The Sleep Center at Hill Regional Hospital

By Sandra Sheffield, CRT RCP, Manager of Respiratory Therapy and Sleep Lab


Well, first, who’s UP with that is probably your spouse! Because of your loud snoring!

Sleep apnea refers to non breathing episodes during sleep. Loud habitual snoring accompanied by gasping, choking, and pauses in breathing can indicate sleep apnea. This is a potentially life-threatening condition that does not allow the patient to receive enough oxygen during sleep. If untreated, this can result in excessive daytime sleepiness, high blood pressure, heart failure and stroke!

The symptoms of sleep apnea can include:

  • Loud irregular snoring, gasping for breath, sudden body movements

  • Excessive sweating during sleep

  • Irregular pounding of the heart upon awakening

  • Daytime sleepiness

  • Complaints of less restful sleep

  • Obesity

  • Confusion or brief memory loss upon awakening

  • High blood pressure

  • Impotence

  • Personality changes



What causes sleep apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea (the most common type of sleep apnea) is caused by relaxation of the upper airway muscles during sleep, and subsequent blockage of the airway by the tonsils, uvula, or fatty tissue. This can lead to serious consequences if the condition is not corrected.

Those gentle – or not so gentle – pokes from the loved one sleeping next to you is urging you to get help. Hill Regional Hospital can help with that and turn those pokes into gentle love pats.



Introducing – The Sleep Center at Hill Regional Hospital.

Our Center incorporates technologically advanced monitoring and diagnostic equipment to help get to the bottom of sleep apnea and other sleep conditions.

For added comfort and convenience for our patients, the Sleep Center features comfortable rooms, convenient parking, an accessible location, very prompt scheduling, and rapid turnaround of analysis and interpretation.

So let us hook you up for more restful sleep. Once your apnea is diagnosed and evaluated, we can know what options – yes, you have options - are best for you to have sweet dreams, not nightmares.


If you have questions, please contact Respiratory Therapy, at 254-580-8765.

New Sleep Center for Sleep Disorders at Hill Regional Hospital