Active Healthcare Hosts Successful Sleep Apnea Support Group in Durham

DURHAM, NC, November 03, 2010 (Press-News.org) Active Healthcare, an award-winning industry leader in sleep apnea treatment, hosted a meeting of the Durham A.W.A.K.E. (Alert, Well and Keeping Energetic) support group Thursday, October 28 to share meaningful education and resources for managing this dangerous condition.

Participants learned how to deal with challenges in CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) therapy, an effective method for treating obstructive sleep apnea. Presenters Julie Shannon and Angela Martinez, sleep specialists with Active Healthcare, were on hand to showcase the latest equipment and perform screenings for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in addition to testing attendee CPAP equipment on-site.

"Obstructive sleep apnea is disruptive, dangerous and under-diagnosed," said Lisa Feierstein, RN, BSN, MBA, who founded Active Healthcare in 1990. According to Feierstein, OSA is a condition which many individuals don't know they have.

"Approximately 80 percent of people who suffer from it remain undiagnosed and untreated," she said

Without treatment, OSA places a great deal of stress on the brain and heart, exacerbating debilitating and life-threatening conditions such as hypertension, heart disease and diabetes. Obstructive sleep apnea can also lead to restless sleep and insomnia, daytime sleepiness, concentration and memory problems, headaches, hyperactivity, personality changes and even depression.

"Partnering with A.W.A.K.E. support groups helps us reach more people who need help being successful with their OSA treatment," Feierstein said.

Dedicated to educating the public about OSA, A.W.A.K.E. is a network of voluntary support groups providing camaraderie, information, and encouragement to sleep apnea sufferers. Active Healthcare sponsors two A.W.A.K.E. support group meetings each quarter in Johnston and Durham Counties, with 2011 sessions already scheduled beginning in January.

Through its all-inclusive IntegraSleep sleep management program, Active Healthcare works hand-in-hand with healthcare providers to diagnose and treat patient's obstructive sleep apnea. The company is preparing to announce a major event in December 2010 to celebrate its 20 years of service to tens of thousands of patients via its six customer service centers throughout the Triangle and Johnston County and three IntegraSleep diagnostic sleep centers.

For more information, visit ActiveHealthcare.com.

About Active Healthcare
Active Healthcare is an award-winning industry leader in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, helping North Carolinians breathe easier for over 20 years. Our state-of-the-art IntegraSleep centers in Raleigh, Clayton, and Smithfield provide all-inclusive sleep management programs to diagnose and treat this disruptive, dangerous condition. With a 98% customer satisfaction rate, Active Healthcare is passionately dedicated to patient care and quality of life through our six customer service centers throughout the Triangle and Johnston County. For more information, visit ActiveHealthcare.com.