Eighty-one percent of hospital patients are at high risk for obstructive sleep apnea, a Loyola University Health System study has found.  

The findings suggest that hospitals should consider giving patients a five-minute screening test to identify those who are at high risk. 

Sleep specialist Dr. Sunita Kumar and colleagues administered an eight-question obstructive sleep apnea screening questionnaire known as STOP-BANG to patients during a single day at Loyola University Hospital.

Patients were excluded if they were on a breathing tube, on sedatives or had an altered mental status. 

Of the 195 patients surveyed, 157, or 80.5 percent, were at high risk for obstructive sleep apnea, meaning they answered “Yes” to at least three questions on the questionnaire.  Read the rest of this entry

Active Healthcare, an award-winning industry leader in sleep apnea treatment, hosted a meeting of the Durham A.W.A.K.E. (Alert, Well and Keeping Energetic) support group Thursday, October 28 to share meaningful education and resources for managing this dangerous condition.

Participants learned how to deal with challenges in CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) therapy, an effective method for treating obstructive sleep apnea. Presenters Julie Shannon and Angela Martinez, sleep specialists with Active Healthcare, were on hand to showcase the latest equipment and perform screenings for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in addition to testing attendee CPAP equipment on-site. Read the rest of this entry

The new local coverage determination (LCD) adherence criteria for continued reimbursement of continuous positive airway pressure after 90 days has heretofore not been validated, including the effects of the policy on care for patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

SleepApneaDisorder/ [ Press Release ] / Tuesday, October 26, 2010/:  Millions of people worldwide, who suffer from the debilitating effects of sleep apnea, will benefit from a new device to treat the health condition, thanks to an innovative technology partnership between ResMed and STMicroelectronics.

Sleep apnea, a common but little-known disorder, affects 1 in 5 adults1.

It stems from closure of the airway during sleep which causes breathing to stop, sometimes for more than a minute; often leaving the person affected gasping for air. In severe cases, this can happen hundreds of times each night leading to serious health risks, including increased heart rate, higher blood pressure and potentially, heart attack and cardiovascular disease. Read the rest of this entry

New local coverage determination (LCD) adherence criteria for continued reimbursement of continuous positive airway pressure after 90 days among patients with obstructive sleep apnea may have a negative impact on their clinical care, according to research published in the October issue of Chest. 

Mark S. Aloia, Ph.D., of National Jewish Health in Denver, and colleagues evaluated information from a retrospective database of 150 patients who received neuropsychologic testing before treatment as well as three and six months after treatment. Patients were categorized using the new LCD criteria.  Read the rest of this entry

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with an increased risk of motor vehicle crash.

Patients implanted with the ImThera aura6000 hypoglossal nerve neurostimulation device for treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) showed a reduced apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) and improvements in oxygen desaturation index (ODI), according to information released by ImThera.

For the study, 10 patients have been surgically implanted with the device. The target population for ImThera’s neurostimulation device, which is not available in the United States, is moderate and severe OSA patients who are noncompliant with or cannot tolerate continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Read the rest of this entry

SleepApneaDisorder/[Press Release]/- Agoura Hills, CA (PRWEB) September 10, 2010/The 10th season of The Biggest Loser premieres on Tuesday, September 21st on NBC, and Nationwide Medical, Inc. is proud to be working to support the good health of the contestants.

One of the health concerns related to obesity is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a potentially life-threatening condition in which a person has episodes of stopped breathing during sleep. The Biggest Loser provides contestants with comprehensive diagnosis and treatment for OSA. For the past three seasons Nationwide Medical, Inc. has served as the equipment and patient support organization for the CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machines provided by Phillips Respironics. Read the rest of this entry

The National Weather Service has posted an excessive heat warning for several counties in the western part of Tennessee and temperatures of 100 degrees or more are expected to spread to the middle of the state, affecting cities like Nashville. For many, these temperatures are uncomfortable, but for others, excessively hot weather can threaten their very lives.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2001 over 300 people lost their lives from excessive heat exposure. In the period between 1979 and 2003, more people died from extreme heat in the U.S. than from hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes combined. Read the rest of this entry

Sleep apnea pillows are specially constructed to prevent any lateral pressure on the side of the CPAP (continuous positive airflow) mask that is worn by many sleep apnea sufferers. This special pillow generally has a “scooped out” configuration on each of the 4 sides. This gives support to the top and back of the head without giving any support in the mouth area. It is best used by those individuals that prefer to sleep on their sides, though it may be helpful for those that choose to sleep on their backs.

These sleep apnea pillows are produced by many different companies and are readily available at both retail and through the internet. They do not require a prescription, and they are not very expensive. Insurance companies may reimburse for the pillow purchase, but the individual will need to check in advance.

 [Press Release]/ July 29, 2010 – ROSEVILLE, CA,/ – Roseville dentist Preddis L. Sullivan DDS, a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, knows how effective an oral appliance can be in the treatment of a common sleep disorder known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Many of his patients have found much needed relief through this simple treatment option.

New professional guidelines have provided further support for what both Dr. Sullivan and his patients already know: oral appliances, which are similar in appearance to an orthodontic retainer or a sports mouthguard, are an excellent treatment option for patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea. Read the rest of this entry

Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) can cause undesirable nasal symptoms such as congestion to obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) patients, which symptoms can be attenuated by the addition of heated humidification.

However, neither the nature of nasal symptoms nor the effect of heated humidification on nasal pathophysiology and pathology are convincingly known.

 Twenty patients with OSA on nasal CPAP who exhibited symptomatic nasal obstruction were randomized to receive either 3 weeks of CPAP treatment with heated humidification or 3 weeks of CPAP treatment with sham-heated humidification, followed by 3 weeks of the opposite treatment, respectively. Read the rest of this entry

If you have the disorder, you’re not breathing properly while you sleep because your airflow is blocked repeatedly throughout the night. Nearly one in four men and one in ten women suffer from it. (There are a couple of other varieties, but OSA is the most common.) And it goes hand-in-hand with type 2 diabetes. In a survey on the subject, Gary D. Foster, PhD, wrote that, “among all of the sleep disorders, OSA has the strongest association with type 2 diabetes.”  That’s even taking into account other risk factors, such as weight, sex and age.

The main risk factor for OSA is obesity. “Excess weight deposits extra fat around the thorax, reducing chest compliance and functional capacity, while increasing oxygen demand,” wrote Foster, a professor of medicine and public health and the Director of the Center for Obesity Research and Education at Temple University. Read the rest of this entry