You could be just one among the millions of people all across the globe who are suffering from a sleep disorder. Even more disturbing is the fact that majority of the persons suffering from sleep disorders are undiagnosed.

How can you be so sure that if you have a sleep disorder?

Here are some of the most commonly occurring health conditions and symptoms that you may be experiencing significant as a typical sleep problem that requires urgent professional evaluation.

1.You have trouble going to sleep at night

While this is a common complaint among the normal population, if the problem persists it may signal the presence of a sleep disorder.                        Read the rest of this entry

Sleep apnea is a deadly sleep disorder.The overall effects of sleep apnea are more cumulative in nature and could kill a person being in association with other several disorders and diseases.

In the case of sleep apnea, which is cessation of breathing while sleeping, it can lead to high blood pressure and heart failure, stroke, diabetes, sexual dysfunction; and because it promotes a dangerous lack of good sleep, it also is being blamed for many traffic fatalities in this country brought about by drowsy drivers.

Former NFL players  like Aaron Taylor, a big former Chargers offensive lineman, and Rolf Benirschke, a thin former Chargers kicker, both have suffered from sleep apnea. Both of these NFL stars are contributing towards awareness of sleep apnea among masses.They are doing it through education, because the way to beat this thing is to go to bed wearing masks attached to positive airway pressure devices. Read the rest of this entry

A research study focused on ‘Sleep and vigilance disorders in pregnancy’ revealed that the overall effect of sleep disorders increase during all trimesters of pregnancy.The research was conducted at the Department of Neurology, CHU La Miletrie, Poitiers, France.

Objectives of this study included evaluation of frequency of sleep disorders like sleep apnea disorder, insomnia, restless leg syndrome, and daytime sleepiness according to three defined trimesters of pregnancy. In orders to study and evaluate the effects of sleep disorders like sleep apnea and daytime sleepiness researchers selected 871 young pregnant women on random basis.

The research study was based on a cross-sectional design and included retrospective survey of pre-pregnancy stage, symptoms, and prospective survey of current symptoms. Researchers used questionnaires and interviews to derive inferences. Alterations in the sleeping patterns of mothers were analyzed to evaluate their sleep before pregnancy and sleeping patterns during different trimesters of pregnancy. Read the rest of this entry

The benefits of continuous positive airway pressure machines (CPAP) for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are quickly reversed when the therapy is withdrawn, according to Swiss research. The findings appear online in the articles-in-press section of the American Thoracic Society’s American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

“In patients with obstructive sleep apnea who are established on CPAP treatment, withdrawal of the therapy is associated with a rapid recurrence of OSA and sleepiness within a few days” said Malcolm Kohler, MD, senior consultant at the Sleep Disorders Centre and Pulmonary Division of the University Hospital in Zurich. “After 14 days of CPAP withdrawal, OSA patients experienced considerable increases in heart rate and blood pressure as well as a deterioration in vascular function.” Read the rest of this entry

Fragmented sleep, loud snoring, debilitating daytime fatigue, low oxygen levels, missed work days, morning headaches and problems remembering and concentrating are among the symptoms of sleep apnea disorder, the most common sleep disorder.

According to estimates there are more than 18 million Americans suffer from the deadly disorder called sleep apnea.

One of the first steps is generally to undergo an overnight sleep evaluation, or “nocturnal polysomnogram.” It is commonly known as overnight sleep study at the sleep center.

Patients spend one night in a special laboratory or a bedroom hooked up to sophisticated computer equipment that monitors heart, lung and brain activity; breathing patterns; arm and leg movements; and blood oxygen levels. The room generally includes soft lighting; a comfortable bed; a quiet, calming atmosphere; television; and other amenities to help the patient sleep.

In some cases, a portable home monitoring device can also be used to track heart rate, blood oxygen level, airflow and breathing patterns. Unfortunately, however, it does not always provide the most effective readings. An overnight, in-center polysomnogram may still be needed.

Sleep apnea is a disorder that results from interrupted breathing during sleep. Indicators of this condition are snoring and tiredness despite getting a full night’s rest.

Sleep apnea does not immediately present itself as a serious problem, but it may cause heart problems and other health complications. Because of this, it is important to seek treatment for sleep apnea.

The term “sleep apnea” is an umbrella term that can refer to different versions of the disorder. As a result, treatment for sleep apnea can vary from patient to patient. Treatment methods include continuous positive airway pressure, adjustable airway pressure devices, oral appliances, supplemental oxygen bi-level positive airway pressure, and adaptive servo-ventilation—to name a few. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary.

When diagnosing or treating sleep apnea, your doctor may first recommend some lifestyle changes before prescribing medication. Some helpful lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking and losing weight, are effective treatments.

Information on other at-home treatments, such as changing sleeping positions, are also helpful. However, be sure to consult your doctor first.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which you have one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while you sleep. Breathing pauses can last from a few seconds to minutes. They often occur five to 30 times or more an hour. Typically, normal breathing then starts again, sometimes with a loud snort or choking sound.

Sleep apnea often goes undiagnosed. Doctors usually cannot detect the condition during routine office visits. Also, there are no blood tests for the condition. Most people who have sleep apnea do not know they have it because it only occurs during sleep. A family member or bed partner may first notice the signs of sleep apnea.

The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea. This most often means that the airway has collapsed or is blocked during sleep. The blockage may cause shallow breathing or breathing pauses.

When you try to breathe, any air that squeezes past the blockage can cause loud snoring. Obstructive sleep apnea is more common in people who are overweight, but it can affect anyone. Read the rest of this entry

If you are suffering from sleep apnea disorder then you’re not breathing properly while you sleep because your airflow is blocked repeatedly throughout the night.

Nearly one in four men and one in ten women suffer from the sleep apnea disorder . There are three specific types of sleep apnea disorder but Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common among them. Among all of the sleep disorders, OSA goes hand-in-hand with type 2 diabetes.

In a survey on the subject it was revealed that the obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has the strongest association with type 2 diabetes.” That’s even taking into account other risk factors, such as weight, sex and age. Read the rest of this entry

One of the most common health disorders among people around the world is “sleep apnea”. In its simplest sense ‘sleep apnea’ can be understood as one or more pauses in normal breathing. In many cases the shallow breathing during sleep is also termed as ‘sleep apnea’. 

A pause in normal breathing during sleep may have an undefined duration. Meaning thereby, the pause could be for a few seconds only or it can even stretch up to few minutes. Similarly, the rate of occurrence of such pauses during sleep may also vary up to great ranges. It could be five times per hour or even up to 30 times an hour. Normal breathing generally starts immediately after such a pause but this re-start could generate a snoring or choking sound as well. 

Once a person is a victim of ‘sleep apnea’ this disorder converts in to a chronic disorder slowly over the years. In majority of the cases people never realize that the ‘sleep apnea disorder’ has crept in their lives.  Read the rest of this entry

Sarnia-based Dr. Gautam Soparkar, a sleep apnea expert who also oversees sleep clinics in Leamington and London, has written the Quick and Easy Sleep Apnea Book, which explains the medical condition in lay terms so people can understand it and recognize its signs and symptoms.

Sleep apnea is a disorder in which a person’s breathing is disrupted during sleep, sometimes severely. It’s more common than people think, Soparkar said during a book signing at Windsor Regional Hospital.

Many people have no idea they suffer from the condition, even if it’s affecting their daily life and health, Soparkar said. Read the rest of this entry

Recently concluded research studies by American researchers, has revealed that problems like sleep apnea, acidity reflux and even obesity contribute to sudden death. Sleep apnea is also responsible for ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) among children. In fact studies from across the world show that about 2 to 3% children are believed to suffer from sleep apnea. This chronic disease that’s believed to affect about 12 million Americans raises the risk of problems like high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and even diabetes.

Patients suffering from sleep apnea are believed to pause from breathing while sleeping. This pause could last anywhere from a few seconds to even a minute and can occur 5 to 30 times in an hour. Every time there’s a pause the brain’s aroused as a result of which the patients sleep is affected. A huge majority of people prefer to silently suffer from this disease, from fear of embarrassment. There are several sleep apnea treatments available today, the most common and effective being CPAP.

“A CPAP is the most commonly used device to help sleep apnea sufferers. The mask is usually worn over the nose and attached to a device that has filters attached to it to remove impurities from the air and distilled water to humidify the air. Continued use of these masks is sure to control sleep apnea problems,” says Mr. Vincent, of Your CPAP mask, an online store that sells a wide range of  CPAP masks and accessories.

It’s important to find the right CPAP mask, to avoid discomfort when wearing these masks. Respironics, ResMed, and Fisher Paykel are some well-known manufacturers of CPAP masks. You could either choose from a full face mask, nasal mask, or a nasal pillow. If you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, determine the type of breather you are; a mouth breather, a nose breather or a combination. Also consider the shape of your face, nose and mouth and buy a mask accordingly. It’s best to buy a CPAP mask in consultation with your sleep physician.

SleepApneaDisorder/[ Press Release ] Phoenix, AZ /December 17, 2010/ JC Goodwin from Sleep Effect Center for Apnea Management in Prescott, Arizona isn’t your typical Dentist.  Although familiar with bridges, cavities and crowns, this Dentist is redefining the Dental Industry, one snoring patient at a time.   With over 100 Million people diagnosed with OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) it’s assumed more physicians would implement greater OSA treatments in their practices.  Interestingly enough, Dentists like Dr. Goodwin are among the small group of Doctors stepping up, to take on the sleepy killer, OSA.

With the help of technology and continuing education, more Doctors are beginning to treat and diagnose Sleep Apnea patients in house. Companies like Sleep Group Solutions offer advanced acoustic diagnostic imaging, home sleep tests, in office training and seminars to raise awareness of OSA and get Doctor involvement. “PCP’s and Dentists tend to see the most patients, they can boost awareness of the disorder, and successfully treat it.” Says Rani Ben-David, President of Sleep Group Solutions. “We have many Doctors (clients) who have saved lives and cured diseases, all by treating OSA.” Read the rest of this entry

The health of an individual is very important as it helps them to live a long and comfortable life. It is unfortunate that there are some disorders that affect people and they do not know what they are dealing with. This can lead to misdiagnosis or the condition can go untreated which can bring problems later in life. One of the disorders that affect the sleep of a person is known as Sleep Apnea. This is where one experiences repeated pauses when they are breathing as they sleep. These usually last anywhere between 5 seconds to minutes and can go on for an hour or so. Sleep Apnea, Help! Explains all the details that one wants to know on the disorder so that people can be well equipped with the information that is needed. Read the rest of this entry

Inspire Medical Systems, a developer of neuro-stimulation therapies for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea or OSA Tuesday said that the company has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or FDA to begin its STAR pivotal clinical trial.

Inspire was formed in 2007 when the technology and a significant intellectual property portfolio was spun-out of Medtronic.

OSA is a common sleep disorder that occurs when the tongue and other soft tissues of the throat relax and obstruct the airway during sleep.

According to the company, the STAR trial is a multi-center study that will evaluate both the safety and effectiveness of Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation therapy in patients with moderate to severe OSA . The results of this study will be the basis for a Pre-market approval or PMA application to the FDA.

Inspire also said that it has received CE Mark for Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation therapy.

SleepApneaDisorder/ [ Press Release ]/ GURNEE, IL, November 08, 2010 /– Smashed Face Syndrome can be caused by long term use of CPAP for sleep apnea. The following is excerpted from Sleep and Health Journal. 

Sleep apnea is a serious and dangerous disorder that can cause a wide variety of illness and dysfunction. CPAP is considered the Gold Standard of treatment for sleep apnea and the first line treatment for severe sleep apnea. For mild to moderate sleep apnea CPAP and Oral Appliances are considered to be the first lines of treatment. 

Numerous studies attest to the efficacy of Continuous Positive Airway Presssure (CPAP) for treating sleep apnea. Unfortunately, there are numerous articles relating to CPAP failure due to non-compliance. A recent study showed 60% of patients abandon CPAP therapy entirely and that even among patients who utilize CPAP average compliance is only 4-5 hours a night 4-5 nights a week.  Read the rest of this entry