News

Sleep apnea check a must in Diabetes, Hypertension

Jun 18 2013...

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) is advising anyone with Type 2 diabetes or hypertension to be evaluated for sleep apnea by a board-certified sleep medicine physician.

“Type 2 diabetics and people with hypertension are much more likely to have obstructive sleep apnea than other people, and as a result should immediately discuss their risk for sleep apnea with a sleep specialist,” said M. Safwan Badr, MD, president of AASM. “Diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea from a board-certified sleep medicine physician will promote improvement in these conditions – including improved insulin sensitivity, blood pressure and cholesterol." READ MORE>>

Bedtime regularity predicts CPAP compliance

May 28 2013...

A new study suggests that regularity of bedtime prior to initiation of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is an important factor that may influence treatment compliance in adults with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

“Long-term use of CPAP, such as after the first month or longer, requires regular routines that are conducive to establishing a new health behavior,” said principal investigator Amy M. Sawyer, PhD, RN, assistant professor at Penn State University School of Nursing in University Park, Pa. READ MORE>>

Sleep apnea in kids associated with behavioral, learning problems

Apr 04 2013...

A new study found that obstructive sleep apnea, a common form of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), is associated with increased rates of ADHD-like behavioral problems in children as well as other adaptive and learning problems.

“This study provides some helpful information for medical professionals consulting with parents about treatment options for children with SDB that, although it may remit, there are considerable behavioral risks associated with continued SDB,” said Michelle Perfect, PhD, the study’s lead author and assistant professor in the school psychology program in the department of disability and psychoeducational studies at the University of Arizona in Tucson. “School personnel should also consider the possibility that SDB contributes to difficulties with hyperactivity, learning and behavioral and emotional dysregulation in the classroom.” READ MORE>>

Do sleep problems lurk beneath dismal U.S. health report?

Jan 09 2013...

A new report issued Wednesday paints a dismal picture of public health in the U.S. Can part of the blame be placed on our nation’s sleep problems?

The report was requested by the National Institutes of Health. It was prepared by the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine. U.S. data were compared with statistics from 16 “peer” countries. These are other high-income democracies such as Canada, Australia, France and Japan. READ MORE>>

Americans are overlooking sleep apnea as a health risk of obesity

Jan 07 2013...

Most Americans agree that heart disease and diabetes top the list of health problems related to obesity. But a new survey shows that obstructive sleep apnea may be slipping under the radar.

The household survey was conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. More than 1,000 adults gave their opinion about obesity and related health issues in the U.S. The results are presented in the new report, Obesity in the United States: Public Perceptions. READ MORE>>

Ten percent of children ages 6-8 have sleep-disordered breathing

Dec 17 2012...

Approximately ten percent of children ages 6-8 have sleep-disordered breathing, according to a recent Finnish study. The risk is higher among children with enlarged tonsils, crossbite and convex facial profile. Unlike in adults, excess body fat is not associated with sleep-disordered breathing in this age group.

Recognizing the risk for sleep-disordered breathing at an early age allows an early intervention to prevent the progression of the disease, according to the study’s authors. The diagnosis and treatment of children's sleep-disordered breathing is best carried out in cooperation involving dentists, pediatricians, ear, nose and throat doctors, as well as parents. READ MORE>>

Combination therapy improves apnea symptoms at higher altitudes

Dec 13 2012...

For individuals with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) traveling to higher altitudes (which may exacerbate symptoms), use of a combination therapy resulted in improvement in symptoms including reduced insomnia and better control of sleep apnea, according to a preliminary study.

A study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that patients who used the drug acetazolamide, branded as Diamox, in combination with auto PAP had higher oxygen saturation and lower apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) READ MORE>>

Vets with PTSD and sleep apnea less likely to use CPAP

Dec 10 2012...

Post–traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in returning combat veterans with comorbid obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with significantly worse continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) adherence compared to a similar population of patients without PTSD, according to a new study.

“Current combat veterans are a particularly vulnerable population due to psychiatric diseases such as PTSD, depression and anxiety, substance use, traumatic brain injuries and multiple injuries often associated with disability and chronic pain, said lead author Jacob Collen, MD, Maj., MC, U.S. Army, Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine fellow at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. “Sleep disordered breathing is highly prevalent and has been demonstrated to worsen outcomes in patients with psychiatric disease, and prior, smaller studies have demonstrated that CPAP therapy may improve outcomes in patients with PTSD and obstructive sleep apnea.” READ MORE>>

Treat kid’s sleep problems with interdisciplinary approach

Dec 07 2012...

Pediatricians and respiratory specialists should work together whenever a sleep problem is suspected in a child, a new study reports. Children with sleep-related breathing problems such as snoring or apnea frequently have behavioral sleep problems such as waking repeatedly. Children with sleep disorders often aren’t evaluated and treated for behavioral sleep problems - and vice versa. READ MORE>>

Sleep apnea brain damage worse for women

Dec 04 2012...

Women suffering from sleep apnea have a higher degree of brain damage than men with the disorder, reported researchers from the UCLA School of Nursing.

"This study revealed that, in fact, women are more affected by sleep apnea than are men and that women with obstructive sleep apnea have more severe brain damage than men suffering from a similar condition."said chief investigator Paul Macey, assistant professor and associate dean of information technology and innovations at the UCLA School of Nursing. READ MORE>>