Crockett Hospital Opens Sleep Center

12/29/2011

Lawrenceburg, Tenn. – Crockett Hospital opened the Sleep Center at Crockett Hospital in late June 2011. The Sleep Center has two sleep labs available for sleep studies, and each is set-up to resemble a regular bedroom in one’s home. Undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea is causing needless suffering, said Trish Copeland, of the Sleep Center at Crockett Hospital. One of the goals of the staff is to educate the community about sleep apnea and other sleep disorders. 

“Serious sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, impact significant numbers of people,” she said. “And even more importantly, many people are unaware of the symptoms, risk factors for or serious complications that can result from untreated sleep disorders.”

Among the other facts Copeland wants to educate the public about include:

• Many patients are misdiagnosed with depression, who are actually suffering from the long-term effects of untreated sleep apnea.
• As many as twenty-five percent of people who have high blood pressure have sleep apnea.
• Patients with untreated sleep apnea are at increased risk for initial and recurrent heart attacks.

“Physicians have a high clinical suspicion about sleep apnea if they are treating a patient who is overweight, has high blood pressure, is fatigued, and is experiencing a decreasing ability to concentrate. Ordering a sleep evaluation should be considered. And, most certainly, anyone with an underlying history of heart disease should be evaluated as it significantly increases the risk if a recurrent heart attack.”

Additionally, the technology has improved tremendously, she said. “Sleep apnea is a very treatable disease, and patients see such tremendous benefits in their quality of life. The clinical benefits include reduction of the risk of heart attack and relief in symptoms.”

For more information, or a brochure from the Sleep Center at Crockett Hospital, call Trish Copeland at 931-766-3184.