The CPAP device – also known as Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, is actually an aid which intends to ease breathing for folks who suffer from sleep apnea. The device itself will not only do that, but also function as a humidifier as it is easily integrated into the home environment. The design of this conceptual device could definitely be worked on further, since it does seem as though it is more of a medical device than something you won’t be ashamed of using in the living room while chilling out. Of course, it definitely isn’t that much of a turn on either, so your home relations might also suffer from some downtime in the process, but at least it beats having sleep apnea permanently, right? We look forward to a refined design and someone willing to take up the manufacturing cost of this idea.

Source&Courtesy: post By Edwin Kee at ubergizmo.com

A close relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and atherosclerosis has been reported, but it is still discussed controversially whether  obstructive sleep apnea (OSA ) affects vascular function and structure independently. Researcher prospectively investigated the independent impact of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and its treatment on arterial stiffness.

One hundred seventy-two patients with suspected  obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) were prospectively enrolled in a non-randomized 6-month study to determine whether effective treatment (respiratory events sufficiently reduced and proven compliance) of   obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) would affect vascular function as measured by augmentation index (Aix) and pulse wave velocity (PWV). Additionally, using a nested case–control, we matched 45 pairs of patients with and without  obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) for gender, age, and hypertension.  Read the rest of this entry

SleepQuest, Inc., the leading national provider of comprehensive sleep medicine services, announced a 44% increase in 2010 Fourth Quarter earnings over 2009. Growth occurred in all areas of the business, including diagnostics, titration, therapy and ongoing care for patients suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).  

Robert Koenigsberg, President and CEO, said, “2010 was an extraordinary year for SleepQuest as we continued our national expansion and expanded operations.”

The Company has also appointed Gary B. Corbett as Vice-President of Business Strategy and Development. Prior to joining SleepQuest, Mr. Corbett was part of the pioneering management team that founded the first company to provide national OSA diagnostic services.   Read the rest of this entry

An enzyme known to be significantly involved in obstructive sleep apnea, the NADPH oxidase presumably triggers heart damage associated with chemotherapy. With a highly imaginative approach, experts from the Queen’s Centre for Vision and Vascular Science assert that blocking the action of the enzyme can be used to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy and decline the toxic effects of cancer treatment on the heart. The research findings may help reduce heart failure in cancer patients and ultimately improve survival rates. The research was published in the journal Cancer Research.

Understanding the role of this enzyme can supposedly help in offering safer high doses of chemotherapy drugs and making the treatment more effective against tumors. In spite of improved treatments, cancer is possibly responsible for 25 percent of all mortality in the western world. Decreasing the threat for heart failure is apparently linked with chemotherapy and patient survival rates. Read the rest of this entry

SleepApneaDisorder / [ Press Release ] /Over three-quarters of the American population suffer from sleep related problems, mainly snoring. For the partner who doesn’t snore, lack of sleep is just as dangerous on your health as it is on your relationship. Snoring, fatigue, depression, heart disease and high blood pressure are all common side effects of OSA, obstructive sleep apnea. 

This Valentine’s Day, couples across the United States will be indulging their partners with chocolates, wines, and rich dinners. Come bedtime, the combination of alcohol and the compounds in chocolate have stimulating effects. The National Sleep Foundation recommends avoiding chocolate at bedtime, as it is can cause sleep problems. Throw snoring into the mix, and you’ve got an extremely sleepless Valentine’s. 

Snoring is a common sign that you or your partner might have OSA, obstructive sleep Apnea. Common treatment for obstructive sleep Apnea (OSA) includes the CPAP, which blows air into your nose via a nose mask. With much negative consumer feedback, another means of treatment was necessary.  Read the rest of this entry

By Dhong Hun-jong, M.D.

Allergic rhinitis, or AR, is a common disease that is often considered a trivial and temporary illness less severe than asthma. 

However, the disease can bring dramatic changes in the quality of life of the patients, affecting their daily activities. It also results in relatively high medical expenses and financial burden.

According to the National Health Insurance Corporation, 4.1 million people suffer from AR in Korea (2007) and the economic burden is estimated to reach almost $272.92 million.

Allergic symptoms can vary with the season and type of allergen. They include sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, plus itchy eyes and nose. Young patients may also have mouth breathing, snoring and sleep-disordered breathing such as obstructive sleep apnea.

In these patients, upper respiratory infections such as common colds and ear infections are more frequent and last longer. Read the rest of this entry

SomnoMed Limited , the world’s leading oral appliance medical company announced today that US government health insurance programs have now recognized an oral appliance treatment as a valid medical treatment option for obstructive sleep apnea and medicare patients in the US will be covered for the oral appliance treatment.

SomnoMed, with its No. 1 sleep apnea appliance SomnoDent(R) MAS, will benefit from this new regulation, as patients can now have a SomnoDent(R) MAS as a first line treatment, without the requirement to “fail” a CPAP treatment.

SleepApneaDisorder/[ Press Release ]/ HONG KONG, Feb. 9, 2011 /- Ventus Medical, a privately-held United States based medical device company focused on sleep-disordered breathing, is pleased to announce that its proprietary Provent(R) Sleep Apnea Therapy, an innovative, non-invasive treatment for obstructive sleep apnea, is now available throughout Hong Kong. The HomeCare Medical Ltd., with over 17 years of sleep medicine experience, will be the exclusive distributor of Provent Sleep Apnea Therapy in Hong Kong.

We believe clinically-proven Provent Therapy offers a unique and convenient alternative to CPAP treatment for the large number of people in Hong Kong currently affected by obstructive sleep apnea,” said Philip Westbrook, M.D., chief medical officer of Ventus Medical and former President of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. “Provent has been used effectively in the United States since 2008 and in clinical studies, Provent Therapy increased energy and quality of life while it reduced apnea (breathing disruptions), daytime sleepiness and related snoring. Importantly, Provent is easy to use, portable and discreet for use at home or when travelling.”

In patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the airway collapses during sleep when the muscles that hold it open relax. People with this disorder stop breathing during the night—in some cases hundreds of times each night — usually for periods of ten seconds or longer. Although some people with sleep apnea don’t know they have the condition, they snore and occasionally wake up gasping for air. It is often their sleep partner who is aware of these symptoms and will urge them to go to the doctor. Read the rest of this entry

A central Ohio man has become the first person in the United States to receive an implant being studied for the treatment of central sleep apnea in heart failure patients by delivering small electrical impulses during sleep to restore more natural breathing. The procedure was performed at The Ohio State University Medical Center’s Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital.

“After a successful proof-of-concept study at Ohio State and a small number of sites in China, Poland and Germany, the implant translates concept to reality,” says Dr. William Abraham, director of the division of cardiovascular medicine at Ohio State’s Medical Center, and principal investigator of the safety and feasibility trial. “The potential of this therapy is substantial, given the very high prevalence of central sleep apnea in heart failure patients.” Read the rest of this entry

COPENHAGEN, Feb 8 (Reuters) – Danish drugmaker Lundbeck has signed a commercial rights deal with biotechnology firm Cephalon Inc in Canada and Latin America to reinforce its position in those markets.

Under the deal, Lundbeck will take over the registration and commercial rights to a number of Cephalon products such as Provigil and Nuvigil to improve wakefulness, and its pain product Fentora, Lundbeck said on Tuesday.

“The Cephalon brands will significantly strengthen our position in these markets while leveraging on existing sales and marketing capabilities adding significant sales in Canada and Latin America from 2012,” Lundbeck’s Chief Executive Ulf Wiinberg said in the statement. Read the rest of this entry

A New York Times report examined how poor sleep and susceptibility to colds go hand in hand, and scientists think it could be a reflection of the role sleep plays in maintaining the body’s defenses.

Most people with sleep apnea are aware that they snore and feel overtired or fatigued but are unaware of potentially serious medical problems that include memory loss, stroke, heart disease and an increase risk of auto accidents.

In a study for The Archives of Internal Medicine, scientists followed 153 men and women for two weeks, keeping track of their quality and duration of sleep. After exposure to the cold viruses, those who slept an average of fewer than seven hours a night were three times as likely to get sick. If you have Obstructive Sleep Apnea or are NOT using your CPAP, Find a Sleep Apnea Treatment Center near your locality.
Read the rest of this entry

SleepApneaDisorder/ [ Press Release ]/ New York, NY /February 4, 2011/ The Pillar® Procedure, which is a relatively new in-office medical technique, is being touted among snoring specialists as a cure for snoring in many patients. As more snorers are being treated with this procedure worldwide, positive results lasting many years are being realized.

The Pillar Procedure is a minimally invasive, simple and safe treatment for snoring and safe treatment for mild to moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea and snoring caused by the fluttering of the soft palate while asleep. It’s a relatively painless procedure that can be performed in a doctor’s office in about 20 minutes, using only local anesthetic. Read the rest of this entry

Sleep Apnea Disorder/ [ Press Release ]/ Carrollton, TX /Practice Start-up Kit available at the Chicago Midwinter Show February 24-26 . Patterson Dental and Airway Management, Inc., have entered into a strategic partnership to distribute the leading custom oral appliance for treating sleep apnea to dental professionals through Patterson Dental. A Practice Start-up Kit will be available for the first time at the Chicago Dental Society 146th Midwinter Meeting February 24-26 at the Patterson booth. The kit is designed to give dental professionals all the tools needed to immediately start treatment for snoring and sleep apnea.

Through Patterson Dental and Airway Management, a world leader in the design, manufacture and sales of custom oral appliances with its Thornton Adjustable Positioner (TAP® 3 appliance), dentists have a proven treatment modality for patients suffering from snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). The TAP® fits over the teeth similar to a mouth guard and advances the jaw forward during sleep, keeping the airway open and eliminating snoring and sleep apnea. Read the rest of this entry