"Untreated sleep apnea can cause highblood pressure and other cardiovascular disease, memory problems, weight gain, impotence, and headaches. But fortunately, it is treatable" - Joanne Getsy, M.D.

You've heard the complaints from your partner. Your loud snoring is keeping her up at night. Maybe you've been wondering why you're so tired and cranky during the day. Perhaps you can't stand the thought of another night lying in bed unable to fall asleep. These could all be signs of a serious sleep disorder. More than 60 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders including sleep apnea, insomnia, restless legs syndrome, and narcolepsy. Left untreated, these conditions can lead to health problems and daytime sleepiness. The sleepiness during the day can trigger accidents, loss of productivity, and trouble in your relationships.

But don't panic. An occasional sleep disturbance is usually nothing to worry about. So when should you be concerned?

"Everyone has a hard time falling asleep once in awhile," says sleep specialist Joanne Getsy, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine at Drexel University College of Medicine and Medical Director of the Drexel Sleep Center of Manayunk. "But when a person is consistently tired or noticing other changes in his or her health, it's really important they see a doctor who can determine if they have a sleep disorder."

One sleep disorder in particular is gaining more attention these days. It's called sleep apnea, and it's as common as adult diabetes, affecting more than twelve million Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health. Yet the vast majority of sufferers remain undiagnosed and therefore untreated, even though help is out there.

Apnea comes from the Greek word meaning "without breath," and that's exactly what happens to people with this condition – they literally stop breathing during their sleep, sometimes hundreds of times each night and often for a minute or longer.

There are three types of apnea: obstructive, central, and mixed. Of the three, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common. OSA is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses and closes during sleep. Risk factors include being male, overweight, and over the age or forty, but sleep apnea can strike anyone at any age, even children.

"Untreated, sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease, memory problems, weight gain, impotence, and headaches," says Dr. Getsy. "But fortunately, it is treatable."

In fact, most sleep disorders are treatable once they're diagnosed. The Drexel Sleep Center, located on Shurs Lane in Manayunk, is equipped with state-of-the-art testing equipment to monitor a person's brain waves, muscle tension, eye movement, respiration, oxygen level in the blood, and sounds like snoring and gasping. The tests are conducted in overnight sleep studies and are painless and usually covered by insurance.

The key, according to Dr. Getsy, is getting that diagnosis. "It's really crucial that a patient see a sleep specialist who can determine what's wrong and get that patient help. You'd be amazed how a person's quality of life improves once they’re getting treatment."

For more information or to make an appointment, contact the Drexel Sleep Center at Manayunk at 215-482-0899.