Health First to Open New Sleep Center in Melbourne Next to Holmes Regional Medical Center
By Space Coast Daily // February 14, 2025
state-of-the-art facility will provide access to high-quality sleep care
The only hospital-based AASM-accredited sleep program in Brevard County, Health First operates two sleep centers to help identify and treat health-impacting sleep disorders affecting 50-70 million Americans.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA—Health First will unveil and officially open to the public its new Sleep Center in Melbourne on Sunday, February 16.
Conveniently located at 1301 Hickory Street next to Holmes Regional Medical Center, this state-of-the-art facility will provide access to high-quality sleep care for the South and Central Brevard community.
The Health First Sleep Center is the only hospital-based American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) – accredited sleep center in Brevard County. The team includes board-certified physicians, nationally registered sleep technologists, and polysomnographic technologists.
The new center officially replaces Health First’s Sleep Center in Viera as Viera Hospital undergoes expansion of facilities and services – including the recently-opened Labor & Delivery Unit in August 2024.
The new Melbourne facility will initially open with four beds, with plans to expand to six beds soon. Health First also operates a Sleep Center in Cocoa on the Cape Canaveral Hospital campus in the northern tier of the county.
Services will include:
■ Diagnostic, Titration, Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT), and Inspire® studies.
■ Capability to conduct studies with a full seizure montage hookup.
■ Expanded room availability to improve patient access.
“Quality sleep is one of the most overlooked and underestimated factors in health and wellness, and it plays a vital part in everything from muscle regeneration and digestion to mental health, cellular rejuvenation and heart health,” said Jessica Lutz, FACHE, Vice President, Wellness Services, Outpatient & Wellness.
“Health First is proud to be the leader in identifying and treating sleep disorders that otherwise may negatively impact quality of life.”
There are more than 80 different sleep disorders affecting millions of Americans, and it’s estimated that 10-20% of all Americans suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness – a dangerous and productivity-robbing disorder. The National Sleep Foundation recommends 7-to-9 hours for adults aged 18 to 64 and 7-to-8 hours for adults aged 65 and older.
Sleep quality is a critical component of good health and overall wellness. Sleep disruptions make it difficult to get the recommended amount and quality of sleep for optimal health, and some sleep disorders have been linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases.
According to the American Heart Association, a huge body of research has – and continues to highlight – the many ways poor sleep can negatively impact cardiovascular health, including:
■ Poor sleep can cause significant cardiovascular disease risk factors, including obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
■ Insufficient or irregular sleep can negatively influence diet, stress, and other lifestyle factors that can raise the risk of cardiovascular disease.
■ Excessive daytime sleepiness, which is a symptom of many sleep disorders, including hypersomnia, can lead to a greater risk of cardiovascular disease.
■ Sleep deprivation and sleep disorders have also been linked to increased inflammation in your body, which can also elevate your risk of cardiovascular issues.
■ Poor sleep and sleep disorders can cause depression and other mental health issues, which can hurt your heart health.
For more information – or to schedule a sleep evaluation, please visit hf.org/sleep or call 321/868-5832.
