Sleep apnea is a disorder that results from interrupted breathing during sleep. Indicators of this condition are snoring and tiredness despite getting a full night’s rest.

Sleep apnea does not immediately present itself as a serious problem, but it may cause heart problems and other health complications. Because of this, it is important to seek treatment for sleep apnea.

The term “sleep apnea” is an umbrella term that can refer to different versions of the disorder. As a result, treatment for sleep apnea can vary from patient to patient. Treatment methods include continuous positive airway pressure, adjustable airway pressure devices, oral appliances, supplemental oxygen bi-level positive airway pressure, and adaptive servo-ventilation—to name a few. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary.

When diagnosing or treating sleep apnea, your doctor may first recommend some lifestyle changes before prescribing medication. Some helpful lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking and losing weight, are effective treatments.

Information on other at-home treatments, such as changing sleeping positions, are also helpful. However, be sure to consult your doctor first.

Men who have type 2 diabetes in addition to obstructive sleep apnea seem to benefit from a regular exercise regimen, a new study has found.

Greater endurance from consistent physical activity can significantly boost survival rates for men with both conditions, researchers found. The findings are significant since the prevalence of sleep apnea, which commonly occurs in people with diabetes and high blood pressure, is on the rise, the study authors noted.

“Recent findings suggest that patients with sleep apnea have an increased risk of dying of any cause compared with individuals without sleep apnea,” study co-author Dr. Skikha Khosla, an endocrinologist at the Washington, D.C. Veterans Affairs Medical Center and George Washington University, said in a news release from the Endocrine Society. Read the rest of this entry

A 2007 Sleep in America poll showed that 60% of women are tired during the day. Sleepiness can be divided into three problem areas: not getting enough sleep (quantity); not getting enough good sleep (quality); and shift-work disruptions in sleep (circadian rhythm abnormalities).

“Women are sleepy because we work very hard, and we work a lot,” Fadness explained. Women work an average of 41.7 hours per week (compared with 48.8 hours for men), but when you add in the work they do around the home the total comes to 65 to 85 hours per week.

Lifestyle causes

“We are getting so much less sleep than we were 100 years ago,” said Fadness. This can be attributed to snoring spouses, children, job stress and domesticated animals. Read the rest of this entry

Sufferers of the sleep disorder obstructive sleep apnea could benefit from following a low energy diet to lose weight, finds research published on bmj.com today.

Sleep apnea is a common disorder caused by abnormal pauses in breathing during sleep. Sufferers rarely feel refreshed after a night’s sleep and the disease is linked to negative health effects such as increased risk of accidents, decreased quality of life and a higher chance of premature death.

Around 60-70% of patients with sleep apnoea are either overweight or obese. Previous studies in other patient groups have concluded that losing weight can improve the condition. Read the rest of this entry

On May 31, 2011, the Snoring Center and Sereno, The Center for Snoring Solutions, amicably and confidentially settled all disputes and litigation between the parties. Both sides are dismissing all claims and lawsuits against one another.

Sereno, The Center for Snoring Solutions, specializes in diagnosing and treating the causes of snoring and sleep apnea using simple in-office treatments.

The first study to document sleep problems in women with interstitial cystitis (IC), a painful and chronic bladder condition, has revealed the vast majority of sufferers are plagued by restless nights and ongoing sleep problems.

In the May-June 2011 issue of Urologic Nursing, Dr. Alis Kotler Panzera and her Philadelphia associates found 100% of the 407 study participants reported poor sleep, caused mainly by the need to urinate or from pain associated with IC. For the women, the sleepless nights cause daytime fatigue, loss of productivity, depression and an overall drop in quality of life.

The majority of the participants were from the United States, post-menopausal and between 55 and 60 years of age. The cause of IC, which
affects 1.2 million American women, is unknown, and there is no known cure. The main symptoms are urinary frequency, urgency and pain.

In analyzing the results of the study, Panzera encourages nurses to use cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia and to educate patients about ways to improve sleep.

“Nurses should be aware that the cause of the poor sleep quality may be multi-factoral,” she writes. “Therefore, appropriate screening of
all conditions that may interfere with sleep in this population, such as chronic insomnia, depression and obstructive sleep apnea, should be performed.”

As this was the first study to describe sleep quality in women with IC, Panzera says there are many issues remaining for future investigation, including better tests and treatments.

(Research: Sleep Disruption and Interstitial Cystitis Symptoms in Women; Alis Kotler Panzera, DrNP, APN-C, RN; Judith Reishtein, PhD, RN; & Patricia Shewokis, PhD, Urologic Nursing, May-June 2011.)

Source: Society of Urologic Nurses and Associates (SUNA)

Dental Professionals, a group of Chicago dentists, launched a new eBook, “9  Things You Should Know About Dental Implants”.

The eBook was written to help demystify dental implants with the advances on  dental technology now available. Severe periodontal disease is also  discussed.

“This eBook is a must read for anyone in need of tooth replacement,” said Dr.  Paul Katz, Dental Professionals. “Dental Implants are one of the most amazing  advances in dentistry…a progressive, natural solution to replace teeth that are  missing or can’t be fixed.”

“We are very excited about sharing our knowledge with this eBook, and know  that it will be a valuable resource. Our goal is to keep people informed, and  let them know that, with today’s technology, it is possible for anyone to have  strong, healthy teeth and a stunning smile,” continued Dr. Katz.

Readers will find detailed explanations on dental implants, a history of  available technology toward treatment, and the benefits of the procedure. The  eBook also outlines the criteria for receiving dental implants, expectations on  the procedure, estimated costs, and proper care of dental implants.

Dental Professionals first opened in 1980. Their specialties include CEREC  restorations, cosmetic dentistry and sleep apnea treatments. There are two  offices in Skokie and in the Chicago Loop.

9 Things You Should Know About Dental Implants is currently available to  download for FREE at www.dentalprofessionals.com/ebooks/9-things-you-should-know-about-dental-implants/.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which you have one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while you sleep. Breathing pauses can last from a few seconds to minutes. They often occur five to 30 times or more an hour. Typically, normal breathing then starts again, sometimes with a loud snort or choking sound.

Sleep apnea often goes undiagnosed. Doctors usually cannot detect the condition during routine office visits. Also, there are no blood tests for the condition. Most people who have sleep apnea do not know they have it because it only occurs during sleep. A family member or bed partner may first notice the signs of sleep apnea.

The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea. This most often means that the airway has collapsed or is blocked during sleep. The blockage may cause shallow breathing or breathing pauses.

When you try to breathe, any air that squeezes past the blockage can cause loud snoring. Obstructive sleep apnea is more common in people who are overweight, but it can affect anyone. Read the rest of this entry

A recent study with Harvard Medical School, including Dr. Atul Malhotra (Sleep Group Solutions leading Medical Advisor) and Shaquille O’Neal concluded in a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) for the Celtics Center.

The Greek word apnea literally means without breath.  Common in athletes,  their large statures make breathing more difficult during sleep.  With Shaq weighing in at 325 pounds and reaching over 7 feet in height, it’s no wonder this superstar athlete snores and fights for breath during sleep.  “It usually happens when he’s on his back.”  confesses girlfriend Nikki “Hoopz” Alexander on Shaqs snoring, and sleep apnea.  Hoopz went on to discuss the severity of Shaqs’ snoring and apnea, in an article published by Yahoo! Sports on May 21st.    Read the rest of this entry

Snoring is one of the most common and debilitating problems, affecting one out of ever four people.  It can be a sign of sleep apnea, in which obstruction in the airway causes a person to temporarily stop breathing hundreds of times a night.  Sleep Apnea has been linked to high blood pressure, weight gain, memory problems, and even car accidents due to drowsy driving.

There are many approaches to snoring cessation.  The C-Pap mask forces extra oxygen into the lungs during sleep, and is often prescribed to those with severe sleep apnea. Read the rest of this entry

SleepApneaDisorder/[ Press Release ]/ SAN DIEGO, May 24, 2011 /- ResMed today released the ResMed Sleep Assessment app, a novel new app for iPhone that lets users record themselves during sleep. The app also includes a clinically validated questionnaire that assesses their risk and other helpful features to empower users to discuss their sleep health with their physician.

Excessive tiredness may be due to sleep apnea

Feeling excessively tired or fatigued is often the result of disrupted, unhealthy sleep. Numerous factors can lead to poor quality sleep, some of which have significant negative health effects. One possible cause of fatigue is sleep apnea, a common sleep disorder. People with sleep apnea report feeling like they’re living in a fog, and that no matter how much they sleep they still feel exhausted.

Sleep apnea is a serious health condition in which a person stops breathing temporarily during sleep. After several seconds, the brain triggers a wake-up response, causing the person to awaken gasping. These events may happen hundreds of times per night, though the sleeper usually won’t remember waking up. Often a spouse or partner will notice that the person snores loudly during sleep.

Sleep apnea affects approximately one in five U.S. adults, although it is estimated that as many as 80% of sleep apnea sufferers are undiagnosed and untreated. A known cause of hypertension, untreated sleep apnea has also been linked with type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, depression and stroke. Read the rest of this entry

Sereno, the Center for Snoring Solutions, recently announced its affiliation with a sleep dentistry specialist.

“Offering access to a specialized sleep dentist demonstrates Sereno’s commitment to providing excellence in patient care and results for those suffering from these pervasive conditions,” says Matthew Mingrone, MD, president of Sereno, Inc. “The affiliation enables us to help more patients suffering from snoring and sleep apnea by targeting two additional areas, the tongue and the jaw.”

Snoring and sleep apnea are complex conditions often caused by several factors, including:
•The soft palate (the muscular part of the roof of the mouth)
•Obstructed nasal breathing
•Uvula (the soft tissue that hangs from the roof of the mouth)
•Size of the tongue and position of the jaw
•Lifestyle choices and aging Read the rest of this entry

National Sleep Therapy, a provider of equipment and services to patients with sleep apnea that uses a “closed-loop” model of follow up care with patients throughout the duration of sleep therapy, has announced the release of new data that indicate that 88.5 percent of the patients they serve meet the Medicare standard for continued use of the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device compared to a national rate of approximately 50 percent.

The 50 percent adherence rate during the three month evaluation period is attributable to varied factors, including that many patients find the device intrusive or uncomfortable. When patients fail to adhere to the therapy, they lose coverage for the CPAP equipment and in most cases their health worsens. The National Sleep Therapy approach suggests a new method for boosting CPAP adherence that will improve quality of life for patients and lead to significant cost savings for Medicare. The findings can be found in a newly published white paper. Read the rest of this entry

Researchers in Michigan have found that removing a kid’s tonsils and adenoids, he is less likely to wet the bed. 

According to US News & World Report, kids with enlarged tonsils and adenoids are more likely to have sleep apnea (interruptions in breathing while sleeping), and kids with sleep apnea are more likely to bed their beds.

Researchers opine that it is always better to take away the tonsils and adenoids, and voila! You take away the bedwetting. Read the rest of this entry

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) effectively decreases the risk of cardiovascular death in elderly patients who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), according to a study conducted by researchers in Spain. The study is the first large-scale study to assess the impact of OSA and the effectiveness of CPAP treatment in cardiovascular mortality in the elderly.

The findings will be presented at the ATS 2011 International Conference in Denver. “Our study offers two key conclusions,” said Miguel Angel Martinez-Garcia, MD, study lead author pneumonologist at the Hospital General de Requena in Valencia, Spain. Read the rest of this entry