Services
Smoking Cessation
If you are trying to quit smoking, here are some tips that can help:
1. Make a list of reasons to quit. Include in your list the financial and health rewards you will see once quitting. How much money will you save in a year by not buying cigarettes?
2. When you get an urge to smoke, wait 10 minutes. The urge, in most cases, will pass.
3. Change your habits. For instance, if you have to have a cigarette after eating, substitue your cigarette with a glass of water. Water helps to cleanse your system, plus it can help reduce your cravings.
4. Allow yourself you eat frequent, low calorie snacks to help with the cravings.
It takes on average 8-10 days of being smoke-free for the nicotine to leave the body's system. What can you expect during the first few days? You may feel moody, irritable, or even depresses. But the short term set backs reap long term benefits for you and your family. For more information on how to stop smoking and to get support, visit the web site of The American Lung Association.
Cardiopulmonary Services
The Summit Hospital Cardiopulmonary Services Department offers patients a chance for improved lung health. The trained staff of respiratory therapists educates patients on medication and equipment use related to their lung health. Other services offered include breathing excercises and pulmonary rehabilitation, pulmonary function testing, cardiac stress tests, blood gas analysis, EKG, EEG, and pulse oximetery testing.
Sleep Disorders Lab
If you suffer from a sleep disorder, the right treatment may give you the "rest" of your life. To take a FREE online sleep quiz, click here.
What is a Sleep Disorders Lab?
The goal of a Sleep Disorders Lab is to diagnose and treat patients with sleep-related disorders. The more common sleep disorders are apnea and narcolepsy. Some others are periodic leg movement during sleep, nightmares and walking and talking during sleep.
Experienced professionals at Summit Hospital provide high quality services in partnership with your physician and various specialists as needed to effectively treat your sleep disorder.
Common Sleep Disorders
Apnea
People who have apnea stop breathing during the night making it difficult to get enough oxygen. This disturbs sleep and can lead to a number of medical problems if left untreated. Sleep apneas may be caused by structures in the throat blocking the flow of air into the lungs during sleep or by the brain not sending the proper signals.
Narcolepsy
People who are too sleepy during the day and experience muscular weakness when they are angry, surprised or amused, may have narcolepsy. Some narcoleptics have terrifying dreams or hallucinations as they are about to fall asleep.
What Can Be Done About a Sleep Disorder?
Most sleep disorders can be effectively treated once accurately diagnosed. Some conditions may respond to medications while others may require a change in daily habits or work schedules. In the past, surgery was the only effective means of treatment. Today, most patients are treated without surgery. One example is the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (C-Pap) treatment. The patient wears a mask while sleeping which delivers pressurized air to keep the airway open and allows a more restful sleep.
What to Expect During an Evaluation at the Summit Hospital Sleep Disorders Lab
In most cases, you will spend one night as an outpatient to have a recording (polysomnogram) completed. Your study will be conducted in a private bedroom with sophisticated equipment for monitoring sleep patterns, breathing, heart activity and body movements throughout the night. No sedation is used for the procedure.
The patient normally arrives at 8:30 p.m. and leaves the following morning at approximately 6:30 a.m. This allows you to easily return to your normal daily routine.
If you suspect you have a sleep disorder, talk to your physician or call the Summit Hospital Sleep Disorders Lab at (225) 755-4811.
With successful sleep disorders treatment, you will:
- Get the rest you deserve
- Have less daytime drowsiness
- Be more alert
- Have improved memory
- Feel more motivated
- Perform better on the job
- Have an overall improved outlook on life
