As the season's transition and the time falls back an hour,

some animals will go into a prolonged period of rest, or hibernation,

unlike humans. More than 60 percent of American adults consistently

fail to get the recommended eight hours of sleep each night,

according to the National Sleep Foundation. The results of prolonged

sleep deprivation can be devastating.

"Even occasional sleeping problems can make daily life

more stressful or cause you to be less productive. Insufficient

sleep also can be extremely dangerous, leading to serious or

even fatal accidents," said George Leslie, director of Fayette

Community Hospital's Cardiopulmonary Services. "Adequate

sleep is essential for good health, and mental and emotional

functioning."

Fayette Community Hospital opened its Sleep Diagnostic Laboratory

last December. The Lab evaluates adult and pediatric patients

suffering from excessive daytime sleepiness, difficulty falling

and/or staying asleep, snoring and other sleep-related conditions.

One out of every four Americans suffers from a sleep disorder,

the NSF reports. About 4 percent have chronic sleep apnea, a

potentially fatal condition that disrupts breathing during sleep. Other

common problems include insomnia, narcolepsy and periodic limb

movement in sleep.

"As Fayette citizens reset their clocks, back one hour,

we hope they will evaluate their sleeping habits and make the

necessary changes that will lead to a healthy and productive

lifestyle," said Leslie.

Fayette Community Hospital evaluates sleep disorder patients

every night of the week. The Lab recently added two additional

evaluation beds and is now capable of seeing four patients each

night. Sleep studies require a physician referral. Talk to your

doctor if you are experiencing problems related to sleep. For

more information about Fayette Community Hospital's Sleep

Lab, please call 770-719-6918. For a referral to a sleep specialist

at FCH, call 1-866-900-4321.

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