The Power of Sleep
Notes from Dr. Norman BlumenstockNew research shows a good night’s rest isn’t a luxury–it’s critical for your brain and for your health New research shows a good night’s rest isn’t a luxury–it’s critical for your brain and for your health When our heads hit the pillow every night, we tend to think we’re surrendering. Not just to exhaustion, though there is that. We’re also surrendering our mind, taking leave of our focus on sensory cues, like noise and smell and blinking lights. It’s as if we’re powering ourselves down like we do the electronics at our bedside–going idle for a …
Events: September 8-14, 2014 is Idiopathic Hypersomnia Awareness Week
Notes from Dr. Norman Blumenstock An overnight sleep study is necessary to diagnosis the cause of your excessive daytime sleepines. It could be caused by obstructive sleep apnea, idiopathic hypersomnia or Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS). 08 September 2014 Events: September 8-14, 2014 is Idiopathic Hypersomnia Awareness Week From the Hypersomnia Foundation website: “Hypersomnia is a debilitating neurological disorder where patients lose their cognitive ability, sleep excessively, yet still crave sleep above all else. …This means they often struggle to work, operate a vehicle or live independently. In fact, often just waking up is an ordeal in and of itself …
Untreated snoring in kids may lead to heart disease: expert
TNN | Aug 26, 2014, 10.51PM IST Kanpur: Does your kid snore while sleeping at night? If the answer is `yes’, you should immediately consult a doctor, as it can be a symptom of sleep breathing disorder, a more serious underlying problem that can affect your child’s physical and mental well-being, an expert revealed during the third day of IMA CGP. Dr JC Suri from New Delhi, said that sleep breathing disorder is most common among kids between 2-18 years of age. “This problem is seen in about 5% of children between this age group. The biggest reason being excessive growth of …
Can Sleep Loss Affect Your Brain Size?
Published on September 4, 2014 Sleep difficulties may be linked to faster rates of decline in brain volume, according to a study published in the September 3, 2014, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Sleep has been proposed to be “the brain’s housekeeper,” serving to repair and restore the brain. The study included 147 adults between 20 and 84 years old. Researchers examined the link between sleep difficulties, such as having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep at night, and brain volume. All participants underwent two MRI brain scans, an average of 3.5 …
Sleep Apnea is a Risk Factor for Strokes
Published on August 29, 2014 Research at the University of Miami aims to learn what makes sleep apnea a risk factor for strokes, the Miami Herald reports. A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted, depriving the brain of oxygen. A stroke may be caused by a narrowed or blocked artery supplying blood to the brain or by a burst blood vessel in the brain. The interruptions in breathing that characterize sleep apnea lead to low oxygen levels in the blood and brain. “Sleep apnea triggers a series of responses in the body as …
Untreated Sleep Apnea Has Risks
Severe obstructive sleep apnea linked to high blood pressure with medication. August 17, 2014 / Author: Tara Haelle / Reviewed by: Robert Carlson, M.D. Beth Bolt, RPh (dailyRx News) The link between obstructive sleep apnea and high blood pressure has been known among doctors for a while. But it may be stronger link than most realize. A recent study found that those with severe obstructive sleep apnea, when not treated, is linked to high blood pressure even when a person is taking blood pressure medications. The most common treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure, of CPAP. …
Driver Charged in Crash Involving Tracy Morgan Had Not Slept in 24 Hours, Prosecutors Say
By J. DAVID GOODMANJUNE 9, 2014The Walmart driver whose truck collided with a van carrying the comedian Tracy Morgan and other performers had not slept for more than 24 hours before the crash, New Jersey prosecutors said on Monday.Prosecutors in Middlesex County charged the truck driver, Kevin Roper, 35, of Jonesboro, Ga., on Saturday with one count of death by auto and several counts of assault by auto in connection with the pileup early that day on the northbound New Jersey Turnpike in Cranbury Township, about 45 miles from New York City. One comedian, James McNair, known as Jimmy Mack, was …
Unmasking Sleep Apnea Treatments: What to Try If CPAP Doesn’t Work for You
Notes from Dr. Norman BlumenstockLooking for a CPAP alternative? Posted: 05/15/2014 5:36 pm EDT Updated: 05/15/2014 5:59 pm EDT Your piercing, chainsaw snore may be a favorite family joke — but it should also be a figurative wake-up call. Habitual, loud snoring is a key symptom of sleep apnea, a disease that affects 12-18 million Americans and increases the risk of health problems including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, erectile dysfunction and depression. You’ve likely heard of the “gold standard” for sleep apnea treatment, a machine with a running motor, tubing and a face mask called a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. …
The Comparison of CPAP and OA in Treatment of Patients with OSA
Li W, Xiao L, Hu J. Respir Care. 2013 Jan 3 A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to compare the outcomes of oral appliances (OA) with those of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in treatment of patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Relevant studies were retrieved from the following electronic databases up to and including September of 2012: MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, and Central Register of Controlled Trials. The main variables were epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), health-related quality of life, cognitive performance, blood pressure, apnea and hypopnea index (AHI), arousal Index (AI), minimum saturation (Min SaO2), rapid eye movement sleep, …
Sleep Apnea Boosts Risk of Pneumonia
Notes from Dr. Norman Blumenstock Sleep apnea appeared to confer a higher risk for future pneumonia, possibly in a severity-dependent manner. The risk was even higher among patients who received CPAP therapy. No mention of oral appliances in this study. A study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) titled “Sleep apnea and risk of pneumonia: a nationwide population-based study” analyzed evidence to determine the risk of pneumonia in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Researchers explored the risk of incident pneumonia among adults with sleep apnea, either with or without the need of CPAP therapy. According to the article, …
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