Do you find you are often tired, even after a full night's sleep?
Obstructive sleep apnea is a serious breathing problem that interrupts your sleep. This results in poor sleep quality that makes you tired during the day. Sleep apnea is one of the leading causes of excessive daytime sleepiness. Another symptom can be snoring and pauses in your breathing while sleeping.
This month's Wellness Lunch and Learn is focusing on sleep apnea. Shaun Wojtowicz, owner of Chinook Respiratory Care, will be on campus Nov. 17 in TH277 to discuss symptoms, signs and treatment for sleep apnea. Make sure you come and check out this informative topic over the lunch hour.
Obstructive sleep apnea means you have short pauses in your breathing when you sleep. These breathing pauses – called apneas or apnea events – last for 10 to 30 seconds, maybe longer. People with obstructive sleep apnea can stop breathing dozens or hundreds of times each night.
If it's not treated, sleep apnea can lead to major health problems, accidents, and even early death. Thankfully, there are excellent treatments for obstructive sleep apnea.
Signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea:
• high blood pressure
• irritability, mood swings or depression
• gasping or choking during sleep
• tiredness or fatigue
• lack of concentration
• morning headaches
• memory problems/memory loss
• sexual dysfunction
The Women's Health Challenge (sponsored by Alberta Health Services Breast and Cervical Health program, Chinook Regional Hospital and Meyers Norris Penny) wrapped up at the end of October. A total of 30 women entered the challenge and have a chance to win a $100 gift certificate to the Keg. Thanks to all who had pap tests and mammograms from May 27 to Oct. 26 and good luck in the prize draw!
The Wellness Committee would like to thank all Life Balance Fair exhibitors, prize donors and especially participants that came out on Oct 21. Thanks also to AUPE, who donated $200 towards lunch. The Wii Sports Resort Game was won by Judy Jaeger, caretaking, and the Digital Camera (donated by Chinook Respiratory Care) was won by Chris Lastuka, Anthropology.
Prize winners and donors:
- Large First Aid Kit - donated by Blue Cross - Gwen Umeris
- Shopper's Gift Basket - Shopper's Drug Mart West - Pat Anderson
- Runner's Soul $50.00 Gift Card - Sharon Kanashiro
- Tickets to Opera Goes to the Movies - U of L Fine Arts - Brittanie Graham
- Tickets to Hay Fever - U of L Fine Arts - MaryAnne Hellinga
- Horns 10-game combo pass - U of L Sport and Rec Services - Aubrey Salloway and Chris Lastuka
- One-month facility membership - U of L Sport and Rec Services - Dirk Olsen
- Money Mentors one-hour session - Amanda Berg
- Mini first aid kits - Blue Cross - won by Kim Ordway, Barb Dudley, Judy Jaeger
- Aluminum water bottles - Blue Cross - Connie Chaplin, Betsy Greenlees
- Pedometers - Blue Cross - Doug Smith, Anita Salberg
- Fleece blanket in a bag - donated by Mercer - Louise Miller
- Water bottles - donated by Mercer - won by Katherine Wasiak, Sandra Wiest, Christine Groves, Charlene Sawatsky, Diane Layng
- Digital camera – donated by Chinook Respiratory Care – won by Chris Lastuka
Suzanne McIntosh, Wellness Co-ordinator