Seminars provide sleep apnea resource

Advanced Sleep Center offers an opportunity for sleep apnea patients to greatly improve the quality of their sleep at the Good Night’s Sleep Seminar held the second Thursday of each month. The program is free and open to the public for those affected by sleep apnea and their loved ones. The location alternates between the Odessa and the Midland Sleep Centers.

“Our purpose in holding the seminars is simply to provide ongoing support and be a resource to anyone in the Permian Basin that suffers from sleep apnea,” says Eddie Reece, RPSGT, technical director of Advanced Sleep Center.

“Sleep apnea is a temporary cessation of breathing during sleep. It was first defined in 1965,” says Dr. Manoher L. Gurru. “Symptoms can include loud snoring and gasping during sleep as well as daytime sleepiness. Often, the symptoms are concurrent with high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, heart attack, stroke and Type II diabetes.”

Dr. Gurru, Advanced Sleep Center director, is board-certified in sleep medicine by the current credentials of the American Board of Medical Specialties.

The continuous positive airway pressure machine, or CPAP, introduced in 1981, has long been recognized as an effective sleep apnea treatment. The CPAP unit connects with a tube to a mask which the patient wears over or inside the nose. Continuous air flows through the mask into the patient’s nose to relieve the apnea and bring about a good night’s sleep.

“In most cases, the greatest challenge is not adjusting the CPAP unit, but finding the best mask to fit with the interface,” says Dr. Gurru.

Dr. Gurru’s many years of advanced training in neurology and neurophysiology give him added expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of all sleep disorders, including narcolepsy and restless legs syndrome.

The Good Night’s Sleep Seminar features lectures and demonstrations by major manufacturers of CPAP machines. The manufacturers bring and introduce the latest in CPAP technology, including nasal pillows that can be comfortably inserted into the nostrils.

With 30 years of experience, Eddie Reece has seen the CPAP machine evolve since its infancy. A native of Odessa who lived in Houston for many years, he was excited to work with Dr. Gurru.

“I never imagined a program of this magnitude would exist in the Permian Basin,” Eddie says.

Advanced Sleep Center is accredited by and operates under the rigid standards of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. The Odessa and Midland Advanced Sleep Centers both have beautifully furnished, hotel-like sleep study rooms.

“A relaxing atmosphere allows the patient to get their most typical night’s sleep so that we can accurately diagnose and treat the condition. The Midland Center recently expanded to four sleep study rooms, giving it the same number of rooms as the Odessa Center,” Dr. Gurru says.

The Odessa Sleep Center is located at 601 East 2nd St., Suite E, and the Midland Sleep Center at 702 Andrews Highway. For more information, call (432) 580-9700 in Odessa or (432) 570-9991 in Midland.