BMI stands for Body Mass Index and is calculated using your height and weight, a screening tool to identify weight problems. BMI is a fairly reliable indicator of body fat for most adults, with the exception of athletes and the elderly.

The formula used is: [weight in pounds ÷ ( height in inches ) x ( height in inches)] x 703. An easier way to calculate is to go to an online calculator such as The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute at: nhlbisupport.com/bmi/.

There are four categories to interpret BMI for adults 20 years and older:

· Underweight = less than 18.5

· Normal weight = 18.5 24.9

· Overweight = 25 29.9

· Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater

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People who sleep poorly or do not get enough sleep have higher levels of inflammation, a risk factor for heart disease and stroke, researchers have found.

Data from a recent study are scheduled to be presented Sunday, Nov. 14 at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in Chicago by Alanna Morris, MD, a cardiology fellow at Emory University School of Medicine.

The results come from surveying 525 middle-aged people participating in the Morehouse-Emory Partnership to Eliminate Cardiovascular Health Disparities study on their sleep quality and sleep duration. The META-Health study’s co-directors are Arshed Quyyumi, MD, professor of medicine at Emory University School of Medicine and director of Emory’s Cardiovascular Research Center, and Gary Gibbons, MD, director of the Cardiovascular Research Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine. Donald Bliwise, MD, director of the Emory University Sleep Program, contributed additional guidance. Read the rest of this entry

Active Healthcare, an award-winning industry leader in sleep apnea treatment, hosted a meeting of the Durham A.W.A.K.E. (Alert, Well and Keeping Energetic) support group Thursday, October 28 to share meaningful education and resources for managing this dangerous condition.

Participants learned how to deal with challenges in CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) therapy, an effective method for treating obstructive sleep apnea. Presenters Julie Shannon and Angela Martinez, sleep specialists with Active Healthcare, were on hand to showcase the latest equipment and perform screenings for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in addition to testing attendee CPAP equipment on-site. Read the rest of this entry

A Cornell University research study concludes that medical costs related to obesity are costing U.S. taxpayers $168 billion annually. This is a figure double the amount of the U.S. health care budget previously estimated.

The study was conducted by Chad Meyerhoefer, assistant professor of economics, in collaboration with John Cawley, associate professor of policy analysis and management at Cornell University. The data was taken over a five-year period from 14,000 adults.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity increases risk for coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, a variety of cancers, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke, liver and gallbladder disease, sleep apnea and respiratory problems. Read the rest of this entry

According to the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, about 18 million Americans suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, and roughly 80 to 90 percent of these people remain undiagnosed and untreated. Dr. William Kohler, a spokesman for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, said awareness of sleep disorders, including obstructive sleep apnea, has gone up in recent years. Though Kohler, also medical director of the Florida Sleep Institute in Spring Hill, Fla., said he doesn’t know if the disorders themselves are on the rise, it’s a distinct possibility.

Though people often kid about snoring and the like, obstructive sleep apnea is a serious problem. People with the illness can stop breathing hundreds of times a night. The disorder also can contribute to an increased risk for high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke and other problems. “Sleep apnea is nothing to joke about,” Kohler said.

SleepApneaDisorder/[Press Release]/- Atlanta, GA (Vocus) October 6, 2010/Snoring is a sleep depriving problem affecting 40% of men and 23% of women according to the National Sleep Foundation. Many couples sleep apart due to loud, habitual snoring. This can lead to a lack of intimacy and disharmony in the relationship. These problems lead many people to seek out snoring cures that are safe, effective, and permanent. These treatments and more are offered from the finest board-certified physicians in the country at the new location of the Atlanta Snoring Institute. Located in Stockbridge, GA, the new office is a twenty minutes drive from downtown Atlanta, conveniently offering snoring and sleep apnea treatment to residents living south of the metropolitan area. Read the rest of this entry

According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, the average sleep apnea sufferer stops breathing and loses oxygen between five and 30 times a night. This lack of oxygen leads to a host of complications, including high blood pressure, vascular disease, an abnormal heart rhythm, or even a fatal cardiac event. Now, a team of University of Missouri researchers is exploring the changes in distinct brain regions that contribute to these symptoms in hopes of combating this common health issue.

Sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in the back of the throat relax during sleep, leading the airway to narrow or close. It’s estimated that 12 million Americans are affected by sleep apnea, but it’s widely believed that the issue is under reported. There are no blatant signs or blood tests to diagnose the disrupted sleep. Most cases of sleep apnea are discovered when a partner notices an increase in snoring, or when the sufferer indicates daytime fatigue and sleepiness. Read the rest of this entry

According to a research study results that appeared in the September issue of the journal Pediatrics, in the last 30 years, the prevalence of obesity in children has tripled, leading to children developing adult medical problems, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and sleep apnea.

“The California study gives us hope that while the childhood obesity epidemic is severe, we are seeing a decline in certain populations,” said Dr. Ashley Weedn, an OU researcher and clinical assistant professor at the University of Oklahoma’s Health Sciences Center. “It gives us hope that we can make a difference in Oklahoma too.”. Read the rest of this entry

SleepApneaDisorder/[Press Release]/- Atlanta, GA (Vocus) September 1, 2010/ Snoring is a sleep depriving problem affecting 40% of men and 23% of women according to the National Sleep Foundation. Many couples sleep apart due to loud, habitual snoring. This can lead to a lack of intimacy and disharmony in the relationship.

Snoring can be a sign of a serious medical problem called obstructive sleep apnea. Not everyone that snores has OSA; but everyone with OSA snores. People with untreated obstructive sleep apnea have a much greater risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke and even automobile accidents. With the Pillar Procedure Atlanta Snoring doctors are able to effectively treat sleep apnea and snoring. Read the rest of this entry

If you’re sleeping less than five hours or more than nine hours, you could be putting yourself at an increased risk for heart disease, according to a study conducted by researchers at the West Virginia University School of Medicine.

The study, conducted by Anoop Shankar, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Community Medicine, examined more than 30,000 adults who participated in the 2005 National Health Interview Survey. Dr. Shankar and his colleagues found both short and long sleep durations to be independently associated with heart disease. The results were adjusted for age, sex, race-ethnicity, smoking, alcohol intake, body mass index, physical activity, diabetes, high blood pressure and depression. Read the rest of this entry

Central Washington Sleep Diagnostic Center recently opened it’s second branch in Moses Lake at 2323 W. Broadway Ave., Unit 4.

The sleep center is here to help people experiencing sleeping disorders, as more than 70 million Americans’ sleep is currently affected. The affects of sleep deprivation include depression, brain fog, change in mental status, short-term memory loss, weight gain, high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, traffic accidents, workplace accidents and injuries. Read the rest of this entry

Your eyes tell about overall health. 

A study concluded on people with sleep apnea found an amazing correlation with increased risk for glaucoma and stroke.In all 83 people with sleep apnea participated in this research study. Out of these 83 people in the study — fully one third had glaucoma!  

If you have sleep apnea you should see your eye doctor regularly and mention you have SA. Keep regular visits with your primary care physician to monitor blood pressure, serum cholesterol, and blood sugar.Symptoms of sleep apnea-which usually occur in overweight males, include daytime sleepiness, chronic fatigue, and decreased cognitive function.

Another study found 40 minutes of exercise per day (such as brisk walking), four days per week lowered pressure in the eyes as effectively as some eye drop medications! This means exercise can reduce your risk of glaucoma, or if you already have it, exercise will help your glaucoma medications work better.

[Press Release]-Circadiance, the world leader in soft cloth nasal CPAP masks, has launched the SleepWeaver(R) in the European Union and will launch in Canada soon. The company has secured the right to apply the CE Mark after becoming ISO 13485 certified.

“Sleep Apnea affects tens of millions of people around the world,” said David Groll, Circadiance’s CEO. “We have already established distributors in several European countries in preparation for this launch, and we anticipate the same enthusiastic reception in these new markets that we have enjoyed in the U.S. Our soft cloth mask is the answer to uncomfortable hard plastic masks that foster noncompliance. This milestone is just another step in our effort to establish global distribution for our superior cloth CPAP mask technology.” Read the rest of this entry