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Fayette Health Notes
EVERYONE
has the occasional
night when sleep is less than ideal.
But if your occasional night of bad
sleep has turned into a routine
thing, then you may have a sleep
disorder. Some signs that you may
have a sleep disorder include:
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You regularly have trouble getting
to sleep or staying asleep.
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People say you snore or that you
gasp for breath when you sleep.
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You have a strong urge to move
your legs at night, or your legs tingle,
itch or ache at night.
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You wake up tired and can’t
function normally during the
day.
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Your fatigue lasts two weeks or
more.
If you have any of these signs,
talk to your doctor. At Fayette
County Memorial Hospital
(FCMH), our Sleep Laboratory
o ers patients comprehensive
sleep disorder services with
Pulmonary board-certi ed specialist
Robert Pickering, MD. e program
o ers consultations and follow-up
services for patients 12 years and
older.
Types of tests
A er you meet with your doctor,
he or she may order a sleep study.
According to the National Heart, Lung,
and Blood Institute, three tests are
commonly given at sleep centers. All
are painless and noninvasive, though
each requires at least several hours to
complete. At FCMH and many other
health care facilities, sleep studies are
done on an outpatient basis, meaning
you will not be admitted to the hospital.
At FCMH our sleep lab study rooms
are made up to look just like a home
bedroom so our patients can be as
comfortable as possible.
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Polysomnogram.
is overnight
exam is o en used to detect sleep
apnea, a common sleep disorder
characterized by pauses in breathing,
shallow breaths and snoring.
Several sensors are placed on your
head, face, chest, shoulders and legs.
As you sleep, the sensors record brain
activity, breathing, heart rate and
blood-oxygen levels. ey also record
chin, eye and leg movements. is
setup is painless and you may watch
television or read during the setup for
the procedure.
Having trouble sleeping?
We can help. Learn more
at
, or
call
740-333-3333
to
schedule a consultation
with Dr. Pickering.
In search of
FCMH’s Sleep Laboratory staff (from left)
includes Ron Dunn, MA, Doug Boedeker, RRT,
Mindy Conklin, RRT, and Robert Pickering, MD,
Sleep Specialist and Pulmonologist.
Sleep Laboratory staff member
Robin Johnson, RRT
