Indiana University Health Ball Memorial Sleep Disorders Center For Diagnosis and Treatment of Sleep Apnea and Other Sleep Disorders

Tuesday, March 29th, 2011 at 8:07 PM

Snoring is a common sign of sleep apnea, a disorder that increases the risk of high blood pressure, stroke and heart disease? Sleep apnea is the most common sleep disorder, affecting nearly 20 million Americans.

To address this problem, Indiana University Health Ball Memorial Hospital is expanding services for diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea and other sleep disorders. Last month, the IU Health Ball Memorial Sleep Disorders Center moved to 6004 Kilgore Ave. This new facility offers convenient parking and entry, new equipment, an innovative diagnostic computer system, and twice as many beds (an increase from six to 12) for diagnostic testing.

After being referred by their physicians, patients are asked to spend a night in one of the Sleep Disorders Center’s 12 rooms designed for optimal sleep comfort.

Each room has darkening shades, individual temperature controls and noise reduction barriers to encourage sleep. Patients are monitored with sensors that evaluate 16 different body functions including the heart, lungs, brain, muscle movements, air flow and blood oxygen level.

If you, or your partner, exhibit symptoms of sleep apnea or have other sleep-related issues, talk to your physician or contact Susan Taulbee, coordinator of the Sleep Disorders Center at the IU Health Ball Memorial Sleep Disorders Center at 751-2753, or visit iuhealth.org for more information.