Special Treatment is All in a Night's Work for this Unique Company
, 15 @ 16:30:53 EDT

Αποστολέας Gateway

“Concierge Services” has become a buzzword as of late with a wide variety of businesses attempting to set themselves apart from the pack by servicing their clientele with an assortment of perks. But for one Southern California company, this concept isn’t a marketing tool, it’s about potentially saving the life of those who hear the warning signs of a not-so-silent killer.

Snoring is the butt of jokes, cartoon caricatures and is frequently an annoyance for those who share the bedroom. But it also is an indicator of a deadly condition known as sleep apnea. People who suffer from sleep apnea stop breathing for up to 2 minutes at a time, sometimes hundreds of times a night. Often undiagnosed, sleep apnea affects more than eighteen million Americans and can lead to a host of medical conditions, some fatal.

Gay-owned Gateway SleepLabs was founded by David Pisarra to diagnose people who are heavy snorers, in a fight against the growing epidemic of sleep apnea which has shown to be particularly evident in the Bear Community. Pisarra, past president of the Business Alliance of Los Angeles (now the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce) wanted to locate Gateway someplace unique. He chose the newly renovated Sportsmen’s Lodge hotel, in Studio City, Ca.

“We wanted a landmark hotel to bring comfort and quality to our patients,” said Pisarra from his Santa Monica office. “We offer a higher level of care than other labs and the amazingly positive feedback proves to me that it was the right decision. We’ve also had a tremendous response from the gay community. Special requests are normal for us and our patients love the attention they receive.” Gateway doctors have also found the results to be more conclusive due to the relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.

Testing for sleep apnea involves spending the night with a technician monitoring the patients’ sleep. In most labs, the test ends at 5:30 a.m. and the patient is sent home to shower. At Gateway SleepLabs, the patient has their own room equipped with a queen size bed and, once the test is over, is invited to return to sleep. They may wake up when they want, take a hot shower in their private bathroom, enjoy the on-site pool and restaurant and then start the day as they normally would. The actual overnight test is covered by medical insurance and Medicare.

Sleep apnea is more than an annoyance. It leads to excessive daytime sleepiness, heart attacks, strokes and diabetes. It is also a major cause of auto accidents with more than 200,000 incidents a year caused by drivers falling asleep at the wheel. Men are at particular risk with a 200% to 400% greater chance of contracting sleep apnea.

"Men often ignore their health. We do one of two things, we either brag about being a ‘world class snorer’ or we minimize its effect on our life. The problem is that snoring is nature’s way of alerting us,” Pisarra said. Of additional concern is how sleep apnea affects those in the sufferer’s life with statistics showing that partners of those afflicted receive an average of one hour less sleep a night. “Snoring doesn’t just affect the snorer,” says Pisarra, adding “We face enough roadblocks in our relationships. Snoring shouldn’t be one of them”

Women, who tend to be more conscious of their health, are frequently embarrassed to discuss with their doctors the fact that they snore, instead attributing their daytime exhaustion to the stresses of life. In fact, they probably have sleep apnea and should be treated. Pisarra states, “Post-menopausal women in particular are three times more likely to suffer from sleep apnea than pre-menopausal women.”

The most common cause of sleep apnea is excess weight and with upwards of 64% of Americans now considered overweight, sleep apnea cases continue to rise. “Generally men who have a 17 1/2” neck, or women with a 16 1/2” neck are at risk, as well as those who have a body mass index over 25” says Pisarra.

People can screen themselves using Gateway SleepLabs’ simple five question test, available online at www.gatewaysleep.com or by calling 800/945-SLEEP.