Albemarle Health Sleep Center
If you’re not sleeping well, you’re not the only one — approximately 40 million Americans suffer from some type of sleep disorder. And, although just about everyone has trouble falling asleep occasionally, it’s not normal to lay waiting for sleep, or toss and turn, for more than 30 minutes each night.
Daytime symptoms associated with a lack of quality sleep, include: tiredness, increased levels of stress or tension, trouble focusing, lack of energy, and irritability. If left untreated, sleep disorders can lead to depression, health problems, and even accidents caused by drowsy driving. Albemarle Health, local physicians, and Omega Sleep Centers (a multi-state leader in sleep center operations) have teamed up to bring state-of-the-art sleep medicine to northeastern North Carolina – the new Albemarle Health Sleep Center.
Our Sleep Center, located in Suite 8 of the Park and Village Medical Complex, at 110 Medical Drive, in Elizabeth City, has four plush bedrooms, dedicated exclusively to sleep studies. Each home-like room features a large comfortable bed, and access to a spacious bathroom and shower.
Medical Director for the center is Nancy Morewitz, M.D., of Albemarle Neurology Associates. She recently joined the Albemarle Hospital medical staff after moving from Hickory, NC, where she was director of the Catawba Valley Medical Center Sleep Medicine Center. Dr. Morewitz is board certified in Sleep Medicine, as well as Neurology.
Steven Manuli, M.D., of Albemarle Medical Associates, will serve as the center’s Operations Administrator. He joined Albemarle Hospital’s medical staff in 2002, and is board certified in Internal Medicine. Dr. Manuli will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the center, and will assure each study is completed to the highest clinical standards.
Through the use of our state of the art technology, our qualified sleep technicians can diagnose a variety of disorders in patients as they sleep. Some common sleep disorders include sleep apnea; insomnia; and Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS).
Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder, characterized by loud and frequent snoring, followed by a snort or gasp. Many people suffering from this condition actually stop breathing while they sleep; from as little as 10 seconds to as long as 1 minute before the body wakes itself trying to breathe. This interruption of the breathing cycle can occur hundreds of times each night, resulting in a poor quality of sleep, or even death in severe cases.
Insomnia is another typical sleep-related problem. Although just about everyone has trouble falling asleep every now and then, sleeplessness becomes insomnia if it happens repeatedly over time. If you regularly find it hard to fall asleep, can’t fall back to sleep after waking up in the night, or you wake up too early, you may have insomnia.
Restless Legs Syndrome is a neurological disorder that causes unpleasant sensations in the legs, such as pins and needles or creepy-crawlies, and an urge to move while resting. More than 12 million Americans are thought to suffer from RLS, and more than 80 percent of those also experience periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) — involuntary leg twitching or jerking movements during sleep. While RLS may make it very difficult to fall sleep, those suffering with PLMD also awaken frequently, and suffer through severely disrupted sleep.
Sleep studies are painless procedures that measure your sleep patterns. A patient’s body functions are monitored electronically, through sensors placed on the head and body; and they are observed and filmed as they sleep. Our highly trained and experienced sleep technicians record brain waves and sleep patterns, and then prepare a complete report for the patient’s physician.
If you believe you’re suffering from a sleep disorder, please talk to your physician about your symptoms. Then ask if a sleep study is right for you. A patient must be referred to the Albemarle Health Sleep Center by a physician. For more information, please call us at 252-384-2350.
Tips for a better night’s sleep:
- Go to bed only when you’re drowsy
- If you’re unable to fall asleep or stay asleep, leave your bedroom and engage in a quiet activity elsewhere — but, do not fall asleep outside the bedroom
- Maintain a regular wake-up time, even on the weekend
- Use the bedroom only for sleep and intimacy
- Avoid napping
- Distract you mind — try reading until you feel drowsy
- Avoid caffeine within six hours of bedtime
- Avoid the use of nicotine (from smoking, other forms of tobacco, or stop smoking medications) close to bedtime
- Do not drink alcohol within six hours of bedtime
- While a light snack before bed-time can help promote sound sleep, avoid large meals
- Get regular exercise —but avoid strenuous exercise within four hours of bedtime
- Minimize light, noise, and extremes in temperature in the bedroom
