Notes from Dr. Norman Blumenstock Data previously published in the American Journal of Epidemiology show that the estimated prevalence rates of obstructive sleep apnea have increased substantially over the last two decades, most likely due to the obesity epidemic. It is now estimated that 26 percent of adults between the ages of 30 and 70 years have sleep apnea. September 29, 2014 New studies highlight destructive nature of obstructive sleep apnea and benefits of continuous positive airway pressure therapy. Credit: AASM Public health and safety are threatened by the increasing prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea, which now afflicts at least 25 million adults in …
How to Use Data to Get Better Sleep
Notes from Dr. Norman Blumenstock All sorts of fitness trackers and bed sensors say they quantify sleep. But once you collect data, what do you do next? PC Magazine reports. Published on September 29, 2014 All sorts of fitness trackers and bed sensors say they quantify sleep. But once you collect data, what do you do next? PC Magazine reports. Collect Additional Data to Correlate The problem is that knowing what times of night you tossed and turned, or how much time in bed you spent asleep or awake, isn’t enough information to guide you to make changes that will help you …
Can Sleep Apnea Predict a Heart Attack?
By Eric Cohen, MD Published Sep 8, 2014 Many of the patients I see who complain about sleep issues have some level of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). In fact, as many one in five adults have at least a mild form of sleep apnea. People with obstructive sleep apnea are also more likely to have hypertension, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease. Now, as a result of the latest research, when we test for sleep apnea we also examine and focus on the state of a person’s heart. The link between sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease has been studied for several years. In 2013 it …
Sleep Apps in the Spotlight
Another sign that sleep health is going more mainstream every day is the proliferation of smart phone applications (apps) being designed for the consumer market. Hayley Tsukayama, consumer technology beat reporter for The Washington Post, writes that there are “dozens” of sleep apps in Apple and Google’s app stores. Some offer meditation tips or even play soothing white noise. “Perhaps most intriguing of all, there’s also a whole class of apps devoted to sleep analysis,” she writes, “and apps that you leave up on your phone’s screen while you snooze that monitor your sleep based on your movements and the sounds …
Sleep Apnea Predisposes To Impaired Brain Blood Flow With Physical Activity
Notes from Dr. Norman BlumenstockMedicalresearch.com interviews Paul Macey, PhD, lead researcher on a study that provides evidence of sleep apnea hurting the brain Medical Research: Were any of the findings unexpected? Dr. Macey: We did not expect that breathing very hard into a small tube would lead to similar changes in brain blood flow in the sleep apnea and healthy people; we had expected the sleep apnea patients to show problems, as they did during the gripping and cold foot activities. We now believe the hand and foot activities need to use more higher brain areas, but that these areas …
Sleep sensors: waking up to the need to study our night’s rest
Notes from Dr. Norman Blumenstock Many people are turning to fitness trackers to help boost the health benefits of better sleep Every night Jack Hammond straps a small gadget to his wrist. The sensor claims to track his sleep, monitoring every toss and turn so that when he wakes it can tell him how long he slept, how much of it was deep sleep – and how often he was woken up by his unsociable neighbor. “I can see that I need about four hours’ deep sleep to feel refreshed, and I need to be asleep for about eight hours for …
CPAP Pressure for Prediction of Oral Appliance Treatment Response in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Notes from Dr. Norman BlumenstockIn Australian patients, the majority of whom are Caucasian, a higher therapeutic CPAP pressure requirement in conjunction with age and OSA severity characteristics may be useful to indicate likelihood of success with oral appliance (MAS) as an alternative therapy. Scientific Investigations CPAP Pressure for Prediction of Oral Appliance Treatment Response in Obstructive Sleep Apnea http://dx.doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.4020 Kate Sutherland, Ph.D.1,2; Craig L. Phillips, Ph.D.1,2; Amanda Davies, B.Sc.(Hons)1,2; Vasanth K. Srinivasan, M.D.Sc.3; Oyku Dalci, Ph.D.3; Brendon J. Yee, M.D., Ph.D.1,4; M. Ali Darendeliler, Ph.D.3; Ronald R. Grunstein, M.D., Ph.D.1,4; Peter A. Cistulli, M.D., Ph.D.1,2 1NHMRC Centre for Sleep Health …
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 …
BMI Calculator: How Healthy Is Your Weight?
Notes from Dr. Norman Blumenstock Typically, people with higher BMIs have a greater likelihood of developing conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and type 2 diabetes. But many factors — including your family history, eating habits and activity level — also influence your overall health. http://www.aarp.org/health/fitness/info-05-2010/bmi_calculator.html?cmp=NLC-MBA-090814&e2token=Ymx1bWVuc3RvY0B5YWhvby5jb20%3D Calculate your BMI. …
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