Spotlight on the Sleep Center: Understanding Sleep at High Altitude

At Gunnison Valley Health’s Sleep Center, we know that sleep is essential to maintaining overall health and well-being. Living at high altitude, however, can present unique challenges to getting restful sleep. Lower oxygen levels at elevations like Gunnison and Crested Butte’s can affect your breathing, reduce the quality of your sleep and exacerbate existing sleep disorders. This is where a specialized high-altitude sleep center becomes essential.

Why is a High-Altitude Sleep Center Important?

High elevations create a specific set of challenges for sleep health that are not as commonly seen at lower altitudes:

• Lower Oxygen Levels: At higher elevations, your body works harder to maintain oxygen levels, which can result in breathing irregularities like periodic breathing or sleep apnea.
• Altitude-Related Sleep Disorders: Some individuals may develop sleep disturbances specifically triggered or worsened by altitude, such as fragmented sleep or increased arousals during the night.
• Expertise and Understanding: The Gunnison Valley Health Sleep Center is uniquely equipped to identify and address these altitude-related issues with targeted evaluations and treatments.

The Sleep Center offers both at-home and hospital-based sleep studies to diagnose a variety of sleep disorders, including:

• Sleep Apnea: Repeated pauses in breathing during sleep.
• Insomnia: Difficulty falling or staying asleep.
• Restless Leg Syndrome: An uncontrollable urge to move the legs, often during rest.

Sleep studies are non-invasive and provide critical insights into what may be affecting your sleep. By identifying these patterns, medical providers can determine the most effective approaches to help you achieve better rest.

The Impact of Sleep on Your Health

Poor sleep doesn’t just leave you feeling tired—it can have long-term effects on your health. Conditions like sleep apnea are linked to issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease and daytime fatigue that impacts daily life. Addressing sleep disorders early can prevent more serious complications down the road.

At high elevation, our team has the expertise to evaluate how altitude-specific factors may influence your sleep and breathing. With this understanding, we provide the tools and guidance you need to adapt, rest better, and improve your overall health.

Quality sleep is essential for your health—and we’re here to help you navigate the unique challenges of high-altitude living.