Poor quality sleep is alarmingly common, with approximately 70 million people suffering from an undiagnosed sleep disorder such as insomnia, sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome.
These sleep disorders can lead to daytime sleepiness, excessive fatigue, snoring, and even more serious conditions like high blood pressure and heart disease.
Terry L. Penner, owner of SleepWerx and a double board-certified nurse practitioner with more than four decades of experience in the medical industry, dedicates her practice to helping people overcome these issues and achieve better sleep.
“I spent a lot of time in neurosurgery and neurological sub-specialties, including sleep medicine,” Terry said. “Quality sleep is just so important, so interesting and poor sleep affects so many people, and it became my passion to stay in sleep. There’s so many people that need help.”
Many people write off the symptoms of a serious sleep disorder as normal — feeling tired throughout the day, feeling more irritable or forgetful, or snoring so loudly their partner complains. But Terry warns that these can be signs of poor-quality sleep that when left untreated, can lead to serious health consequences.
“A lot of people are embarrassed to say that they snore, or they make light of it saying, ‘Oh my husband snores so loud he could bring the paint off the walls,’ but don’t be embarrassed about that,” said Terry. “It’s not a matter of snoring as an aesthetic feature, it’s a matter of a possible sleep disorder that can cause high blood pressure and heart disease.”
Terry’s priority is providing a patients first experience to diagnose these issues immediately, in a comfortable and quiet office where patients feel at home and welcome.
SleepWerx offers in-office or telemedicine appointments, and scheduling within 48 hours. When patients arrive for their consultation appointment, they’ll discuss their symptoms with Terry, they will go over a detailed sleep history and Terry will complete a brief physical exam. They will usually complete an in-home sleep test that same night.
Patients will then follow-up with Terry in the office or through telemedicine to discuss results and treatment plan options. In many cases, patients start to feel better as soon as a week into treatment.
Some people will require a referral, others can self-refer. SleepWerx offers financial options, including acceptance of all insurance providers and even offers cash packages for those who would like to pay with cash. Packages are available at 40 percent off for veterans, law enforcement, farmers and ranchers, first responders, and teachers.
For everyone, including those without sleep disorders, Terry recommends establishing a bedtime routine to relax and wind down the brain, and prepare the body for sleep each evening. She recommends going to bed and waking up at the same time each day, and reserving the bed for sleeping and intimacy only.
This month, SleepWerx will be helping Mesa families in need get the rest they deserve by collecting SleepStuff, including new unopened pillows, blankets, sheets, throw blankets, pillowcases, PJs, slippers, and teddy bears. Those who would like to donate can do so by dropping items off at the SleepWerx office.
SleepWerx is located at 3514 N. Power Road, Suite 127, in the Selina Ashworth building. For more information, visit mysleepwerx.com, or call (480) 571-8460.