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Getting the Rest You Need

Sleep is a necessity. Research shows that most of us need about eight hours of good quality sleep a night to rest our bodies and refresh our minds, so we can perform at our best. And, of course, people simply enjoy a good night’s sleep.

But, many people have real problems with sleep. The symptoms include inability to fall asleep or stay asleep, snoring and other breathing disorders while sleeping, which can cause drowsiness when we need to be alert. Untreated, these problems can have a devastating effect on the quality of our lives, making us physically and mentally unable to deal with everyday challenges we face. In fact, some illnesses such as high blood pressure - even heart attacks - can be linked to certain sleep disorders.

What are some examples of Sleep Disorders?

Sleep Disorders are a wide range of physical and psychological conditions that keep people from getting sufficient rest. Some of the common conditions we encounter at the Sleep Disorders Center include:

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): Individuals with OSA snore loudly, have repeated episodes of stoppage of breathing at night due to collapse or blockage of the airway. The OSA sufferer’s sleep is repeatedly interrupted causing poor sleep at night and tiredness during the day.
• Narcolepsy: Individuals with Narcolepsy have an inherited condition causing severe daytime sleepiness and falling asleep at inappropriate times.
• Insomnia: Individuals with Insomnia have an inability to fall asleep or to stay asleep.
• Periodic Leg Movements during Sleep: Jerky or active legs while sleeping may cause interrupted sleep.

How Does the Sleep Disorders Center Work?

 Patients are often referred to the Sleep Disorders Center by their physician. In such an instance, the referring physician orders or performs appropriate outpatient laboratory tests such as routine blood testing, EEG, or in some cases pulmonary function testing. In many cases, an overnight sleep study, a Polysomnogram (PSG) is ordered. At the center, a PSG can be extremely valuable in diagnosing many sleep disorders. The PSG takes place overnight in the sleep recording room of the Sleep Disorders Center. During the night, breathing, oxygen, heart rate, brain waves, eye and body movements and body position are closely monitored.

What are the Symptoms of Sleep Disorders?

You should consider seeking help if you experience these symptoms:

• Frequent difficulty falling asleep in bed at night
• Frequent awakening during sleep
• Heavy snoring 
• Partner says you stop breathing during sleep
• Dozing off while driving
• Often waking with a headache
• Sleepiness during the day
• Difficulty concentrating at work/school
• Profuse sweating at night
• Leg cramps or “crawling” feeling in legs
• Restless legs that interfere with falling asleep.

How Common is Snoring?

Surveys from Europe and the U.S. show that snoring is two to three times more common among men than among women. At the age of 20, about 15 percent of men and 5 percent of woman snore regularly. By the age of 60, the percentages rise to 60-65 percent of men and 20-30 percent of women.

What is Sleep Apnea Syndrome?

A patient with sleep apnea may repeatedly stop breathing (apnea) for 10 to 20 seconds while asleep. This is typically caused by an airway (nose, mouth or throat) that is too narrow. Such individuals sleep poorly and feel tired and sleepy during the day.

How Common is Sleep Apnea Syndrome?

A large percentage of patients treated at the Sleep Disorders Center suffer from sleep apnea syndrome. Recent detailed surveys and follow-up testing in the U.S. indicate that about 4 percent of adult women and 9 percent of adult men have sleep apnea of at least a mild degree.

All these measurements are made while you are sleeping in our lab. The exam  takes about 6-8 hours, which is the normal sleeping time of the general population. 

The snore-checking rate for one night costs 11,400 baht including

The PSG test cost does not include

   Cost of medicines and other analysis other than the snoring symptom.

   The cost covers the snoring symptom only.

  Other miscellaneous expenses, e.g. beverages, telephone, and additional foods.

Preparations for checking the snoring with the PSG.

  Shampoo before coming to the hospital.

  Sleep in the normal position as usual.

  Give your weight, height and tell the symptoms to the checking doctor.

   Before coming for the snore check never take a sleeping pill. 

   Stay at the hospital from 21.00 hours and leave between 09.00 – 12.00 hours on the next day.

  Our personnel will start the PSG at 22.00 hours.

Co2 LASER (Laser Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty)

The package costs 54,000 baht.

Surgery to treat snoring using Co2 LASER causes little bleeding, and the wound has minimum swelling.  After the surgery the patient can go home and eat soft food, also  it does not cause your voice to change.  

Practices of the patient with the sleep apnea

  Stop drinking alcoholic beverages, refrain from taking a sleeping pill or anxiety reducing drugs or avoid drinking tea and coffee.  

  Control your weight by limiting the food intake and its type.

  Exercise regularly for strong body, and alert muscles and use as a measure in reducing your weight.

  Lie on one side, avoid lying on the back and keep the head a little higher.

  Consult the doctor when there is a sleep apnea.  The doctor shall consider the treatment guideline based on the severity and cause of the disease.

Our English speaking International Visitor support staff.  They will meet you at the airport, take you to your hotel, escort you to the hospital everyday, answer your questions, and then escort you back to the airport.
 
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For more information about sleep disorders link to the National Sleep Foundation at: http://www.sleepfoundation.org

Ramkhamhaeng (pronounced ram-cam-hang)  Hospital sits at the center of one of Thailand’s largest and most respected hospital groups. With 350 beds and seven sister hospitals Ramkhamhaeng has the resources, experience and expertise to provide international quality health care at very competitive prices. This combined with a long tradition of Thai hospitality has earned Ramkhamhaeng Hospital the confidence of the people of Thailand, the Region, and the World.

Thailand has gained renown for all forms of cosmetic surgery, cardiac care, and other types of specialized medicine.  Ramkhamhaeng Hospital has many internationally trained doctors with world-class credentials.  In this era of jet travel, computers, and the Internet, Globalized medicine has arrived. We offer world class healthcare in a beautiful tropical setting at a fraction of the cost of the USA or Europe.  If you pay your own medical bills because it is an elective surgery or you are uninsured and don't have or can't get insurance info@ramhospital.com

We have the latest medical equipment, such as
Cardiac Cath, MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), Spiral CT Scan (Spiral Computerized Tomography Scan) and Ultrasound to support our medical staff in the fast and accurate diagnosis and treatment of disease.

The hospital also has a long history of providing quality specialty clinics like Plastic Surgery, Cardiac Rehabilitation, In Vitro Fertilization + Embryo Transfer, and The Test Tube Baby Clinic.

The hospital specializes in personalized services for all our international visitors.  We will meet you at the airport and escort you to the hospital, walk you through the hospital stay and then escort you back to the airport for your departure.

info@ramhospital.com