Sleep Apnea Disorder

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

Current research  indicates that almost 50 per cent of type-2 diabetics in India also suffer from the obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) survey reveals that nearly 9.3 per cent of the adult population in urban and metro areas in India suffer from sleep apnea, says Aparajito Mukherjee, Country Head, ResMed India.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), also known as sleep apnea, is a breathing disorder during sleep when the upper airway partially or completely collapses, causing obstruction in breathing and restricts airflow. This causes the person to wake up and it can happen as many as hundreds of times per night.

Snoring is a common symptom of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Other common signs and symptoms include excessive daytime sleepiness, obesity, high blood pressure, morning headaches, inability to concentrate and depression.

The prevalence of sleep apnea is expected to grow with the rise in obesity and the aging population, because age and weight are two factors that increase the chances of developing the chronic condition in which the back of the throat relaxes and the airway becomes blocked.

The use of dental devices to treat sleep apnea is growing in popularity, according to Sheri Katz, the president of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, a national organization that provides training and resources for dentists and orthodontists who treat sleep apnea.

Luria makes dental devices only for patients who can’t use a CPAP machine. “If you can wear the mask, wear the mask,” Luria says. “CPAP machines work phenomenally. But not everyone can wear the masks. That’s how dentistry got involved in this.” Luria says the dental appliances cost anywhere from $1,200 to $2,500. But all of them do the same thing: They move the jaw forward, pulling the tongue out of the back of the throat. [ Read Complete Post BY JEFF SEIDEL at DETROIT FREE PRESS ...   ]

The PC-60D2 Pediatric Pulse Oximeter measures SpO2 (percentage of oxygen saturation in the blood) and pulse rate of children with accuracy and ease. The PC-60D2 offers a special design and chipset technology specifically manufactured for a kid’s finger. It uses a customized pediatric oximetry sensor adjusted for children’s skin to ensure accurate readings. Small and compact, it provides complete oximetry solutions while still able to fit in your pocket.

“It is of the greatest importance to parents to be able to monitor their children’s health conditions including asthma ,sleep apnea, or heart arrhythmia wherever they go,” said Dr. Khanna of the Lavale Clinic based in Cumberland, MD. “The PC-60D2 Pulse Oximeter is the perfect tool for parents to monitor their children on the go as they simply measure the child’s SpO2 and pulse rate and subsequently share the results with for professional diagnosis and treatement.”

The PC-60D2 Oximeter is a widely used medical device in health-care facilities, including hospitals, outpatient surgery centers, physician offices, dentist offices, emergency and ambulatory situations, as well as home diagnostics for monitoring of children’s health.

This weekend is Daylight Saving Time ! The Alarm clocks will be set ahead an hour in advance of the warmer weather.Statistically, accidents increase considerably the Monday after the time change. It is mainly because people condition themselves, particularly young people, to operate on a certain schedule and getting up earlier can easily make someone sleep deprived.

Depending on what you’re doing Saturday night and what you have to do Sunday morning, you’re going to lose an hour of sleep definitely. It’s always best to try and be prepared heading into the weekend.

You should try having a light meal for dinner the next few Saturdays and don’t rely on coffee, it could leave you more at risk.  Know the symptoms of fatigue before getting behind the wheel.

If you’re frequently yawning, if you feel less alert and you’re losing concentration and your thoughts are wondering (which happens to us at the best of times), but particularly if you’re driving and you’re drifting out of lanes of traffic, you find yourself correcting, you’re speed is unsteady and you’re going fast and slow.

And obviously, it is equally mindful of other drivers, pedestrians and cyclists on the roadway, they’re probably just as drowsy as you are.

Why do we sleep? We spend so much of our time sleeping that it must be doing something important. It seems pretty simple right? Not exactly. There are myriad theories about rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, however, scientists have spent many sleepless nights determining why we spend so many hours in light, dreamless slumber. Well, according to a new-fangled study, it is suggested that we are busy recharging our brain’s learning capacity during this traditionally undervalued phase of sleep, which can take up half the night.

Researchers at UC Berkeley have discovered convincing evidence that bursts of brain waves commonly referred to as “sleep spindles” may be networking between key regions of the brain in order to clear a path to learning. These electrical impulses assist in shifting fact-based memories from the brain’s hippocampus – which has limited storage space – to the prefrontal cortex’s “hard drive,” thus freeing up the hippocampus to take in new data. Spindles are fast pulses of electricity generated throughout non-REM sleep, and moreover can occur up to 1,000 times a night. 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

Respiratory equipments are one of the most blissful inventions in the history of mankind. The reason is because this machine has helped saved the lives of millions of people and is continuing to do so. Respiratory equipments are used by patients or people who are suffering from various sicknesses and breathing problems.

There are various types of respiratory supplies and these include oxygen analyzer which helps in providing continuous flow of oxygen to patients and these are mainly used on those patients who suffer from breathing problems or are undergoing any major surgery. These oxygen analyzers are mostly found in hospitals and in some cases might be at someone’s home as there are people who buy these machines and keep them at home for emergency purposes or they are advised by doctors to do so. Read the rest of this entry

 Source : sleepfoundation.org