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14 CHI ST. JOSEPH HEALTH /// chistjoseph.org Too many people live with their schedules filled to the brim, making time a valuable and often scarce commodity. And while many of us may skimp on sleep to honor our commitments in life, the sacrifice of rest does come at a cost. "Living in a busy and demanding culture has consequences if you are not getting enough sleep," said John Childers, R.R.T., R.P.S.G.T., coordinator of the CHI St. Joseph Health Sleep Center. "Lack of rest can increase the risk of everything from anxiety and depression to hypertension and weight gain." But it's not just the number of hours you sleep that can impact your health. If your rest is disrupted by conditions such as periodic leg movement or sleep apnea, you may experience chronic grogginess day after day. "If you don't feel refreshed after a full night of sleep or if your bed partner complains about your snoring or tossing and turning, consider having a conversation with your healthcare provider," Childers said. "We can drill down to find the cause of the disruption and develop a strategy to enhance your rest." SLEEP SOLUTIONS The team at the Sleep Center has the equipment to conduct a variety of tests to determine the issue that is causing restless sleep. Ear, nose and throat specialists, neurologists, psychiatrists, pulmonologists, registered sleep technologists, respiratory therapists and other specialists work with patients to understand the cause of any disruption. "Typically, sleep disorders have a solution," Childers said. "Our goal is to identify what needs to be done to address the underlying problem and reduce the risk of illness that may result from sleep deprivation." The CHI St. Joseph Health Sleep Center is accredited by the Joint Commission and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Scott Spencer, M.D., leads the full-service, four-bed sleep center. Feeling fatigued? Talk with your primary care provider about the quality of your sleep. To find a provider, visit chistjoseph.org and select "Find a Doctor." Good Sleep Good Health Means Think sleep is a luxury? Think again. Adequate rest is critical to emotional and physical health. The Right Amount of Quality Rest You don't have to get a solid eight hours of shut-eye every night to be well rested. If four-hour blocks of snooze time suit your schedule better, feel free to mix up your rest periods. "Sleep cycles don't have to be continuous when you are working to get the seven to nine hours per night you need," said John Childers, R.R.T., R.P.S.G.T., Sleep Center coordinator with CHI St. Joseph Health. "Sometimes people do better with four-hour blocks that may include a nap. Before we had artificial lighting, human beings would take naps during the day, and that is still a practice people may prefer today."