BCHHC

Contact Us:
Phone: 402-223-6566

Sleep is Essential for a Healthy Life

Sleep is essential for normal, healthy function.
In February 2016, results of a study released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicated more than a third of American adults are not getting enough sleep on a regular basis.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, about 40 million people in the United States suffer from chronic long-term sleep disorders each year and an additional 20 million people experience occasional sleep problems.

In addition to becoming accident-prone, the cumulative long-term effects of sleep loss and sleep disorders have been associated with a wide range of health consequences, including an increased risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, depression, heart attack, and stroke.

In most cases, sleep disorders can be easily managed once they are properly diagnosed. Talk with your doctor about a sleep study, or call our Sleep Center for more information at 402-223-6566.

Medical Director

The lab's medical director is Dr. Timothy Lieske. Lieske is board certified in sleep medicine.

Services

Our Sleep Center program can diagnose and treat sleep conditions including:

• Insomnia
• Periodic Limb Movement Disorder
• Sleep Apnea
• Heart Arrhythmia Detection
• Snoring
• Seizure Disorder
• Sleepwalking/Talking
• Respiratory Disorder
• REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

What Happens in a Sleep Test

To receive a diagnosis and treatment recommendation for a sleep disorder, patients come to the hospital for an overnight stay. During your stay, sleep recordings are performed in a comfortable, home-like setting featuring a queen-sized bed, flat-screen television and a private environment away from other patients and staff in the hospital.

Throughout the night, a sleep technologist monitors testing progress from an adjoining control room and is available to respond to the patient's needs during the testing process.

Accreditation

Our Sleep Center is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care.

Epworth Sleepiness Scale

How Tired Are You?

The Epworth Sleepiness Scale is used to determine the level of daytime sleepiness. A score of 10 or more is considered sleepy. A score of 18 or more is very sleepy. If you score 10 or more on this test, you should consider whether you are obtaining adequate sleep, need to improve your sleep hygiene and/or need to see a sleep specialist. These issues should be discussed with your primary care provider.

Use the following scale to choose the most appropriate number for each situation:

0 = would never doze or sleep

1 = slight chance of dozing or sleeping

2 = moderate chance of dozing or sleeping

3 = high chance of dozing or sleeping

Fill in your answers and see where you stand.

Situation

Chance of Dozing or Sleeping while:

Sitting and reading ____

Watching TV ____

Sitting inactive in a public place ____

As a passenger in a car for an hour without a break ____

Lying down to rest in the afternoon when circumstances permit____

Sittng and talking to someone ___

Sitting quietly after lunch without alcohol ____

In a car, while stopped for a few minutes in traffic ____

Total score (add the scores up) (This is your Epworth score) ____

Links

Links to more information on sleep disorders

National Institutes of Health
http://health.nih.gov/topic/SleepDisorders

National Sleep Foundation
http://www.sleepfoundation.org/