Sleep Apnea Support Group Meets in Newman,Georgia

Tuesday, June 28th, 2011 at 4:37 PM

A recent study by the Center for Disease Control reveals that 29 percent of Americans get less than the recommended minimum of seven hours of sleep each night.

To raise awareness of the need for better sleep, Piedmont Newnan Hospital is teaming up with the American Sleep Association to establish a local Alert, Well, and Keeping Energetic (A.W.A.K.E.) support group.

The group’s first quarterly meeting is open to friends, family members and patients with sleep apnea and will be led by board-certified physician, Vijay Patel, M.D. “Understanding Sleep Apnea and its Treatment Options” will be held tonight at 6 at the Sleep Center located at 20 Francis Way, Suite 150 in Sharpsburg.

The A.W.A.K.E. network has been creating awareness about sleep apnea since 1990. Groups are located throughout the country in almost all 50 states that provide a learning environment about keeping yourself in a healthy state while suffering from sleep apnea. Meetings are coordinated and guest speakers are invited to these groups and topics may include advice on complying with CPAP therapy, legal issues affecting those with sleep apnea, weight loss and new research findings.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is something that some people have never heard of, but many people suffer from. It is estimated that 85 percent of Americans that have OSA are undiagnosed, and continuing to suffer from this disorder without proper medical attention can have severe medical repercussions.

OSA has been shown to be a primary factor in hypertension and is implicated in the development of cardiac arrhythmias. Other medical problems such as coronary artery disease, strokes, as well as other heart failure and cardiac issues can arise.

Being educated and proactive about this disorder is the primary goal of the A.W.A.K.E. networks. With the availability of these support groups, patients have a better understanding of their disorder and the steps they need to take to better themselves.

For more information about the American Sleep Association A.W.A.K.E. networks, visit sleepapnea.org

Also, for registration and more information about Piedmont Newnan Hospital’s A.W.A.K.E. group call Jennifer Morrow at 770-254-3289.