According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), poor sleep is linked to many serious medical conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, depression, obesity and cancer, all of which are prevalent among men and women in Eastern Kentucky. In fact, Kentucky is one of the most sleep-deprived states in the country, second only to West Virginia.

The Sleep Center at Pikeville Medical Center (PMC) is fully accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. It is staffed by a highly skilled and dedicated team of providers and sleep medicine professionals led by board-certified PMC Sleep Medicine Specialist David Carter. Dr. Carter’s experienced team includes a nurse practitioner, certified polysomnographic technologists, and respiratory therapists, who treat a wide range of sleep disorders together.

“So many people don’t realize the health benefits of getting enough sleep,” explained Dr. Carter. “Sleep health contributes to all aspects of a person’s health, and getting proper, restful sleep can help improve overall health as well as many other related medical conditions.”

Dr. Carter added that patients often don’t know they need a sleep study, and most are unaware of the benefits of having one when they arrive for their initial visit to the PMC Sleep Center. One of the most common symptoms patients seek help for is snoring. Others include morning headaches, being sluggish or tired, pauses in breathing during the night and difficulty focusing or concentrating during the day.

Patients experiencing these or other symptoms are encouraged to speak with their family practice provider and ask for a referral to the Sleep Center at Pikeville Medical Center.

Pikeville Medical Center (PMC) is committed to diagnosing and treating sleep disorders, which plague many adults across the region. The Sleep Center at PMC is committed to diagnosing and treating sleep disorders such as insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome and REM sleep behavior disorder, among other things that deprive patients of much-needed sleep.

“So many people don’t realize the health benefits of getting enough sleep,” explained PMC Sleep Medicine Specialist David Carter, DO. “Sleep health contributes to all aspects of a person’s health, and getting proper, restful sleep can help improve overall health as well as many other related medical conditions.”

When patients realize lack of sleep is beginning to interfere with work or other daytime activities, it may be time to undergo a sleep study or polysomnography. The Sleep Center at PMC and its dedicated staff provide a wide range of sleep medicine services including overnight sleep studies and at-home sleep studies.

Common Symptoms of Sleep Disorders

• Difficulty falling asleep or taking more than 30 minutes to fall asleep regularly.
• Trouble staying asleep through the night or frequently waking up in the middle of the night unable to fall back asleep.
• Snoring, gasping or choking during sleep.
• Feeling the need to move when relaxing, movement relieves this feeling.
• Feeling unable to move when waking up.
• Daytime sleepiness; frequent daytime naps or falling asleep while doing routine tasks.
• Behavioral changes like difficulty focusing or paying attention.
• Mood changes like irritability and trouble managing emotions.
• Difficulty meeting deadlines or performance expectations during school or work.
• Frequent accidents or falls.

Patients experiencing these symptoms should speak with their primary care provider and ask for a referral to the PMC Sleep Center for an evaluation. From there, Dr. Carter and his team will work with the patient to build an effective treatment plan.

To learn more about the PMC Sleep Center, call (606) 430-2209 or visit: https://www.pmcky.org/services/sleep-services/

In a recent survey from U.S. News and World Report, 43% of American adults experienced insomnia at some point in 2023. Lack of sleep is linked to many serious medical conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, depression, obesity and cancer, all of which are prevalent among Eastern Kentuckians.

The Sleep Center at Pikeville Medical Center (PMC) is staffed by a highly skilled and compassionate team of providers and sleep medicine professionals. The Sleep Center is led by David Carter, DO, a board-certified sleep medicine specialist supported by an experienced team including Savannah Mullins, APRN, certified polysomnographic technologists and respiratory therapists. Together, they treat various sleep disorders affecting patients from across the region.

Here are several ways to prioritize sleep in 2024:

1. Create a Bedtime Routine – Establishing a set time to go to bed can improve not just a person’s sleep patterns, but their overall health. A routine will teach the body when to sleep and when it should wake up. Once the decision is made, the key to success is consistency.
2. Exercise – When time is spent exercising during the day, studies show it is easier to fall asleep at night. Even 30 minutes of mild exercise per day can improve the quality of one’s sleep.
3. Cut Out Screen Time Before Bed – Research shows the majority of adults and even children use smartphones, tablets or other electronic devices within an hour of going to bed. These devices emit a blue light, which makes the brain believe it is daytime. This, in turn, stops the body from producing melatonin, which is a natural sleep aid.
4. Create an Environment That Promotes Sleep – When thinking about conditions that help the body rest, consider temperature, clutter, noise and the amount of light in the room.
5. Journal – Stress affects everyone and can drastically affect sleep quality. Studies show that writing thoughts and feelings down on paper before bed can improve the quality of one’s sleep by decluttering the mind and bringing closure to the day.

To learn more about the PMC Sleep Center, call (606) 430-2209 or visit: https://www.pmcky.org/services/sleep-services/

“I am excited to be able to be a part of the sleep program at PMC that was started by Dr. R.V. Mettu and continue his vision of helping patients in Eastern Kentucky improve their health,” explained Dr. Carter. “Sleep is one of the most important parts of daily life. Getting proper, restful sleep can help improve a patient’s overall health as well as many other specific conditions.”

Many patients may not know they need a sleep study or may not be aware of the benefits of having one. Snoring, morning headaches, being sluggish or tired and difficulty focusing or concentrating during the day are just some of the symptoms that could indicate a sleep study may be beneficial.

The PMC Sleep Center provides a wide range of services, including overnight sleep studies and at-home sleep studies. In addition to Dr. David Carter, the sleep center staff includes certified polysomnographic technologists and respiratory therapists.

To learn more about the PMC Sleep Lab, please call 606-430-2209, or visit www.pmcky.org/services/sleep-services/

Dr. Mettu poured himself into the necessary training and obtained the certificates necessary to open the region’s first Sleep Center, which was established in 1994. In 1995, PMC’s sleep lab received accreditation by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the gold standard by which sleep medicine facilities are evaluated. Under Dr. Mettu’s leadership, PMC has maintained that accreditation for nearly 30 years. During that time, the center has doubled in size to meet the demands of patients needing sleep services and is one of only a few hospital-based sleep centers in the eastern half of Kentucky.

This year marks 40 years that Dr. R.V. Mettu has dedicated to Pikeville Medical Center and the patients of Eastern Kentucky. Wanting to spend more time with his family, he recently handed over the reins to the PMC Sleep Center to Dr. David Carter, who is already working with patients.

Accreditation is a very important component of quality healthcare, as it confirms that services are held to a very high standard and that improvements can be implemented when needed.

The PMC Sleep Center recently received its sixth consecutive accreditation from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), the gold standard in sleep medicine accreditation. This accreditation is a five year accreditation that covers over 50 individual safety and performance standards.

The AASM accredits sleep medicine facilities all across the country and is 100% sleep focused. Receiving this re-accreditation further demonstrates PMC’s continued dedication to quality care for sleep patients.

Assistant Vice President of Respiratory Services Dwight Buckley says another advantage of this accreditation is continued support and guidance. “The AASM provides us with updates between accreditations to help us to continue providing high-quality care for our patients throughout the accreditation cycle,” explained Buckley. “These updates help us know if we need to improve one of our procedures, add a new safety check or a number of other possible things to improve our services.”

This ongoing communication between the PMC Sleep Center team and the AASM enables PMC to meet all AASM standards between accreditations and implement any new standards that are introduced to further improve the safety and performance of the PMC Sleep Center.

To learn more about the Sleep Center at PMC, visit https://www.pmcky.org/services/sleep-services/.