Sunday’s start of daylight saving time threw the clock off by only an hour, but that’s enough to leave people feeling groggy for a day or two, sleep experts say.

More than 70 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders. Sleep is essential for physical and mental renewal, and long-term sleep difficulties can lead to serious medical problems.

This week is recognized as National Sleep Awareness Week, and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society recommend that adults aged 18–60 years sleep at least seven hours each night to promote optimal health and well-being.

However, 35 percent of U.S. adults report typically sleeping less than that recommended amount.  Adults who do not get enough sleep on a regular basis are more likely to suffer from chronic conditions, such as obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and poor mental health.

If you have ever wondered if there is help for you, or the person snoring loudly in bed next to you, we want to give you an opportunity to learn about some warning signs that indicate you may be suffering from an undiagnosed sleep condition.

On Tuesday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the hospital lobby area, health professionals will be on hand to help you with a Sleep Assessment Survey, as well as to provide information on what help may be available for you.

The event is free, and we invite you to take advantage of the free screening and to also pick up information on how to improve your sleep habits.

If you’ve ever wondered what a sleep study does and if it is right for you, you can learn about it on Tuesday as well and then follow up with your physician.

The sleep medicine team at Merit Health Natchez offers diagnostic and treatment options available to address your individual needs, and registered, specially trained technologists use multi-dimensional instrumentation to monitor and record sleeping functions such as brain waves, eye movement, breathing, oxygen level in the blood, electro-cardiogram and certain muscle group activity.

We offer complete nighttime polysomnographic testing (PSG), CPAP/BiPAP titration studies, and split-night studies in a home-like environment.

We offer diagnostic and treatment services for a wide range of sleep disorders, including:

• Chronic Snoring
• Insomnia
• Narcolepsy
• Pediatric sleep disorders, including night terrors and sleep walking
• Restless leg syndrome
• Sleep apnea

Remember, snoring could be more than just a nuisance to your partner; it can also be a sign of a serious health problem.  We invite you to stop by the hospital lobby on Tuesday, March 13 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to learn how you can sleep well tonight for a better tomorrow.

Help us as we highlight the importance of good sleep habits so you can best achieve your personal, family and professional goals.
Jimmy Dickey is a respiratory therapist and manager, the Sleep Lab at Merit Health Natchez.