“Poor quality of sleep is a public health issue, not yet given due consideration”, alerts Monteiro Ferreira in an interview published on March 15, the World Sleep Day, in Diário de Aveiro and also in Diário de Coimbra. The pulmonologist thus explained the importance of the inauguration at Hospital da Luz Oiã of an area specific for Sleep Medicine, where more complex and time-consuming diagnostic exams of sleep pathologies will be performed. It is estimated that over 20% of the adult population has disorders related with sleep, and with significant severity. Sleep deprivation is associated with a raise in blood pressure and increase of myocardial infarction risk and other cardiovascular diseases. Sleep deprivation is yet another serious problem, not only because it results in daytime fatigue and drowsiness, with a greater likelihood of accidents and a proven association with appetite dysregulation and obesity, but also, in its origins, due to poor sleep hygiene, especially related to the 'theft' of precious hours of sleep, through the use of television, cell phones and other equipment. Hospital da Luz Oiã has now available a so-called “Sleep Laboratory”. With inpatient capacity, it operates in “comfortable, peaceful and quiet premises, with no external interference of noises or other disturbing factors, making it possible to carry on all kind of exams related with the diagnosis of sleep disorders and pathologies”, as it is described by Monteiro Ferreira. Based on the results of such exams, the doctor may then prescribe the most adequate therapies for each patient. This new wing of Hospital da Luz Oiã will also support other units of Hospital da Luz network in the central region of the country (namely Aveiro and Coimbra). Learn more about the work of these professionals in the reportage in Diário de Aveiro ( pdf )
