Hunterdon Medical Center has just opened a Sleep Disorders Center in
the Clinton Health Campus located at 1738 Rte. 31 North in Clinton. This
is in addition to the Sleep Disorders Center at Hunterdon Medical Center
in Flemington. The Sleep Disorders Centers provides a state-of-the-art
program to monitor, evaluate and treat various sleep disorders in adults
and children, including obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, periodic
limb movements/restless legs syndrome, and insomnia.
"About 12 million Americans have Obstructive Sleep Apnea, a disorder
in which air flow is blocked in the upper airway during sleep," says
Tina Kerschner RRT, BS/BA, MBA, Director of the Sleep Center.
Individuals with sleep apnea awaken briefly during the night, usually
with a cough or gasp that opens their airway.
Loud snoring is a classic symptom of the condition. Risk factors
include: being overweight, having high blood pressure, having a
decreased size of airways in nose, throat or mouth. Left untreated,
sleep apnea can increase a person's risk of high blood pressure, heart
attack or stroke. Untreated sleep apnea can also increase the risk for
work-related or driving accidents.
Not surprisingly, people with sleep disorders often wake up in the
morning feeling exhausted instead of refreshed. Daytime drowsiness makes
it difficult to concentrate and can lead to forgetfulness and, over
time, even depression. Proper diagnosis can lead to effective
treatment.
Individuals referred to the Sleep Disorders Center will fill out a
detailed questionnaire covering their sleep habits and complaints. If
appropriate, a nighttime sleep study, or polysomnogram, will be
scheduled. "During a sleep study, a patient will spend the night under
observation. A skilled technologist will monitor oxygen levels, heart
rate and rhythm, breathing, body movements, air flow, and brain waves,
all of which reflect sleep quality," stated Tina Kerschner, RRT, BS,
BA, Director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Hunterdon Medical Center.
To learn more about the Sleep Disorders Center call 908-788-6392
(Hunterdon Medical Center) or 908-735-3939 (Clinton Health Campus).
Pictured: Lilly Decker, Sleep Disorders Technician, applies a full
face bipap mask to Walter White of Lebanon Township. The bipap mask is
used with a continuous positive airway pressure system that treats
obstructive sleep apnea.
Pictured: A room at the Sleep Disorders Center in the Clinton Health
Campus.
For more information, contact:
Hunterdon Medical Center
2100 Wescott Drive
Flemington, NJ 08822