Half of all Americans suffer from sleeplessness at some point in their lives, many of them chronically, according to a Gallup Poll conducted for the National Sleep Foundation.

Morris Chang, MD, a board certified sleep specialist and Medical Director of the Sleep Disorder Center at Auburn Regional Medical Center (ARMC), says most adults need about eight hours of sleep each night to function well during the day.

What happens when we skimp on sleep?

For starters, the National Sleep Foundation reports that fatigue contributes to more than 100,000 police-reported highway crashes each year in the United States.

"When we deny our sleep needs or suffer from sleep disorders, we may develop daytime drowsiness and forgetfulness, and depending on the circumstances, further long-term medical consequences may develop as well, including high blood pressure and heart failure," says Dr. Chang.

The sleep specialists at ARMC's multidisciplinary Sleep Disorder Center treat a variety of sleep conditions, including:

• Sleep apnea -- interrupted breathing during sleep
• Narcolepsy -- excessive daytime sleepiness
• Restless leg syndrome -- unpleasant sensations in the legs,
  especially at night
• Insomnia -- difficulty falling asleep

Accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the Sleep Disorder Center provides patients with a full medical examination and, if needed, an overnight diagnostic study to observe sleep patterns. The study is conducted in the Sleep Disorder Center, which recently moved to a new location on the hospital's third floor. In its new setting, the Sleep Disorder Center has expanded to four beds and contains advanced diagnostic and therapeutic apparatus, yet it is designed to offer a nonclinical, homelike setting.

"We have all of the latest equipment currently available for sleep medicine studies, but we balance that technology with a personalized environment that makes each patient feel special," says Cathy Zundel, Manager of Respiratory Therapy and the Sleep Disorder Center at Auburn Regional Medical Center.

After analyzing a patient's lab results, sleep specialists can suggest a number of treatment options, including CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure), a mask worn over the nose that helps a person with sleep apnea breathe more easily at night.

"Our primary goal is to help people sleep better," says Dr. Chang. "After receiving treatment at the Sleep Disorder Center, patients can't believe how much better they feel and how their quality of life has improved."

To learn more about sleep disorders, call the Sleep Disorder Center at Auburn Regional Medical Center at 253-804-2809.

For more information, visit www.auburnregional.com and click on Health Information on the left side of the page. At the top of the page use the Quick Search By Topic pull-down list and scroll down to Snoring.

Also, try the American Academy of Sleep Medicine at www.aasmnet.org or 708-492-0930, or the National Sleep Foundation at www.sleepfoundation.org or 202-347-3471.

Watch What You Drink
The National Center on Sleep Disorders Research of the National Institutes of Health says you should watch what you drink if you want a good night's sleep.

• Alcohol. Although some people use alcohol to fall asleep, it actually causes sleep disruption during the night.
• Caffeine. Whether consumed in coffee, tea, soft drinks or medications, caffeine stays in the body anywhere from three to seven hours. That means it can disrupt nighttime sleep even if it is ingested during the day.

202 North Division St., Auburn, WA 98001 (253) 833-7711, FAX: (253) 939-2376