Wilse Webb, a prominent sleep researcher, once said that sleep is a gentle tyrant - it can be delayed, but it cannot be defeated.

Sleep on that for a while.

"Sleep is biologically driven," stated Lt. Col. (Dr.) Herbert Kwon, chief of the Madigan Army Medical Center's Pulmonary Critical Care Sleep Service Clinic, one of the largest in the Department of Defense. "You don't get to choose sleep; it chooses you."

The center offers a range of clinical services and is staffed by a multi-disciplinary team of subject matter experts who are experienced and certified in various fields to include pulmonary medicine, critical care medicine, sleep medicine, sleep psychology, respiratory therapy and patient education.

Kwon explained that the brain requires about 30 percent of the body's blood sugar, and sleep allows the body to replenish that in order to stay alive.

"Sleep plays a role in preserving blood sugars so that we don't starve to death," he continued.

Kwon also made it clear that sleep is a choice, one that must be consistently made.

"Sleep must be planned for. It is a matter of choice," he said. "If it is an afterthought, it will come back around and bite you."

Kwon and his teammates at the clinic earned national recognition for their work late last year when the American Academy of Sleep Medicine awarded the center accreditation.

"We deliver the highest quality of care," said Kwon.

About five percent of all servicemembers on Joint Base Lewis-McChord receive care at the clinic.  Because of the large number of patients, the clinic only sees active-duty patients who are referred by their primary care providers.

"We are saturated, and it is like this across the country," explained Kwon.  "Our command is working to get more resources."

The center works with patients who suffer from sleep apnea, hypersomnia (excessive sleepiness), sleepwalking and circadian rhythm disturbances.

The most common reason servicemembers go to the clinic, however, centers on insomnia.

In many instances, this condition is caused by the use of stimulants (caffeine or alcohol), other medical issues (chronic pain), circadian rhythm disruption (shift work) or psychological issues such as job stress.

The team in the sleep clinic assesses patients in all four areas to determine the best treatment(s).

The clinic often uses education to change habits so a patient can get a good night's sleep.

One way this is done is through the use of sleep monitoring devices that record sleep patterns.

"Our memories are not always clear," explained Kwon.  "These devices show what their actual sleep patterns have been and can help in educating them to making changes in their habits."

The clinic also has two behavioral health therapists who specialize in sleep medicine.

"Cognitive behavior therapy is by far the most effective treatment for chronic insomnia," said Kwon.

The pulmonary and sleep clinics are located in the south wing of the hospital tower on the 7th floor.  For more info, call 253.968.3214.