January 19, 2007

BIGFORK VALLEY NEWS RELEASE

BIGFORK VALLEY OFFERS SLEEP STUDIES

Do others tell you that you snore, stop breathing or gasp for air during the night? Do you feel drowsy during the day even if you think you have gotten a full night of sleep?

"Quality of sleep can make all the difference in the quality of life," explained Nancy Probst, Director of Patient Care Services at Bigfork Valley. "We felt it was important to offer the means to diagnose sleep problems and suggest options for treatment that was both close to home and available without a long wait time."

Far from just an annoyance, sleep disorders can lead to serious health problems. Sleep apnea, where breathing stops periodically during the night, is also a condition as widespread as adult diabetes and affects over 12 million Americans, according to data from the National Institutes of Health.

In cooperation with Winmar Diagnostics of Fargo, N.D., Bigfork Valley is now offering sleep studies at its Bigfork campus. Using state of the art diagnostic equipment, sleep patterns are evaluated in an overnight stay on referral from a patient's primary physician. Based on these results, one of a number of treatment options might be suggested.

"We are happy to bring this important health tool to our area," said Dan Odegaard, CEO. "This is a service that can really make a difference to our patients."