep-related conditions.
One out of every four Americans suffers from a sleep disorder,
the NSF reports. About 4 percent have chronic sleep apnea, a
potentially fatal condition that disrupts breathing during sleep. Other
common problems include insomnia, narcolepsy and periodic limb
movement in sleep.
“As Fayette citizens reset their clocks, back one hour,
we hope they will evaluate their sleeping habits and make the
necessary changes that will lead to a healthy and productive
lifestyle,” said Leslie.
Fayette Community Hospital evaluates sleep disorder patients
every night of the week. The Lab recently added two additional
evaluation beds and is now capable of seeing four patients each
night. Sleep studies require a physician referral. Talk to your
doctor if you are experiencing problems related to sleep. For
more information about Fayette Community Hospital’s Sleep
Lab, please call 770-719-6918. For a referral to a sleep specialist
at FCH, call 1-866-900-4321.
