6th Medical Group Sleep Lab

  • Published
  • By Nicole Siders
  • 6th Medical Operations Squadron
MacDoll AFB, Fl --  Do you often feel you need a nap before lunch? Do you frequently fight to get out of bed in the morning? If you answered yes to these questions, then it might be time to visit your primary care manager at the 6th Medical Group. The 6th MDG is pleased to announce the grand opening of a state-of-the-art-sleep lab. The sleep lab will be able to conduct eight comprehensive overnight sleep studies per week for diagnosis and treatment of various sleep disorders, as well as, Multiple Sleep Latency Testing to assist in the diagnosis of narcolepsy, a debilitating sleep condition. 

With sleep disorders affecting 15 percent of the U.S. population, the 6th MDG has made it even easier to seek treatment for sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, cessation of breathing for a period of time during sleep, restless leg syndrome, creepy crawly feeling in the legs, and narcolepsy, falling asleep during the day at inappropriate times, such as work or school. It is difficult to diagnose sleep disorders without undergoing a comprehensive sleep study. During sleep studies, a sleep technologist monitors the patient's brain activity, eye movements, muscle activity, breathing and heart rates, as well as the percentage of oxygen in the blood during sleep. This information assists the doctor in determining if the patient is suffering from a sleep disorder. 

An untreated sleep disorder can greatly affect a person's ability to perform their daily duties. Symptoms of morning headaches, snoring, inability to concentrate, excessive daytime sleepiness, as well as memory and learning difficulties are often overlooked by a patient and can seem a normal part of life. Excessive daytime sleepiness is one of the most common sleep symptoms that a patient experiences when suffering from a sleep disorder, but it is also one of the most deadly. According to the New Jersey Sleep Center, vehicular accidents are the third leading cause of death in the United States, and up to 20 percent of them are sleep disorder related. Untreated sleep apnea causes 500,000 vehicle accidents annually. 

If you feel that you might suffer from a sleep disorder, please schedule an appointment with your PCM to discuss your signs and symptoms. If your PCM deems it necessary, a referral will be generated, authorizing an evaluation and possible treatment with a sleep specialist. The demand is anticipated to be high, so be one of the first to contact your PCM and take the initial step to a better and safer you.