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Newman Regional Health Sleep Disorder Center unites your provider with treatments
Better Sleep-Better Health: Getting tested and treated in Emporia
Sleep Apnea is characterized by several key symptoms that can significantly impact on your quality of life. The most prominent symptom is loud, chronic snoring, often accompanied by gasping or choking sounds during sleep, as breathing repeatedly stops and starts. Additional symptoms may include experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, and morning headaches due to disrupted sleep and reduced oxygen levels. If you or a loved one is waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat, restless sleep, and frequent nighttime awakenings sleep apnea may be a cause. Professional and quality diagnoses should be sought.
How to Get Tested
Signs or symptoms include:
- loud or disruptive snoring
- excessive daytime sleepiness
- hypertension
- choking or gasping while you sleep
- morning headaches
- trouble staying asleep
- trouble concentrating
- irritability
- forgetfulness
- unexplained sleepiness
- mood swings
- personality changes
- feelings of depression
- waking up often during the night to use the restroom
- dry mouth and sore throat.
Sleep studies begin with your Primary Care Provider. A discussion about your symptoms is essential. Talk with your bedpartner about symptoms they may have witnessed since many patients are unaware of their sleep habits.
You may wish to set an appointment with your provider based on your symptoms, or you can initiate the conversation during a regular appointment. The Sleep Disorders Center works with providers across our region including cardiologist and neurologist.
If appropriate, your provider will refer you for a sleep study, which is then reviewed by Dr. Victor Salloum, a board-certified sleep specialist and pulmonologist who serves as the Medical Director of the Newman Regional Health Sleep Disorders Center. His diagnosis will guide your treatment plan.
Once approvals are obtained, the sleep center will contact you to schedule either an in-lab or home sleep test. Many patients undergo the Home Sleep Apnea Test (HSAT) that is a diagnostic tool used to evaluate sleep-disordered breathing, primarily obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), in the comfort of a patient’s home.
Some patients are best suited for an in-lab polysomnography (PSG), which is the gold standard for diagnosing sleep disorders. If you have complex medical conditions (e.g., heart failure, COPD, or severe insomnia) or suspected non-apnea sleep disorders an in-lab test is prescribed. Untreated OSA can lead to serious health issues like hypertension, heart disease, or stroke.
After the Test
Following the test and review by Dr. Salloum, you’ll meet with your provider to discuss the results and potential treatment options.
CPAP as a Treatment Option
One of the most common treatments for sleep apnea is the CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine. It helps keep airways open during sleep, ensuring sufficient oxygen intake. CPAP therapy can significantly improve sleep quality and reduce risks for serious health conditions like heart disease and stroke.
CPAP equipment and supplies are available at Newman Medical Equipment, located on 12th Avenue adjacent to the hospital. It is the only provider in Emporia offering in-office visits.
Kevin Bonebrake, Sleep Therapy Specialist at Newman Medical Equipment, shares: “We work with providers across many disciplines—primary care, cardiology, neurology, and dentistry. We emphasize personal attention and customer service. Helping patients properly fit their masks, understand their equipment, and replace worn-out supplies is essential to treatment success.”
“We carry only the highest-quality equipment from trusted manufacturers like ResMed—quiet, portable, and reliable.”
The team also assists with insurance processes and educates patients on when to replace components such as hoses, masks, filters, and nasal pieces.
Get started
If you believe you could benefit from a sleep study, contact your Primary Care provider today.
Learn more: Newman Regional Health Sleep Disorders Center
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