Get hooked up at home: Banner Medical Group offers easy Home Sleep Study to detect sleep apnea

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Mar 02, 2015, 02:57 ET

GREELEY, Colo., March 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a serious health risk that affects millions of people in this country. Are you a sufferer? For a person to be diagnosed with this medical condition, they usually have to complete an in-lab sleep study. But now, Banner Medical Group (BMG) is offering a second and more convenient option: a Home Sleep Study.

"Banner Medical Group's Home Sleep Study is part of a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment program for those individuals already suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnea or who are at risk," said Banner Medical Group Sleep Expert David Kukafka, MD. "Our cost-effective program not only offers convenience for our patients, but also state-of-the-art equipment and an individualized treatment plan where we follow up closely with the patient and provide long term after care."

Obstructive Sleep Apnea, or OSA, is serious because it not only robs your body of the sleep it needs every night, but can eventually lead to major health issues including increased blood pressure, weight gain and even stroke. OSA occurs when your breathing is interrupted during sleep, sometimes for longer than 10 seconds. Your breathing stops because something is blocking your airway.

Some of the more common symptoms of OSA include:

Snoring
Morning headache
Feeling unrested throughout the day
Easily irritated
Depression and/or panic attacks
Difficulty remembering things and maintaining attention
Low energy level
Decreased ability to handle stress
Heartburn

While in some cases, an in-laboratory sleep study may be needed to detect OSA, most patients can now take a Home Sleep Study in the convenience of their own bed to determine if they suffer from OSA. The Home Sleep Study device is easy to use, requiring very little set up. The patient gets the equipment needed at their own home and applies a probe to their finger, in their nose and a band around their chest. Once the test is completed, results from the study are then given to a BMG sleep specialist who meets with the patient to go over results and devise the best individual treatment plan if one is needed.

If a patient needs treatment, the physician may prescribe a continuous positive airway pressure machine (CPAP) where the patient wears a face mask to open their airways, helping them breathe easier. The other option for treatment may be a dental appliance.

If you think you or a loved one may be suffering from OSA, consider scheduling a sleep study appointment at with a BMG sleep specialist at either their Loveland or Greeley locations. Call toll free at 1-844-221-0886 or visit www.BannerHealth.com/NoCoSleep for more information.

About Banner Medical Group (BMG)
Banner Medical Group (BMG), Banner Health's employed provider group, is a team of more than 1,300 physicians and advanced practitioners and more than 3,500 total employees located in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming. BMG providers serve patients in a variety of care settings. BMG primary care providers like pediatricians, internists, family medicine physicians and obstetrician/gynecologists staff Banner Health Clinics and Banner Health Centers, and BMG specialists care for patients in both clinic and hospital settings. For more information, visit www.BannerHealth.com/bmg.