A nightly breathing treatment may do more than help people with obstructive sleep apnea get a good night’s rest — it may also help prevent heart failure.

In a study published in Circulation: Heart Failure, a journal of the American Heart Association, researchers in the U.K. discovered that moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can cause changes in the heart’s shape and function, similar to the effects of hypertension. These changes include increased mass, thickening of the heart wall and reduced pumping ability.

But, six months after continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment, the abnormalities returned to near-normal measurements in sleep apnea patients. Read the rest of this entry

Demanding schedules and high stress levels compel almost 78% of the corporate employees to sleep less than 6 hours every day leading to variety of sleep disorders and other health problems.

The ASSOCHAM survey findings revealed that “Loss of sleep has wide ranging effects including daytime fatigue, physical discomfort, psychological stress, performance deterioration, low-pain threshold and increase absenteeism”.

Women are at more risk as they suffer with more sleep problems than men. More than 50% of women said they frequently experience a sleep problem. Read the rest of this entry

If you are getting older you are more likely to sleep like a baby!

Nearly 100 million Americans are suffering from one or other sleep disorders like sleep apnea, insomnia, sleep deprivation, sleep disturbance and daytime fatigue to name just a few. But those who are getting older have good news that their sleep is getting better as they grow old. A good night’s sleep just like a baby sleep gets possible in older age.

A research study performed on more than 150,000 Americans concluded recently and published in the March edition of the Journal SLEEP revealed that sleep seems to improve over a lifetime, with the fewest sleep complaints coming from people in their 80s. Read the rest of this entry

One of the premier providers of innovative supplies for continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) products for the treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), Circadiance announces the launch of its latest product evolution with the New and Improved SleepWeaver® Advance soft cloth nasal CPAP mask with the revolutionary Zzzephyr Seal®.

“The evolution of this product is the result of ongoing communication with our customers, reseller network and sleep technicians throughout the world,” said David Groll, CEO. “Our focus on quality through feedback has led to the re-engineering and significant improvement to our successful SleepWeaver® soft cloth nasal CPAP mask providing an even better fit and seal.” Read the rest of this entry

Building on their highly successful System One humidification, Philips  Respironics has introduced an additional humidification solution that enhances  performance, flexibility and comfort for the sleep apnea sufferer. The System  One Heated Tube provides CPAP users with air temperature control, improved humidification and rainout  protection. The Heated Tube can only be found on the Philips Respironics System  One REMstar Auto A-Flex with Heated Humidification and Heated Tube model  DS560TS.

The System One Heated Tube takes into account the room temperature and  humidity by using a sensor at the end of the Heated Tube to allow the CPAP user to choose what temperature is  right for them and at the same time protects against rainout. The Heated  Tube is a welcome advance in CPAP therapy and is just another reason why Philips  Respironics is a leader in the sleep therapy market. Read the rest of this entry

The ResMed S9 AutoSet CPAP machine is available from Sleep Restfully, Inc. The S9 Autoset is the finest auto-titrating CPAP machine on the market. Manufactured by ResMed, known for excellent quality CPAP machines and CPAP mask throughout the world, count on the S9 Autoset to control your obstructive sleep apnea.

The S9 AutoSet combines an intelligent algorithm with Easy-Breathe expiratory pressure relief (EPR) to dynamically adjust pressure for maximum comfort. Using ResMed’s time-tested APAP technology, AutoSet continually monitors breathing, adapting breath-by-breath to always deliver the lowest therapeutic pressure, improving comfort and sleep. Enhanced AutoSet is now able to differentiate between obstructive and central sleep apneas, so you can be confident that you are always receiving appropriate therapy and pressure. Read the rest of this entry

Many children with sleep disorders aren’t obviously sleepy during the day but may be hyperactive, inattentive, or have difficulty with focus or memory.Sleep-deprived kids may also have chronic mood swings and aggressive behavior.

Your child’s problems and other related obscure behavior can be changed with better sleep.

Following tips are worth trying:

1. Monitor the hours your child sleeps – not the hours in bed.

2. Provide a consistent, soothing bedtime routine, including a “wind down” time. Read the rest of this entry

The Aviisha Medical Institute’s DriveSafe Program is lowering costs associated with the testing and treatment of sleep apnea for commercial drivers. Launched in February, the program is also aimed at raising awareness about this serious disease and helping drivers stay compliant.

The DriveSafe Program is the institute’s latest effort to combat the effects of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea has recently been spotlighted in the commercial driver industry.

In January, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced that it had adopted recommendations to have all commercial drivers with a body mass index of 35 or higher tested for sleep apnea. A person with a body mass index of 35 or higher is considered obese and is at high risk of having sleep apnea. Read the rest of this entry

Sleep is sleep, isn’t it?

But have you ever thought about whether your child is getting healthy sleep?

The sleep quality among infants and children generally vary just as the quality of their diets do.

Healthy sleep is as important as good nutrition and exercise for normal growth and development. Sleep also impacts daytime mood and functioning. If your child has poor grades or other difficulties in school, it’s possible that could be traced back to lack of sleep. Read the rest of this entry

The National Sleep Foundation is pleased to announce its partnership with LARK, creator of the award-winning sleep monitor, silent alarm clock, and personal sleep coach, to educate consumers on the importance of sleep and the best practices for sleep health.

“We’re excited by the potential of the convergence of technology and interest in sleep,” says David Cloud, CEO of the National Sleep Foundation. “LARK is at the cutting edge of consumer sleep devices and by working together, the National Sleep Foundation and LARK can help everyone understand how to make the most of their time in bed.”

LARK worked with top sleep experts to design an actigraph wristband that detects wearers’ unique sleep patterns and wirelessly uploads them to their iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Users get an immediate picture of how they’ve slept and analysis shows what “Sleep Type” they are and the easiest ways for them personally to improve. LARK offers a premium subscription, LARK Pro, which actively coaches people towards improving their sleep. The LARK wristband also features a silent alarm that wakes the wearer gently by mild vibrations. Read the rest of this entry

Siesta Medical, Inc., a developer of minimally invasive surgical solutions for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), announced the U.S. launch of its Encore™ Tongue Suspension System for the treatment of OSA. The Encore™ System simplifies and improves the control of tongue suspension, a procedure shown to be an effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Dr. Jason van Tassel at Washington Hospital in Fremont, CA performed one of the first patient implants.

“Through a small incision, the Encore System allowed me to navigate the tongue base and easily place suspension loops. Controlling the final tension and advancement of the tongue base was easy and much simpler than with previous tongue suspension devices. This was a quick and minimally invasive surgery and is a potentially attractive surgical option for OSA patients with tongue base obstructions” said Dr. van Tassel. Read the rest of this entry

St. Luke’s Cornwall Center for Sleep Medicine has launched a new, free, support group, for patients with sleep apnea or other sleep disorders.

The first quarterly meeting for the A.W.A.K.E. (Alert, Well And Keeping Energetic) support group will be held Wednesday, March 21 from 6:15 – 8:15 p.m. at the 2nd Floor Conference Room at the Cornwall campus located on 19 Laurel Avenue in Cornwall. Refreshments will be served.

“We’re excited to launch the Mid-Hudson Valley chapter of this new support group through our Sleep Medicine program,” said Dr. Anita Bhola, Medical Director, St. Luke’s Cornwall Center for Sleep Medicine. Patients will be put in touch with doctors, manufacturing reps, DME and other experts in the field to have their questions answered in an informal patient friendly setting.

St. Luke’s Cornwall Center for Sleep Medicine is committed to enhancing quality of life for those experiencing disruptive sleep. Using advanced diagnostics and the latest research in the field highly qualified staff evaluates patient’s sleep patterns and devise a custom treatment plan to improve their ability to sleep.

A recently concluded research study established that the children who experience sleep-disordered breathing are significantly more probably exhibiting maladaptive behaviors subsequent to surgery compared to those children who do not have any respiratory problem.

Researchers from the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor were intrigued by the postoperative behavioral problems—like fussiness, disobedience and introversion, and daytime sleepiness.

“All of us have taken care of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)patients at one time or another,” said Robert E. Christensen, MD, clinical lecturer in anesthesiology at the institution. Read the rest of this entry

JaMarcus Russell earned a reputation as one of the worst disappointments in draft history and argued that sleep apnea was to blame for much of the behavior that earned him widespread criticism and put an end to his NFL career at the tender age of 26.

JaMarcus Russell’s diagnosis and subsequent discussion of sleep apnea may not be enough to restore his much-maligned performance or defunct career; but at a time when nearly 12% of the American public suffers from this serious and potentially life-threatening condition, it may help raise popular awareness of sleep apnea – and encourage patients to thoroughly research their treatment options to find solutions that are both effective and sustainable for the long haul. Read the rest of this entry

Sleep is extremely important for the body. It plays an important role on the body weight and metabolism, mood, cardiovascular health, and disease .

The frightening side effects of sleep deprivation are only compounded by the fact that millions of the Americans are sleep deprived. According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), 40 million Americans suffer from some type of sleeping disorder, with 60% of adults saying that they do have sleep problems a few nights a week, if not more.

A recently concluded research study findings published in the journal Immunity  will sure have people taking their sleep a whole lot more seriously than they have before. Read the rest of this entry