Dr. William Gross of Murfreesboro Medical Center

Sleep apnea affects many people all over the country, but a new type of surgery, aided by a development in technology is helping to alleviate the symptoms of sleep apnea sufferers

“The condition of sleep apnea is characterized by episodes of airway obstruction during sleep, leading to inadequate breathing and oxygen de-saturation during sleep,” said Dr. William Gross of Murfreesboro Medical Clinic and SurgiCenter.

“Symptoms can include severe chronic snoring, daytime fatigue and sleepiness, and morning headaches. If untreated, it is a major risk factor for hypertension, diabetes, heart attack and stroke. It is a lot more than just an embarrassment or nuisance.”

The doctor is using a new type of technology — a robot, in fact — to treat sleep apnea.  [ Read Complete Post At daily News Journal... ]

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

A recent research study has revealed that regularly playing video games, involving combat and war, could help soldiers cope with nightmares and sleep better.

Jayne Gackenbach of Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton, Canada, surveyed 98 military personnel without pre-diagnosed mental disorders such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) online, and found that those who played games like Call of Duty experienced less aggression and harm when they dreamt of war.

Those who abstained from playing video games found their dreams were more violent, and filled with feelings of helplessness, reports New Scientist. 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.

March 7-13, 2011 is the National Sleep Awareness Week.

Sleep impairment is linked as a contributing factor to motor vehicle crashes, industrial disasters, and medical and other occupational errors.

People experiencing sleep insufficiency are more likely to have chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression, or obesity.

In 2008, approximately 28 percent of surveyed adults in the U.S. reported frequent insufficient sleep, which as been associated with fair/poor general health, frequent mental distress, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and pain.

Sleep insufficiency and poor sleep quality also can result from sleep disorders such as chronic insomnia, restless legs syndrome, and sleep apnea.

The National Sleep Foundation suggests that healthy adults need 7-9 hours of sleep per day, and school-age children might require 10-11 hours of sleep.

UAE Philips conducted an online Sleep Apnea Awareness campaign titled Do You Snore, to help build public consciousness about Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) in the UAE. Email invitations were sent out to fill out a short and straight forward survey to more than 200,000 recipients based in the country, targeting a sample group of the age 25 and above.

A high number of respondents showed positive results and are very likely to be suffering fromObstructive Sleep Apnea ( OSA). The potential patients were advised to print their report and seek further medical advice and diagnostic tests for sleep apnea.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is one of the most common sleep disorders worldwide. It is a condition that causes a persons breathing to stop repeatedly during the night, causing disruption in their sleep as they struggle to breathe. As a result, they never get the deep, restorative sleep that is needed. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can not only negatively impact a persons overall quality of life and productivity, but it can also potentially lead to serious health issues like increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythm, strokes and other conditions. Read the rest of this entry

The Sleep Disorders Center at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital, Barrington invites community to tour the facility from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday.

The Sleep Center is in Medical Office Building I on the campus of Good Shepherd, 450 W. Route 22, Barrington.

Attendees are asked to call 1-800-323-8622 to register for a specific arrival time and reference event 3G16. All those registered are entered into a raffle.

Individuals suffering from conditions such as sleep apnea and periodic limb movement during sleep can be referred to the Sleep Disorders Center for sleep study testing by their primary physician.

Individuals suffering from narcolepsy, insomnia, sleepwalking, sleep tremors, nocturnal leg cramps, or night terrors should be seen in consult with a sleep specialist.

SleepApneaDisorder/[Press Release]/-Dr. Markus Schmidt will review common sleep disorders and cardiovascular consequences of sleep apnea on Saturday, August 21^st at 1:00 p.m. at the Health & Fitness Expo held at the Columbus Convention Center. The lecture is free and opened to the public attending the event.  

“Many residents in Central Ohio suffer from a sleep problem or disorder that affects not only their quality of life, but also their daytime performance and can have profound consequences on their overall mental and physical health,” says Dr. Markus Schmidt, medical director at the Ohio Sleep Medicine Institute. “Sleep is a vital element for our well-being, and addressing underlying conditions that contribute to insomnia, snoring, sleep apnea, restless nights or other sleep disturbances can completely change one’s life,” he adds. Read the rest of this entry