Sweetwater Medical

By Sweetwater Medical
BEACON BUSINESS BRIEF

posted May 4, 2010 - 10:32:42am

Are you told you snore at night?

Are you fatigued and tired during the day?

Do you have a thick neck or a history of hypertension?

If so, you may suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, a common but serious condition in which a person’s upper airway collapses during sleep. “Approximately 30 million Americans suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, and many don’t even realize they have it,” explained Lisa Jackson, a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) and Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT) with Sweetwater Medical Home Medical Equipment in DeLand. “They think they’re just snoring.”

People suffering from obstructive sleep apnea, called OSA, repeatedly stop breathing and wake suddenly many times each night, often with a big snore.

The interrupted sleep pattern causes reduced concentration, fatigue and depression.

The restricted air flow lowers blood oxygen levels, contributing to heart attacks and strokes.

If that weren’t enough, OSA has also been linked to other ailments such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and chronic headaches.

Additionally, patients with untreated OSA have higher health-care rates and spend almost three times as many days in the hospital per visit.

Patients who suspect they have OSA should ask their physician for an evaluation at an accredited sleep center, she explained.

Fortunately, there is a treatment for OSA that is 100 percent effective — CPAP, said Jackson.

If OSA is discovered, the patient may receive a prescription for a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) machine.

Both machines gently blow air into the patient’s airway through a comfortable mask as they sleep.

Almost immediately, OSA sufferers begin sleeping well and wake up refreshed.

Whether in Sweetwater’s Southwest DeLand office or in the patient’s home, Jackson helps OSA patients find the right equipment and masks, educates and encourages them, helps them to relax, to breathe deep, and to have sweet dreams once again.

In addition to respiratory products, Sweetwater Medical offers a full line of durable medical equipment for every need, as well as a friendly, professional staff, 24-hour service and free delivery. Visit 1611 S. State Road 15A, Suite 3, call (386) 822-9223 or visit www.sweetwatermedical.com

— vicki@beacononlinenews.com

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