Murray County Medical Center announced its sleep study program recently earned accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC).

This three-year accreditation ensures that Murray County Medical Center’s Sleep Study Program meets or exceeds all required standards set forth by ACHC. All ACHC accreditation surveys are conducted by Sleep Specialists, who offer evidence-based best practices to ensure all quality measures and standards are met or exceeded.

Sleep apnea is very common, according to the National Sleep Foundation — over 18 million Americans suffer from this disease. If sleep apnea is left untreated it can have serious and even life-threatening consequences such as: high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, depression, memory problems and weight gain.

The Murray County Medical Center Sleep Study Program cited risk factors for sleep apnea include: being male, being overweight, over age 40, large neck size, having large tonsils, a large tongue or small jaw bone, having a family history of sleep apnea, having Gastroesophageal Reflux (GERD) or nasal obstruction due to a deviated septum, allergies or sinus problems.