For Sleep Apnea Patients, a Possible Alternative to Masks
Notes from Dr. Norman Blumenstock: Long-term impact of stimulation of the nerve in the jaw, called the hypoglossal nerve, is not known. By CATHERINE SAINT LOUIS Stephen Maturen for The New York TimesJackie Kopplin of Coon Rapids, Minn., had an upper airway stimulator implanted to help treat obstructive sleep apnea. The standard treatment for people with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea is a mask worn at night that helps them breathe without interruption. The mask is unwieldy and uncomfortable, however; one study found that46 percent to 83 percent of patients with obstructive sleep apneado not wear it diligently. Now scientists …
Is it just Snoring or is it Sleep Apnea?
From Dr. Norman Blumenstock: Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, and not everyone who has sleep apnea snores. Posted on December 25, 2013 Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, and not everyone who has sleep apnea snores. So how do you tell the difference between normal snoring and a more serious case of sleep apnea? The biggest telltale sign is how you feel during the day. Normal snoring doesn’t interfere with the quality of your sleep as much as sleep apnea does, so you’re less likely to suffer from extreme fatigue and sleepiness during the day. Even if you …
FAA Rejects “Rulemaking” Process, Will Implement Strict OSA Screening
From Dr. Norman Blumenstock: Hopefully this will make the skies safer for air travel. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is reporting that the FAA will move forward with implementing mandatory screening and testing for obstructive sleep apnea, despite opposition from the pilot and aviation medical communities. During a webinar last week, the Federal Flight Surgeon said the FAA would require aviation medical examiners to calculate body mass index (BMI) for all pilots. Those with a BMI of 40 or greater would have to be screened and, if necessary, treated for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). “The AME may issue a …
FAA to Ground Obese Pilots Until Examined for OSA, Pilots Fight for Rulemaking
Notes from Dr. Norman Blumenstock: This may result in improved public safety in the air. Pilots fear that they can lose their livelihood if they can’t tolerated CPAP. Oral appliances may be the best solution for those pilots that have mild or moderate obstructive sleep apnea. Published on Tuesday, 26 November 2013 10:09 By Sree Roy Pilots with a body mass index greater than 40 and a neck circumference of 17 inches or more will soon have to be tested for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) before being allowed to fly, according to a bulletin issued by Federal Air Surgeon Fred Tilton, MD. …
Pilots Push Back on FAA Apnea Screening Policy
Notes from Dr. Norman Blumenstock: Should airline pilots get screened for obstructive sleep apnea? November 20, 2013 by agpubs The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is asking the Federal Aviation Administration to indefinitely suspend a new policy that would require some pilots to be screened and, if necessary, treated for obstructive sleep apnea before receiving a medical certificate. An article posted on the AOPA Web site reports that at first, the screening would apply to pilots with a body mass index (BMI) over 40. Over time, the FAA would lower theBMI requirement, compelling more pilots to be screened by a board-certified sleep specialist. The …
Americans are Popping Sleeping Pills in Record Numbers
Notes from Dr. Norman Blumenstock: The CDC report, based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005 to 2010), found that nearly nine million Americans take prescription sleeping pills in pursuit of good night’s rest. November 21, 2013 By Dr. Mercola The first-ever federal health study about sleeping pill usage suggests that sleep is growing ever more elusive for Americans.1 According to the latest information, between 50 and 70 million Americans suffer from sleep deprivation, with increasing numbers relying on prescription sleep aids.2 The CDC report, based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005 …
Spotlight on Sleep Apnea
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recognizes untreated sleep apnea as a risk to the public health: Staying awake means staying alive. Sleep apnea is a major contributor to daytime drowsiness—a condition that could prove deadly for commercial truck drivers and everyone sharing the road with them. It is a condition where, during sleep, a narrowing or closure of the upper airway causes repeated sleep disturbances leading to poor sleep quality and excessive daytime sleepiness. Since excessive sleepiness can impact a driver’s ability to safely operate the commercial vehicle, it is important that drivers with sleep apnea are aware of …
Sleep Therapy Seen as an Aid for Depression
Notes from Dr. Norman Blumenstock: Insomnia can lead to depression according to a presentation by Dr Thomas Roth that I attended this past weekend at the the NJ Sleep Society. By BENEDICT CAREY Published: November 18, 2013 Curing insomnia in people with depression could double their chance of a full recovery, scientists are reporting. The findings, based on an insomnia treatment that uses talk therapy rather than drugs, are the first to emerge from a series of closely watched studies of sleep and depression to be released in the coming year. The new report affirms the results of a smaller pilot …
Man calls police because lover ‘snoring like a train’
WAUKESHA, Wis. — It wasn’t exactly assault with a deadly weapon, but for a Wisconsin man, his lover’s loud snoring was enough to warrant a call to the police. According to a City of Waukesha police report, the man called 911 earlier this week to remove a woman from his bed because she was “snoring like a train.” Police say when the man initially called for help, he told the dispatcher that he wasn’t sure how the woman got into his apartment. But he later admitted that he did let the woman in willingly. Once officers arrived at his home, his story …
Experts Reshape Treatment Guide for Cholesterol
Notes from Dr. Norman Blumenstock: The intermittent hypoxia created by obstructive sleep apnea appears to alter the surface of blood vessels, allowing the cholesterol to adversely affect those blood vessels. Statins drugs alone may not be enough if the obstructive sleep apnea is not treated in my opinion. By GINA KOLATA Published: November 12, 2013 The nation’s leading heart organizations released new guidelines on Tuesday that will fundamentally reshape the use of cholesterol-lowering statin medicines, which are now prescribed for a quarter of Americans over 40. Patients on statins will no longer need to lower their cholesterol levels to specific numerical …
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