Chris Page

Daytime sleepiness, impaired alertness and anxiety are all common signs of sleep apnea.

But for Chris Page, it was the accommodation of his family that motivated him to turn to Archbold’s Sleep Center for help.

“Over a period of time I began to snore,” said Page. “Progressively it became worse—so much to the point no one could sleep around me.”

For the avid church softball player and busy father of three, lack of rest finally caught up with him—and his family.

At the urging of his wife he finally made an appointment for a sleep study.

Sleep studies at Archbold are performed in a private bedroom at the hospital designed to reflect a feeling as close to home as possible.

Patients are continuously monitored overnight by a technologist with special training in sleep diagnostics. A physician and board certified sleep specialist interprets the study, and once the findings are complete, the final report is reviewed with the patient.

“The study determined that I actually stop breathing in my sleep,” said Page.

Sleep apnea is a common problem that is often treated with a CPAP machine. While sleeping, the area at the back of the throat sometimes narrows, and the amount of air passing through this smaller opening can cause the tissues surrounding the opening to vibrate, which in turn can cause the sounds of snoring. Sleep-disordered breathing is also associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, high blood pressure, arrhythmia and diabetes.

The CPAP machine increases air pressure in the throat so that the airway does not collapse when a person breathes in, thus alleviating the sounds of snoring.

 The machine helps Chris breathe more easily during sleep.

 “After only a couple nights sleeping with the machine, I could really tell a difference,” said Page. “My family being able to rest was most important to me, but the sudden burst of energy was definitely a bonus. I didn’t realize how tired I was until I started resting better.”