January 27, 2012

Sleep Problems Raise Heart and Obesity Risks

Common sleep problems like difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or even sleeping too much increase the risk of heart disease and obesity. A study reported in the Journal of Sleep Research looked at almost 140,000 people. Those that reported sleep disturbance three nights out of the week were more likely to experience obesity, heart attack and heart disease. When the […]
January 18, 2012

Sleep Apnea In Women Diagnosed Less

Sleep apnea may be diagnosed less in women because women’s symptoms may be different from a mans. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disorder that causes people to stop breathing during sleep. Usually loud snoring, gasping for breath and daytime fatigue are symptoms. Apnea events are counted when the breathing stops or slows for at least 10 seconds at a […]
January 9, 2012

Poor Sleep May Increase Fibromyalgia Risk

A study from Norway suggests that poor sleep habits may increase the risk of fibromyalgia in women. Fibromyalgia is a syndrome with symptoms including long term pain throughout the body with increased muscle and joint tenderness. The risk of developing fibromyalgia increased with more severe sleep problems. The connection appears stronger among women who were past middle age as compared […]
January 4, 2012

National Sleep Day

It seems that yesterday was National Sleep Day and I missed it. Maybe you missed it too! Considering how important a good night of sleep is to our overall health I think we really need more than one day per year devoted to sleep. Following the hectic holiday season we are all a little overtired during the first week in […]
December 13, 2011

Cherry Juice May Improve Sleep Problems

Sleep problems affect about one-third of Americans. Some, such as obstructive sleep apnea, are serious and may be life threatening.  But many more people suffer from problems such as insomnia or waking throughout the night. No matter what the cause, poor sleep quality can lead to serious medical problems over time. A study in the European Journal of Nutrition showed […]
November 15, 2011

Mediterranean Diet May Help Sleep Apnea

Researchers have found that eating a Mediterranean diet and exercising  can improve some sleep apnea symptoms. The study published in European Respiratory Journal looked at the impact of the Mediterranean diet on obese sleep apnea patients as compared to patients on a prudent diet. Obstructive sleep apnea is one of the most common sleep breathing disorders and becomes more prevalent […]
November 8, 2011

Psychiatric Symptoms Worsen With Sleep Apnea

The symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea can sometimes mimic those of mental illness – lethargy, irritability, forgetfulness. When those suffering from depression or another form of mental illness also have obstructive sleep apnea it can make the mental illness worse and possibly contribute to manic episodes. Unfortunately, screening for sleep disorders in psychiatric patients is rarely done. A new study […]
November 4, 2011

Sleep Apnea Increases Risk of Atrial Fibrillation

Sleep disordered breathing such as sleep apnea has been shown to increase the risk of heart arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation (afib). A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology showed that the risk of having an abnormal heartbeat were 18 times higher immediately after an apnea episode compared to during normal sleep breathing. The apnea did […]
October 27, 2011

Quarterback Sidelined by Sleep Apnea

Former Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell talked to Sports Illustrated about the twists and turns his career has taken. One important item that came out of the discussion – Russell suffers from obstructive sleep apnea. “In the NFL, my first year, I had to be there at 6:30 before practice and be on the treadmill for an hour. Then meetings come, […]
October 20, 2011

OSA Patients Likely To Have Health Problems

OSA stands for obstructive sleep apnea which is a condition associated with snoring and daytime sleepiness. OSA sufferers stop breathing many times each night because their airways collapse and stop the passage of air. It is estimated that almost 90% of people who suffer from this disease have not been diagnosed. A group of researchers in India found that OSA […]
October 4, 2011

Acid Reflux May Be Helped By Sleep Apnea Treatment

Gastro-esophageal reflux disease, more commonly known as acid reflux, is common among patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Choosing to treat obstructive sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy may allow patients to “kill two birds with one stone” as they say. It appears that using an oral appliance may also reduce acid reflux symptoms. A small study looked at dental patients […]
October 1, 2011

Are We Learning During Sleep?

I have talked about the health hazards that come along with not getting enough sleep or when living with an untreated sleep breathing disorder like obstructive sleep apnea. A new research study reinforces the idea that getting a good night’s sleep is important. Resarchers reported in the Journal of Experimental Psychology that people may be learning while they are sleeping. […]
September 23, 2011

New Screening Tool for Sleep Apnea?

Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night to visit the bathroom? This is called nocturia and new research suggests that nighttime urination frequency can help doctors screen for sleep apnea. Nocturia and sleep apnea have been linked before but this is the first time researchers have sought to discover whether it can predict if someone suffers […]
September 22, 2011

Proper Sleep Linked to Better Blood Sugar Levels

Three out of four high school students report that they don’t get enough sleep. Now researchers at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia have shown that obese teenagers who don’t get the proper amount of sleep may have changes in blood sugar levels and insulin secretion. This study suggests that these teens may be able to prevent or slow the development […]
September 14, 2011

Do Sleep Disorders Run in Your Family?

You might have inherited your red hair and green eyes from dear old dad but his sleep disorder could run in family as well. A study presented at the 4th World Congress on Sleep Medicine showed that the risk of insomnia was 67% higher in patients who had family members  who were also insomniacs. The study was done using a […]
August 30, 2011

Sleep Type Linked to High Blood Pressure in Older Men

Researchers have discovered that getting enough of a specific type of sleep is linked to high blood pressure risk in older men. The slow wave sleep is one of the deeper stages of sleep and individuals in this stage are very hard to wake up. According to researchers from Harvard Medical school elderly men who are not getting enough of […]
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 […]