Singapore has been celebrating World Sleep Day, which is March 18, by deploying self-assessment kiosks throughout hospitals to help its citizens find out if they are at risk for obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA.

The first of such self assessment kiosk was installed on March 1.

obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)  sufferers stop breathing repeatedly during sleep, which happens when the upper airway is blocked by a large tongue or extra tissue in the throat.

Symptoms include loud snoring, choking during sleep, poor memory, feeling irritable and excessive daytime sleepiness.

An estimated 15 percent of the country’s population suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but the number of patients is expected to rise with increased awareness of this condition.

Source:TVOnline.Com

Most common sleep problems can be successfully treated, and there are a variety of treatment options.“I think most people agree that sleep is important to overall health, but they fail to tell their doctors when they’re having problems — this is probably due to a variety of reasons, but a common one includes uncertainty about the treatments,” says Dennis Auckley, M.D., director of the MetroHealth Center for Sleep Medicine.

Dr. Auckley leads a team of six Valerie Ross, CNP, and Jan Steinel RRT, CNP, are also specially trained members of the team that provides clinical diagnosis and treatment of the full spectrum of sleep disorders in adults and children at three specially equipped Sleep Center facilities: at MetroHealth’s main campus just south of downtown Cleveland, in Independence, and — new this year — in Westlake. Patients are also seen at The Senior Health & Wellness Center in Cleveland and at the MetroHealth Strongsville Community Health Center.

According to Dr. Auckley, insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, restless legs syndrome and parasomnias, such as sleep walking and night terrors, are the main types of sleep disorders diagnosed and treated at the Center for Sleep Medicine. Insomnia is the most common, with 25% of Americans experiencing it intermittently and 10% chronically. It is especially common in women and the elderly, and the causes vary — from environmental conditions to poor sleep habits to medical or psychological conditions and sometimes even medications. Read the rest of this entry

Hospitals are finding an increasing market for sleep disorders, particularly sleep apnea linked to pulmonary conditions. As the nation gains weight and gets older, sleep disorders are becoming more frequent. Of 20 million to 40 million Americans who suffer from chronic sleep disorders, an overwhelming percentage—as much as 80%—have obstructive sleep apnea linked to high blood pressure and heart disease.

Hospitals are delivering multifaceted care in both inpatient and outpatient settings using both increased screening procedures and educational programs. In addition, hospitals anticipate many more patients; as many as 10 million people could have obstructive sleep apnea and not be aware of it, according to the American Association for Respiratory Care.

While CMS has reduced reimbursements for general sleep study programs, it has opened the door for funding for diagnosis of sleep apnea, particularly with home testing. That has prompted sleep experts to coordinate patient care with lab testing.

Obstructive sleep apnea can hasten death, as well as cause disease and disrupt normal life, but it responds dramatically to treatment.

The hospital carries out a multidisciplinary approach in its pulmonary treatment program that includes care for sleep apnea at its sleep center, an outpatient sleep clinic, as well as a sleep studies program. Stanton Nelson, chairman and CEO of Graymark Healthcare, foresees significant financial growth in the area of sleep apnea in the years ahead. [ Read Complete Post By Joe Cantlupe, for HealthLeaders Media ...  ]

Sleep is a basic human need — a crucial component of survival, much like breathing, eating a healthy diet or getting enough exercise. World Sleep Day is designed to raise awareness of sleep as a human privilege that is often compromised by the habits of modern life.A good night’s sleep is vital for the health and well-being of people of all ages. This is the message the World Association of Sleep Medicine (WASM) will be promoting during the fourth-annual World Sleep Day on Friday, March 18, 2011. Organized by the World Sleep Day Committee (co-chaired by Antonio Culebras and Liboro Parrino), this worldwide event is a platform for medical professionals to deliver the message of the importance of healthy sleep to the public. Read the rest of this entry

SleepApneaDisorder/[ Press Release ]/ KEY BISCAYNE, FL/- The Pankey Institute for Advanced Dental Education is proud to announce its introductory course in Dental Sleep Medicine. With the availability of the Pankey condominiums for lodging, participants will have the opportunity to wear a home sleep monitor, as well as adjust and wear their own oral appliance while at the course. The first session will be held July 10-14, 2011.

The topics to be explored include:

• An overview of normal human sleep, Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) and its systemic consequences
• The medical model for diagnosis and treatment of SDB, including details of medical diagnostic (polysomnography) and treatment (CPAP) modalities
• Dental screening for SDB, including questionnaires and dental, head and neck examination
• A literature-based view of the design, effectiveness, and morbidities of oral appliance therapy Read the rest of this entry

Myths or the “old wives tales” about sleep are sure not new or you too but the incorrect information can be serious and even dangerous. The National Sleep Foundation has compiled a list of ten most common myths about sleep, and the facts that dispel them.

1. Snoring is a common problem, especially among men, but it isn’t harmful.

Although snoring may be harmless for most people, it can be a symptom of a life threatening sleep disorder called sleep apnea, especially if it is accompanied by severe daytime sleepiness. Sleep apnea is characterized by pauses in breathing that prevent air from flowing into or out of a sleeping person’s airways. People with sleep apnea awaken frequently during the night gasping for breath. The breathing pauses reduce blood oxygen levels, can strain the heart and cardiovascular system, and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Snoring on a frequent or regular basis has been directly associated with hypertension. Obesity and a large neck can contribute to sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can be treated; men and women who snore loudly, especially if pauses in the snoring are noted, should consult a physician.

2. You can “cheat” on the amount of sleep you get.

Sleep experts say most adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep each night for optimum performance, health and safety. When we don’t get adequate sleep, we accumulate a sleep debt that can be difficult to “pay back” if it becomes too big. The resulting sleep deprivation has been linked to health problems such as obesity and high blood pressure, negative mood and behavior, decreased productivity, and safety issues in the home, on the job, and on the road. 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 ... ] 

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.