An occasional night of restlessness isn't unusual. However, long-term sleep
problems have become an epidemic. To address this growing problem, KDMC
launched the region’s first Sleep Medicine program in 1985. Since
then, we’ve helped thousands of patients with safe, effective treatment
for sleep disorders ranging from apnea to insomnia and narcolepsy.
Symptoms and Risk Factors
50-70 million people have sleep disorders in the United States. 25 million
people suffer from sleep apnea. Yet, approximately 80% of sleep apnea
cases remain undiagnosed. If left untreated, sleep disorders can lead
to high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, heart arrhythmia, type
2 diabetes, stroke, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Common symptoms of sleep disorders include:
Loud or frequent snoring
Pauses in breathing
Choking or gasping
Daytime sleepiness or fatigue
Unrefreshing sleep
Insomnia
Morning headaches
Nocturia
Difficulty concentrating
Memory loss
Decreased sexual desire
Irritability
Common risk factors include:
Excess weight - your risk for sleep apnea is higher if you are overweight with a body
mass index (BMI) of 25 or more or obese with a BMI of 30 or higher
Large neck size - 17 inches or more for men, or 16 inches or more for women
Middle age
Gender – men are two to three times more likely to have sleep apnea than women
Hypertension – extremely common in people who have sleep apnea
Family history of sleep apnea
Medical conditions - People with hypertension, congenital heart failure, type 2 diabetes,
Parkinson's disease, hormonal disorders, prior stroke and/or chronic lung
diseases are at an increased risk
Sleep Health Risk Assessment
We are pleased to now offer a free online health risk assessment to help
you learn more about your sleep habits and ways you can reduce your risk
of a sleep disorder.
Click here to take our Sleep Health Risk Assessment and learn about other free HRAs
offered by King's Daughters.
Sleep Studies
Sleep studies are performed in private, comfortable, home-like rooms, usually
between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. During a sleep study, tiny electrodes are attached
to the patient's skin. These sensors record heart rate, breathing, oxygen
level and brain waves. Pulmonologists will then interpret test results
and recommend treatment if a sleep disorder is discovered. Sleep studies
are performed in our Ashland, Ky., and Portsmouth, Ohio, locations.
A physician order is required for a sleep study. For more information,
talk to your primary care provider or give us a call at (606) 408-1699.
