Advocate Condell hosts vendor fair for sleep apnea sufferers

Advocate Condell Medical Center along with the Alert, Well, And Keeping Energetic support group (A.W.A.K.E.) is hosting a CPAP vendor fair at the Libertyville hospital on October 4 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Conference Center at 801 South Milwaukee Avenue. The event is free and open to the public.

Sleep apnea patients, family members, and physicians are invited to learn about new continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) equipment, masks, and other items for clients. Vendors include; DeVilbiss, Phillips Respironics, ResMed, Candance, Fisher & Paykel along with Dr. Debbie Kline, an oral appliance specialist. Additionally, Advocate Home Health Care will offer free CPAP equipment pressure checks. Bring your CPAP machine and power cord for this free service.

According to the American Sleep Apnea Association, Sleep apnea is an involuntary cessation of breathing that occurs while the person is asleep. People with sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, sometimes hundreds of times during the night and often for a minute or longer. Sleep apnea can have serious consequences: high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, automobile accidents caused by falling asleep at the wheel, diabetes, depression, and other ailments. The condition affects more than 18 million Americans, according to the National Sleep Foundation.

Adam Posner, MD, medical director of the Advocate Condell Medical Center sleep centers, says sleep problems can lead to severe health problems.

“Sleep disorders are a serious health issue and have been proven to impact a patient's risk of heart disease, hypertension, stroke, diabetes and related conditions,” Posner said. “The most common problems include insomnia, sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and narcolepsy.”

The Advocate Condell A.W.A.K.E. was the first group to form in Illinois and the fourth in the country. They have more than 20 years of experience educating and supporting anyone those who want to learn about sleep medicine and the treatment of sleep apnea.

For more information, contact Christine McBride, RPSGT at (847) 990-5853 or christine.mcbride@advocatehealth.com.