CAY HILL, Sint Maarten – On Friday, November 8th , 2019, St. Maarten Medical Center will host a public session on Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Snoring at the University of St. Martin at starting 7:30pm. The sessions will be facilitated by our very own, Cardiologist Dr. Emiko Bird-Lake, Otolaryngologist Dr. Hubert Faber, Otolaryngologist Dr. Dick Wong Chung, and Otolaryngologist Dr. Maarten Majoor and will cover a wide
variety of topics including Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.
Obstructive sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep and the disruption of normal sleep. Common symptoms are unexplained daytime sleepiness, restless sleep and snoring with periods of silence followed by gasps. Other symptoms include morning headaches, insomnia, trouble concentrating, mood changes, depression, forgetfulness, increased heart rate and blood pressure, overweight in children, mood changes, sleep terrors and heavy night sweats.
In addition to this, obstructive sleep apnea alters glucose metabolism and promotes insulin resistance.
This can result in health complications such as heart disease, increased blood pressure, diabetes and obesity which lead to increased health risks and medical costs for patients.
This public session will be followed by a Symposium for Doctors and other Medical Professionals on St. Maarten and the surrounding islands with the aim of organizing a sleep center on St. Maarten. This is in collaboration with Specialists, Orthodontist Dr. Wissam El Hage and the Sleep & Breathing Disorders
Center.
SMMC encourages the general public to attend and learn more about Sleep Apnea and Snoring and its treatment.
