St. Mary’s Sleep Center is helping people get a better night sleep by providing a free community sleep event.

                The event will be held from 2-6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, in the St. Mary’s Assembly Hall at the hospital, 100 St. Mary’s Medical Plaza. St. Mary’s will provide free checks of sleep-apnea equipment and CPAP masks, and St. Mary’s Sleep Center staff and national sleep companies will provide information on sleep, care and cleaning of sleep equipment, helpful relaxation techniques before sleep, and the latest in CPAP technology.

                CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure, which is a method used to keep sleep-apnea patients’ airways open at night while they sleep. Sleep apnea affects more than 12 million Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health.

                Dr. Krishna Mettu, St. Mary’s Sleep Center medical director, will be at the event to answer questions about sleep and sleep disorders. Dr. Mettu works with patients to treat sleep disorders and find the right balance of sleep. He is fellowship-trained in sleep medicine and neurology.

                The St. Mary’s Sleep Center, located at 3349 American Ave., Suite D, off Wildwood Drive and behind Lowe’s, offers homelike amenities for sleep studies, including eight private rooms. The St. Mary’s Sleep Center is the first center in Jefferson City to be accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

        The event is free and open to the public -- no reservations are required. Attendees are encouraged to bring their CPAP machine and mask to the event to have them checked for functionality and fit.