Hunterdon Medical Center has just opened a Sleep Center at its Clinton Health Campus at 1738 Route 31 North. This is in addition to the Sleep Center at Hunterdon Medical Center in Flemington.

“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 and/or 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. This may include an overnight sleep study.

“During the study, technologists monitor oxygen levels, heart rate and rhythm, breathing, body movements, airflow and brain waves, all of which measure sleep quality and can detect sleep apnea,” says Ms. Kerschner.

For more information about sleep apnea, visit our website at www.hunterdonhealthcare.org or call 908-788-6392 (HMC) or 908-735-3939 (Clinton Health Campus).