[Micro]sensing the Future
Notes from Dr. Norman BlumenstockThe tiny recorder that improves compliance monitoring can be a game changer for oral appliance therapy. Published on May 28, 2014, By Sree Roy Tiny microrecorders are designed to fit comfortably on an oral appliance. Air Aid Sleep’s microsensor (shown) measures a mere 8 mm x 12 mm x 4 mm. Could the key to mass acceptance of oral appliances for mild to moderate OSA be a recorder that’s smaller than a fingernail? Good things come in small packages, so the saying goes. In the field of dental sleep medicine, many oral appliance manufacturers and dentists say …
New Study Reveals Possible Link Between Sleep Apnea & Hearing Loss
Notes from Dr. Norman BlumenstockCould hearing loss be linked to obstructive sleep apnea? June 12, 2014 5:45 PM (Photo Credit: KDKA) PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Sleep apnea is becoming so common that it may soon be considered a chronic disease. Approximately one-in-fifteen Americans have it and some don’t even know it. http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/video/10261279-new-study-reveals-possible-link-between-sleep-apnea-hearing-loss/ Sleep apnea has been linked to heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes and obesity. Now, add hearing loss to the list. In research presented at a chest surgeons’ meeting, 14,000 people in an Hispanic community study were evaluated for their backgrounds, lifestyles, health conditions, and noise exposure. They …
Scientists Search for the Best Sleepers
Working to unravel the secrets of sleep, gene by gene. Less than 1% of Americans need less than six hours of sleep. Researchers are trying to unlock the secrets of the early-to-bed, early-to-rise sleeper. WSJ health reporter Sumathi Reddy discusses on Lunch Break with Tanya Rivero. Photo: Getty In a lab at the University of California, San Francisco, a husband-and-wife team is working to unravel the secrets of sleep, gene by gene. Louis Ptáček is studying why some people are genetically wired to be morning larks—an estimated 3% of the population who go to bed unusually early and rise early—while …
Train Derailment Fuels Sleep Apnea Screening Talks
Notes from Dr. Norman BlumenstockScreening of truck drivers is another area of concern. WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) — A deadly Metro-North train derailment last year in which the “dazed” engineer was found to have sleep apnea has pushed the commuter railroad to look into establishing screening for the condition, which could include measuring operators’ necks and asking them and their spouses about snoring habits. Metro-North spokesman Aaron Donovan confirmed that the railroad that serves New York City’s northern suburbs is working with unions on sleep apnea screening, but he cautioned nothing has been decided. Any program, he said, “would be …
Scientists solver snoring using 3D printing
Notes from Dr. Norman Blumenstock This oral device is not made in the USA as of yet nor have they applied for FDA approval. The Narval from Res-Med is a 3D printing appliance that I provide as one of many options. Submitted by Dinesh Chandra Gaur on Wed, 05/07/2014 – 09:34 The revolutionary 3D printing is now being used by scientists to create mouthpieces made of titanium which will assist snorers to breather much easily when they sleep. People who snore suffer from obstructive sleep apnoea which leads to disrupted sleep. These mouthpieces work by diverting air around the teeth to the …
Is snoring ruining your sex life?
Notes from Dr. Norman BlumenstockGoing on vacation can get expensive if you need two rooms. DONALD M. SESSO, D.O., FOR PHILLY.COM/HEALTH POSTED: Wednesday, April 30, 2014, 4:34 AM Are you sleeping in a different room because your partner is snoring? If you are, you’re not alone. The New York Times reports that 25% of couples sleep in separate rooms due to snoring and that 60% of custom homes will be constructed with dual master bedrooms by 2015. While partners of snorers reported better sleep when sleeping alone, the majority also stated that the arrangement had a negative impact on their relationship. When …
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, …
Are you kept awake by your partner’s snoring? Get them to sing.
Notes from Dr. Norman Blumenstock:Singing may not cure snoring or obstructive sleep apnea but increased muscle tone from singing may be somewhat helpful. 10:30am Friday 7th March 2014 in News Rock choir helps reduce snoring PEOPLE suffering from bad nights sleep or kept awake by their partner’s snoring, should start singing. According to research joining a Rock Choir group can help boost people’s mental health and wellbeing, while reducing snoring. Helen Just, leader of the Droitwich Spa, Great Malvern and Worcester Rock Choir, said a study carried out by the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust found preliminary evidence that …
Dreaming of Sleep: Silencing snoring for restful nights.
Notes from Dr. Norman Blumenstock:This a decent article about snoring. Unfortunately it doesn’t mention it’s connection to obstructive sleep apnea. POSTED BY LOUISE PYPER / FEBRUARY 19, 2014 / As children we all used to tease our parents and grandparents for snoring. It is not just the ‘old folk’ who snores, some of us can start snoring in our late teens and early twenties. Snoring usually happens when something is partially obstructing your airways. The sound comes from you throat where air flows pass relaxed tissue and as you breathe the tissue starts for vibrate, causing the snoring sound. Snoring …
What Is It About Sleep Apnea That Seems To Predict Heart Risks?
Notes from Dr. Norman Blumenstock This is a serious issue. Posted: 02/06/2014 9:01 am EST Updated: 02/06/2014 9:59 am EST MORE: Sleep Apnea Cardiovascular EventsSleep Apnea Cardiovascular RisksSleep Apnea Heart RisksSleep Apnea Cardiovascular DiseaseSleep Apnea HeartHealthy Living News It’s well-established that obstructive sleep apnea is linked with increased heart risks. But now, a new study teases apart what exactly it is about the sleep disorder, characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep leading to disrupted sleep, that seems to predict these cardiovascular events. Obstructive sleep apnea is measured by the number of times a person stops breathing during sleep (the apnea-hypopnea index, or AHI). However, researchers found …