Sleep restores our bodies and minds, and without it, we suffer. People who have sleep disorders may experience:               

·                          fatigue

·                          irritability

·                          depression, personality changes, mood swings

·                          reduced attention, concentration or memory

·                          frequent illness

·                          lost productivity

·                          car crashes

·                          weight gain

Local, retired school teacher, Karrolyn “Kay” Brown, could relate to the millions of fellow sleep deprived Americans because she too experienced chronic sleep problems for over a decade.

Brown recalls, “My husband and I both would snore excessively and exhibit very shallow breathing. Many times we would begin gasping for air as we slept, which would lead to repeated sleep disturbances throughout each night.”

These sleep disturbances caused Kay Brown to feel sleep deprived on a daily basis. She recalls the need for a short daily nap to allow for her to continue with her day to day activities. 

Solution to Sleepless Nights

A solution to Brown’s sleepless nights came through an invitation to attend South Texas Regional Medical Center’s March Health Woman Seminar. The seminar offered free sleep evaluations for those in attendance, followed by an informative presentation regarding local treatment options for diagnosed sleep disorders. 

Brown completed the sleep evaluation at the event, and was promptly notified by STR’s Sleep Center that she was an ideal candidate for a formal sleep diagnostic examination.

The sleep evaluation took place in one of the private diagnostic rooms at STR’s Sleep Center. The rooms are arranged and decorated to replicate cozy, bedroom settings to allow for the most comfortable patient environment possible. While each patient sleeps, cameras and monitoring systems methodically track their sleep behaviors.  In Brown’s case, the frequent sleep disturbances that she complained of for many years were diagnosed as sleep apnea. She was prescribed the use of a C-pap device to treat her condition on May 2, 2008.

Brown says, “The evaluation was great! I enjoyed the homelike atmosphere which made it so easy to be diagnosed.” Brown reports that condition improved dramatically after only six weeks of sleeping with her C-pap device. She says that she has experienced renewed energy and no longer needs naps to be able to function properly throughout her day.

If you suspect that a sleep disorder may be inhibiting your dreams of a restful night sleep, please call (830) 569-6000 to inquiry about your free sleep evaluation.