August 17, 2011

CPAP May Cause Facial Changes

Nasal CPAP is a common treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. but a recent study has shown that using nasal CPAP for just three years can cause changes in the position of the jaws and teeth. These finding may raise concerns for patients because CPAP therapy for sleep apnea continues throughout the patients entire life. Other options for treatment include oral […]
August 13, 2011

Sleep Apnea Linked to Higher Risk of Dementia

Untreated sleep disordered breathing such as obstructive sleep apnea may increase the risk of dementia in the elderly. These sleep disorders have previously been linked to diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. This new study looked at 298 women over 65 who began the study without dementia or cognitive impairment. After four years had passed the women were monitored […]
August 9, 2011

Best Treatments for Sleep Apnea

Tufts University completed a review of treatment options for obstructive sleep apnea. The review was funded by the Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Treatment using CPAP and oral appliances worn at night were backed by the strongest evidence. The report stated that weight loss and surgery may also be effective but the evidence […]
August 4, 2011

Weight Loss Linked to Sleep

Trying to lose weight and it just isn’t working? The reason could be the amount of time you are sleeping. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that people who didn’t get enough sleep ate more but they didn’t burn off the extra calories. The study took a group of middle-aged men and women of similar […]
July 26, 2011

Memory Impaired by Sleep Interruptions

People with medical conditions that interrupt their sleep often experience memory problems. Scientists using new technology have concluded that sleep discontinuity does impair memory according to a report in the Proceedings of the national Academy of Sciences. One of the conditions that causes sleep disruption is obstructive sleep apnea. Scientists have long suspected that sleep and memory are connected but […]
July 13, 2011

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Linked to Blood Vessel Changes

New research reported in Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association shows that obstructive sleep apnea may cause changes in blood vessel function that reduces blood supply to the heart. Treating the obstructive sleep apnea for 26 weeks improved blood supply. This study is the first to show blood vessel changes in sleep apnea patients. Researchers looked for changes in […]
July 6, 2011

Lack of Sleep Linked to More Pain

Poor quality sleep or not enough sleep may increase the perception of pain. A study from Harvard Medical School looked at health care workers and their length and quality of sleep. Sleep deficient was defined as sleeping less than six hours, feeling tired upon waking or experiencing insomnia (trouble falling asleep or waking up in the middle of the night). […]
June 29, 2011

People with Sleep Problems Use More Healthcare

Findings presented at the Associated Professional Sleep Societies 25th Annual Meeting showed that sleep problems are linked to increased utilization of health care and work absenteeism. The findings come from a review of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2005-2006. Compared with good sleepers, people who have trouble sleeping were more likely to have had […]
June 22, 2011

Why We Sleep

Humans need to sleep but researchers still don’t really know the reason why. New studies are emerging every day that show how learning is affected by sleep, how healing is affected by sleep, how memory is affected… you get the idea. It seems that sleep affects almost everything in our lives. We do know that sleep affords our brains time […]
June 17, 2011

Severe Sleep Apnea Treated with Combined CPAP and Oral Appliance

Research presented at the recent meeting of the American Academy of Dental Sleep medicine showed that patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea were improved more with a combination of a mandibular advancement splint (a type of oral appliance) and positive airway pressure (CPAP) than by CPAP alone. The results of the study showed that patients were better able to tolerate […]
June 14, 2011

Sleep Apnea and Pregnancy

A research abstract presented at a recent meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies showed that women with severe sleep apnea had a higher incidence of gestational diabetes and early preterm birth. The sleep disorder has been linked to heart disease and stroke in non-pregnant people but very few studies have looked at how sleep apnea affects women (and their […]
June 7, 2011

Carb Cravings Linked to Poor Sleep in Teens

A study presented at the 25th Anniversary Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies showed that strong cravings for carbohydrates in teens were in direct relation to their levels of daytime sleepiness. The kids with excessive daytime sleepiness were 50% more likely to crave carbs compared to kids who didn’t feel sleepy. Kids who craved carbohydrates were also much more […]
June 3, 2011

Men With ED Should Be Screened for Sleep Apnea

Researchers presenting at the American Urological Association meeting in Washington, D.C. suggest that men with erectile dysfunction should be tested for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This study found a link between the two disorders in 870 middle-aged men who are part of the Law Enforcement Cardiac Screening Program. According to lead researcher Dr. Boback Berookhim “The study is the largest […]
May 27, 2011

Asthma Breathing Problems Worse At Night

Studies have shown a link between asthma and sleep problems such as snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. Coughing, wheezing and other breathing issues frequently become worse at night leading to sleep deprivation. According to Dr. Stanley Fineman of the Atlanta Allergy and Asthma Clinic “Airways tend to have more spasms at night due to normal hormonal fluctuations.” Asthma occurs when […]
May 25, 2011

What is Sleep Apnea?

When people talk about sleep apnea they are usually referring to obstructive sleep apnea or OSA. Obstructive sleep apnea is a chronic condition that occurs during sleep when the muscles in the throat relax, blocking the flow of air.The sleeper stops breathing for periods of 10 seconds or longer.  This causes the amount of oxygen in the blood to drop […]
May 17, 2011

Add Impotence to List of OSA Symptoms

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has now been linked to erectile dysfunction. Researchers at Mount Sinai in New York conducted a study of 870 men. The average age was in the late 40’s and their body mass index average was in the obese range. Sixty-three percent of the men had OSA and once the researchers adjusted for other health issues and […]
April 28, 2011

Sleep Difficulties Linked to Metabolic Syndrome

Snoring, trouble falling asleep and feeling tired upon waking are all signs that may predict the development of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a medical condition linked to weight gain, heart disease and stroke. According to a study published a few months ago in the journal Sleep loud snoring was associated with more than twice the risk of developing metabolic […]
April 19, 2011

Sleep Deprivation Dangers in the News

From the tragic bus accident in the Bronx that killed 15 people to the continued reports of air traffic controllers falling asleep on duty, the dangers of going without proper sleep have been making news. Last year AAA polled drivers and found that one third of them admitted to falling asleep or nodding off while driving in the past year. […]
April 13, 2011

Summertime Sleep Issues

Summer will be here before we know it – even if it did feel like Winter would never end! Summer tends to bring changes in our regular routines. The kids are out of school, your favorite shows are off for the summer or maybe you like the summer replacements better, and there is always vacation time. These changes all add […]
April 6, 2011

Sleep Apnea Especially Dangerous for Diabetics

A study from the University of Birmingham in the UK reported that people with obstructive sleep apnea that also have Type 2 diabetes have a higher risk of losing their sight and increased foot problems. The study looked at a group of people who had type 2 diabetes, out of that group more than half also had obstructive sleep apnea. […]