Source : sleepfoundation.org

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea who undergo surgery to improve their breathing get a better night’s sleep and therefore are less drowsy during the day, according to a new study from Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.

The study finds surgery greatly reduces daytime sleepiness when compared to other nonsurgical treatments for obstructive sleep apnea.

“This study validates what patients have told us regarding their improved alertness after surgery,” says study author Kathleen L. Yaremchuk, MD, chair of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Henry Ford Hospital. Read the rest of this entry

The AASM has launched its “Out of Center Sleep Testing Accreditation Process.”

The accreditation program comprises an application process, review and site visit. Accreditation standards cover personnel, policies and procedures, patient evaluation and care.

“If testing is just made available in a helter-skelter fashion, without any link to patient care, all you’ll do is run up costs (to the health care system),” said Dr. Peter Strollo, president of the AASM. “What you want to gain with this technology is lower cost, improved access and improved care.” Read the rest of this entry

Sleep disorders are becoming more and more common every year. In fact, there are millions of Americans who have at least one of these disorders. The most frequent sleep disorders are insomnia and snoring; however, the most dangerous disorder is sleep apnea. Sleep apnea occurs when a person stops breathing during the night for lapses of one minute. 

There are three kinds of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea and mixed sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when there is an obstruction of the airway passages of your body. On the other hand, Central sleep apnea means that the airway passages are not blocked; instead, the brain is not able to properly control the muscles involved in breathing. Finally, mixed sleep apnea is a case when the two mentioned cases are combined.  Read the rest of this entry

National Sleep Awareness Week ends this Sunday when, guess what, the clocks move forward and you lose another hour of sleep. The National Sleep Foundation found that more than 75 percent of American adults are experiencing sleeping problems in one form or another. There are over 90 official sleep disorders including sleep apnea,insomnia,narcolepsy and many others  that have been identified, with insomnia leading the list, followed by sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome.

Sleep deprivation has been linked to an increase in motor vehicle accidents, increase in obesity, increased risk of diabetes and heart disease, increased risk for psychiatric conditions including depression and substance abuse, and an inability to concentrate and learn new information.

Those most at risk for sleep disorders are students, night-shift workers, travelers and persons suffering from acute stress, depression or chronic pain. People who work several jobs can also experience sleep disorders. [ Read Complete Post By Dr. Cynthia Paulis At NYPress.Com ... ] 

Oneida Healthcare has opened an expanded sleep laboratory that provides overnight sleep studies for those at risk for sleep apnea.

Located on the Oneida Healthcare campus in the Fields Professional Building, the sleep lab features new equipment, a team of sleep technicians, and rooms with televisions and other hotel-like amenities, the hospital says.

“Sleep disorders impact more than 40 million Americans,” Sherif El Bayadi, M.D., pulmonologist and medical director of the new sleep lab, said in a recent news release. 

The Franciscan Companies, an affiliate of St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center in Syracuse, will oversee management of Oneida Healthcare’s new lab.Contact Carbonaro at mcarbonaro@cnybj.com

Ohio State University’s Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital implants a type of pacemaker in the first U.S. patient to receive the device to study it for the treatment of central sleep apnea in heart failure patients.

Central sleep apnea is a dangerous form of the disorder that can cause patients to hyperventilate during the night, and the implant should deliver small electrical impulses during sleep to restore more natural breathing.

“There are 6 million people with heart failure in the United States today. Eighty percent of them have sleep apnea and about half of those have central sleep apnea,” says Dr. William Abraham, director of the division of cardiovascular medicine at The Ohio State University Medical Center, and principal investigator of the safety and feasibility trial. “Literally millions of patients may be eligible for treatment with this device.” Read the rest of this entry

SleepApneaDisorder/ [ Press Release ]/ –Have you ever had the pleasure of sleeping, or trying to sleep, next to your spouse or loved one who pushes the decibels into the upper ranges with his or her snoring problem? If so, you will understand the need those who suffer from snoring and sleep apnea have for effective and economical remedies to help them with this terrible condition. That is why the developers of the new website, MouthGuardforSnoring.com, have striven to include some of the best information on the mouth guard for snoring, sleep apnea mouthpiece, jaw supporter for snoring and some of the other best snoring aids available on the market.MouthGuardforSnoring.com is focused primarily on the wide range of inexpensive snoring aids available rather than the more invasive and expensive methods. It is an informational site with links and photos to some of the best snoring aids, but does not offer any specific medical advice, as this is a task best suited to individuals’ personal physicians. However, it is no secret that most folks, when faced with a terrible snoring problem, would look first online to find information. Based on this information, they may purchase some of the inexpensive snoring remedies in hopes of solving their problem permanently, without having to take more drastic steps. Read the rest of this entry

If you are having problems sleeping, the National Sleep Foundation suggests the following to improve your sleep:

• Set and stick to a sleep schedule. Go to bed and wake up at the same times each day.
• Expose yourself to bright light in the morning and avoid it at night. Exposure to bright morning light energizes us and prepares us for a productive day. Alternatively, dim your lights when it’s close to bedtime.
• Exercise regularly. Exercise in the morning can help you get the light exposure you need to set your biological clock. Avoid vigorous exercise close to bedtime if you are having problems sleeping.
• Establish a relaxing bedtime routine. Allow enough time to wind down and relax before going to bed.
• Create a cool, comfortable sleeping environment that is free of distractions. If you’re finding that entertainment or work-related communications are creating anxiety, remove these distractions from your bedroom.
• Treat your bed as your sanctuary from the stresses of the day. If you find yourself still lying awake after 20 minutes or so, get up and do something relaxing in dim light until you are sleepy.
• Keep a “worry book” next to your bed. If you wake up because of worries, write them down with an action plan, and forget about them until morning.
• Avoid caffeinated beverages, chocolate and tobacco at night.
• Avoid large meals and beverages right before bedtime.
• No nightcaps. Drinking alcohol before bed can rob you of deep sleep and can cause you to wake up too early.
• Avoid medicines that delay or disrupt your sleep. If you have trouble sleeping, ask your doctor or pharmacist if your medications might be contributing to your sleep problem.
• No late-afternoon or evening naps, unless you work nights. If you must nap, keep it under 45 minutes and before 3:00 pm.

Americans report very active technology use in the hour before trying to sleep. Almost everyone surveyed, 95%, uses some type of electronics like a television, computer, video game or cell phone at least a few nights a week within the hour before bed. However, baby boomers (46-64 year olds), generation X’ers (30-45 year olds), generation Y’ers (19-29 year olds) and generation Z’ers (13-18 year olds) report very different technology preferences.

About two-thirds of baby boomers (67%) and generation X’ers (63%) and half of generation Z’ers (50%) and generation Y’ers (49%) watch television every night or almost every night within the hour before going to sleep.

“Artificial light exposure between dusk and the time we go to bed at night suppresses release of the sleep-promoting hormone melatonin, enhances alertness and shifts circadian rhythms to a later hour—making it more difficult to fall asleep,” says Charles Czeisler, PhD, MD, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Read the rest of this entry

 The 2011 Sleep in America® poll released today by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) finds  that 43% of Americans between the ages of 13 and 64 say they rarely or never get a good night’s sleep on weeknights. More than half (60%) say that they experience a sleep problem every night or almost every night (i.e., snoring, waking in the night, waking up too early, or feeling un-refreshed when they get up in the morning.)

About two-thirds (63%) of Americans say their sleep needs are not being met during the week. Most say they need about seven and a half hours of sleep to feel their best, but report getting about six hours and 55 minutes of sleep on average weeknights. About 15% of adults between 19 and 64 and 7% of 13-18 year olds say they sleep less than six hours on weeknights.

“This poll explores the association between Americans’ use of communication technologies and sleep habits,” says David Cloud, CEO of the National Sleep Foundation. “While these technologies are commonplace, it is clear that we have a lot more to learn about the appropriate use and design of this technology to complement good sleep habits.”

On Sunday, March 13, Americans will lose an hour of sleep due to daylight saving time.

Dr. Alaa El-Gendy of Florida Lung & Sleep Associates is participating in National Sleep Awareness Week this week to help patients gain that hour back.

 From today through March 13, his office is offering free sleep evaluations to anyone who walks in; appointments are not necessary. 

They will help identify if patients are at risk for sleep apnea by having them fill out a brief questionnaire and discussion. 

“A lot of people have it, but they don’t know they have it,” El-Gendy said. “It’s a free evaluation to see where their lung function is at.” 

The office is located at 2625 Lee Blvd. in Lehigh Acres. For more information, call 369-3333. 

Sleep Country Canada has teamed up with the University Health Network, Toronto General Hospital to create the Sleep Country Canada Sleep Medicine Labs. Together, they aim to increase awareness of sleep problems and help people get the best rest possible. 

Trouble sleeping can be a serious a medical issue, estimated to affect approximately five million Canadians. The launch of the new Sleep Country Sleep Medicine Labs at Toronto General Hospital is a significant step forward in developing and promoting an education and awareness program targeting sleep and sleep disorders in the country, as well as enabling more people to get the treatment they need.

“Sleep Country is proud to partner with the Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network,” says Christine Magee, president of Sleep Country Canada. “By supplying this world-renowned hospital with top-quality mattresses and funding critical equipment upgrades, it is our goal to help Canadians suffering from sleep disorders get the treatment they need and find answers to their sleep questions.” Read the rest of this entry