Can Cannabis Help Treat Sleep Disorders?
By Jason Sander – Jul 23, 2016 The more scientists find out about cannabis, the more the claims of some advocates are validated. It’s no secret that cannabis research has been stifled due to its illegality. Despite a lack of conclusive evidence on cannabis as an effective treatment for sleep disorders, many people swear that cannabis helps them sleep better than anything else. Currently, cannabis can be prescribed to treat sleep disorders in 7 different states. Sleep disorders can describe one or more of the following: Insomnia – persistent, sometimes chronic inability to fall or stay asleep Sleep Apnea …
Unsafe sleep conditions tied to most sudden infant deaths.
A newborn sleeps soundly in his crib which is properly outfitted for his safety. Credit: Rick Wood June 22, 2016 By Crocker Stephenson of the Journal Sentinel The vast majority of babies who experienced sudden unexpected infant death in Wisconsin during 2013 and 2014 were exposed to multiple risks for unsafe sleep, according to a report released Wednesday by Keeping Kids Alive in Wisconsin. During that two-year period, 119 babies died of SUID, which is the death of an infant less than 12 months old that occurs suddenly and unexpectedly and whose cause is not immediately obvious before an investigation. …
Drowsy driving and car crashes: How night-shift work contributes to traffic dangers.
Last updated: June 28, 2016 Drowsy driving has caused or contributed to hundreds of thousands of motor vehicle crashes and thousands of deaths in recent years. Estimates of drowsy driving-related accidents, injuries and deaths vary, however. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), sleep-deprived and fatigued drivers caused 846 deaths in 2014. The NHTSA reports that, on average, an estimated 83,000 crashes a year were blamed on sleepy drivers between 2005 and 2009. A report from the Massachusetts Special Commission on Drowsy Driving suggests that the problem is much worse. The widely-publicized 2009 report, “Asleep at the Wheel,” estimates that …
Scientists Measure Eye Pressure of Sleeping Patients to Find Link Between OSAS and Glaucoma
Published on July 25, 2016 Hokkaido University researchers have measured the eye pressure of sleeping patients with obstructive sleep apnea, revealing a correlation between this disorder and glaucoma, reports News Medical. Glaucoma is thought to be a disease in which the optic nerve sustains damage due to increased eye pressure, resulting in a restricted visual field. In addition to strokes and cardiovascular disease such as heart attacks, people with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) are prone to suffer from glaucoma at a rate about 10 times higher than non-OSAS sufferers. However, it has been technically difficult to continuously measure …
How much does inadequate sleep affect you?
A recent study shows most LEOs are working over 1,000 hours of overtime each year. What are the effects of fatigue, both on and off the job? Jul 20, 2016 By Megan Wells, PoliceOne Contributor In 1991, The National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research listened to testimony from officers who described terrible work schedules, high stress, and overwhelming fatigue as hallmarks of their work environment. The testimony was powerful, but the lack of scientific data to support the officers’ statements meant the Commission was unable to determine the extent of police fatigue. Scientific data on sleep deprivation within law enforcement …
9 Alternative Therapies for Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Published on September 18, 2014 CPAP is the gold standard for obstructive sleep apnea, but what about patients who can’t—or won’t—tolerate it or who need an additional therapy? We profile the spectrum of FDA-approved therapies, including when to try them, considerations for each, and new developments. By Sree Roy DEVICES Oral Appliances Information source: Dr Kathleen Bennett, president, American Academy of Dental Medicine How it works: Oral appliance therapy (OAT) helps prevent the collapse of the tongue and soft tissues in the back of the throat by supporting the jaw in a forward position, keeping the airway open during sleep. …
How to Make Sure Your Kid Gets Enough Sleep This Summer
Carey Wallace | July 18, 2016 Vacation offers the perfect opportunity for kids of all ages to adjust their sleep cycle The summer break from school offers kids a break from the daily grind of classes—and a chance to catch up on rest. As any parent knows, a tired kid is a moody kid. But kids who don’t have good sleep habits long term can face a host of other problems, according to Jodi Mindell, professor of psychology at St. Joseph’s University and author of Take Charge of Your Child’s Sleep. “There’s no question that there’s a link …
Predicting Obstructive Sleep Apnea with Periodic Snoring Sound Recorded at Home.
http://dx.doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.5922 Anniina Alakuijala, MD, PhD1,2; Tapani Salmi, MD, PhD1,2 1Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, HUS Medical Imaging Center, Helsinki University Hospital, Finland; 2Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland Supplemental Material Login to view supplemental material Study Objectives The cost-effectiveness of diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) could be improved by using a preliminary screening method among subjects with no suspicion of other sleep disorders. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of periodic snoring sound recorded at home. Methods We included 211 subjects, aged 18–83 (130 men), who were referred to our laboratory for suspicion of OSA, and had …
Short sleep associated with hypertension.
15 Jul 16 CURATED BY Jim Kling Takeaway In a Chinese population, short sleepers had a heightened risk for hypertension. Study design The researchers studied 874 Chinese participants (age, 40-70 y) without hypertension, recruited from 6 districts of Tianjin, China. Participants were reexamined after 2 y of follow-up. Key results Among the younger age group (40-55 y), a short sleep duration (≤4.9 h was associated with a significantly higher risk for hypertension compared with sleeping for 7-8 h in unadjusted analyses (OR, 3.15; 95% CI, 1.04-9.54). In an adjusted model, a significant difference was also found in the frequency …
Why is it hard to fall sleep when it’s hot out?
By Tamara Kaye Sellman RPSGT CCSH – July 29, 2016 The high humidity, high heat summers of Kansas are upon us, and that means it’s probably been hard for many to get their sleep. The struggle is real, and it relates to ambient room temperature and our own core body temperature. The relationship between sleep and temperature Part of the sleeping process is driven by intentional changes in core body temperature that are managed through our circadian rhythms. Our brain provides us with an internal thermostat as part of this system, and it generally manages thermoregulation for us at all times. During any …
Patient Reviews
