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

[Press Release]- Graymark Healthcare Inc. the nation’s second largest provider of diagnostic sleep services and an innovator in comprehensive care for obstructive sleep apnea today announced that it sold a record number of CPAP machines in Q2 providing relief to over 750 patients. In addition they served over 1275 patients through their CPAP re-supply service.

Graymark Healthcare has been pioneering better techniques for ensuring that patients diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) are quickly and effectively treated in an effort to optimize clinical outcomes. Graymark has driven improved patient compliance with CPAP care and overall disease management by integrating the diagnostic and treatment processes.

“In Q4 of 2009 we at Graymark Healthcare announced the launch of our comprehensive care model aimed at improving the conversion rate of patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea to successful care with a CPAP device. We have seen consistent month over month growth in our therapy services this year and had record patient therapy volumes in Q2. We expect continued momentum through Q3 and associated strong performance,” said Stanton Nelson, Chairman and CEO of Graymark Healthcare. “We believe that our revolutionary comprehensive care model better serves our patients and is more cost effective than the fragmented care provided in other settings. Additionally, our re-supply program ensures that our patients are contacted no less than quarterly and that we can continue to work with them to improve their CPAP experience,” added Nelson. Read the rest of this entry

[Press Release]-Circadiance, the world leader in soft cloth nasal CPAP masks, has launched the SleepWeaver(R) in the European Union and will launch in Canada soon. The company has secured the right to apply the CE Mark after becoming ISO 13485 certified.

“Sleep Apnea affects tens of millions of people around the world,” said David Groll, Circadiance’s CEO. “We have already established distributors in several European countries in preparation for this launch, and we anticipate the same enthusiastic reception in these new markets that we have enjoyed in the U.S. Our soft cloth mask is the answer to uncomfortable hard plastic masks that foster noncompliance. This milestone is just another step in our effort to establish global distribution for our superior cloth CPAP mask technology.” Read the rest of this entry

[Press Release]- Gaylord Sleep Medicine will hold a Sleep Health Fair on Thursday, June 24 at 5:30 PM at Zandri’s Stillwood Inn on 1074 South Colony Road, Route 5 in Wallingford, Connecticut. The Gaylord Sleep Health Fair will benefit people interested in learning about Sleep Disorders and Treatment options and is co-sponsored by Philips Respironics and Gaylord Sleep Medicine. 

Speakers will include Meir Kryger, MD, Director of Research and Education for Gaylord Sleep Medicine, Keith Dixon, MD, Medical Director for Gaylord Sleep Medicine and Kevin Rush, RRT, RPSGT and Sleep Consultant for Philips Respironics.

Respironics, PROVENT® Sleep Apnea Therapy, J & L Medical Services and All-Med Health Care, Inc. will also be available with the newest sleep apnea and respiratory equipment as well as alternatives to CPAP that are exclusive to Gaylord Sleep Medicine. Dr. Stephen Palluotto, DMD will also show the dental alternatives to CPAP. Read the rest of this entry