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 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. […]
March 24, 2011

Diagnose Sleep Apnea at Home

It is a life threatening medical condition that effects millions. But many people are going without getting diagnosed for the sleep apnea because of the hassle and the expense. Almost 20 million American’s may be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea, in part due to the growing obesity problem. The rise in sleep apnea cases is also adding to our national […]
March 17, 2011

Could Be Sleep Apnea Waking You Up, Not Prostate

A study completed by Ben-Gurion University has shown that many patients that blame enlarged prostates for their nighttime awakenings may actually be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. The study compared randomly selected men between 55 and 75 years of age who were diagnosed with benign prostate enlargement and reported waking to use the toilet at least once per night. They […]
March 11, 2011

Spring Forward Time Change Makes Me Tired

Daylight Savings Time is set to return again – along with the annual  sleep disruptions that most of us experience following the changing of the clocks. The National Sleep Foundation suggests several steps to reduce the sleep loss and the grumpiness that “losing” that one hour of sleep brings for most Americans. The first step to any easy transition – […]
March 4, 2011

Dear Abby Readers Want Info on Snoring

A recent Dear Abby column printed a letter from “Seeking Slumber in Santa Barbara” who complained about one spouse’s snoring keeping the other spouse from a good night’s sleep. This writer was begging for solutions to her problem. The columnist rightly suggested visiting his or her physician to discover the cause of the snoring rather than relying on suggestions passed […]
March 3, 2011

Sleep Apnea Can't Be Treated Over the Internet

The L.A. Times recently had an article about treating sleep apnea with oral appliances instead of surgery or CPAP therapy. The article outlines the two options for oral appliances that are on the market – prescription devices that are obtained from a specially trained dentist or mass-market items purchased from the internet. The prescription devices which are designed to move […]
February 25, 2011

Getting Diagnosed – Is It Really Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea is very common but most people suffering from the disease have not been diagnosed. New studies are proving that anyone, including children, can have sleep apnea. So how do you know if you have sleep apnea? Most people discover their disease because their bed partner complains about their loud snoring and gasping noises all night long. This […]
February 16, 2011

Snorers in the Majority

Three out of every four Americans snore or suffer from some other form of sleep disorder. Depression, heart disease, fatigue, high blood pressure and weight gain are common effects. For the partner that lives with the snoring the lack of sleep is almost equally dangerous to their health. Most people don’t realize that loud snoring can be a sign of […]