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Sleep Apnea – A Visual Guide
Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which you have one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while you sleep. Below is a visual guide depicting how sleep apnea affects your body (images courtesy of the National Institute of Health – NIH). Untreated sleep apnea can: Increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart […]
Who Should Best Diagnose and Treat Sleep Apnea?
The blurred lines between doctors and dentists in the treatment of sleep apnea may soon become clearer. In an announcement on their website on Monday, the Texas Medical Association (TMA) is fighting the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE’s) proposed rule change for dental treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. The TMA supports the Texas […]
New Report Says One Third of Americans are Getting Insufficient Sleep
A new 2016 report released by County Health Rankings, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute (UWPHI), compared counties within each state on more than 30 factors that impact health, including insufficient sleep. What they found might surprise you: Among counties in the US, on […]
Living with Sleep Apnea – How Can Family Members Help?
Often, people who have sleep apnea don’t know they have it. They’re not aware that their breathing stops and starts many times while they’re sleeping. Family members or bed partners usually are the first to notice signs of sleep apnea. Family members can do a lot to help a loved one who has sleep apnea, […]
Assessing Sleep Apnea from Your Doctor’s Point of View
When assessing sleep apnea, your doctor will likely take into consideration several of the following symptoms, signs, and risk factors when evaluating your situation. Symptoms he or she will consider can include: Chronic and loud snoring Gasping or choking episodes during sleep Excessive daytime sleepiness (especially drowsy driving) Automobile or work-related accidents due to fatigue Personality changes […]
Why Should I Consider a Sleep Study?
Sleep studies are tests that are performed at sleep clinics that measure how well you sleep and how your body responds to sleep problems. These tests can help your doctor find out whether you have a sleep disorder and how severe it is. Sleep studies are typically used to help diagnose: Sleep-related breathing disorders, such […]
Infographic on Sleep Disorders and Insufficient Sleep
The National Institutes of Health- (NIH) has produced research that is shedding light on how sleep and lack of sleep affect the human body. A number of interesting facts and considerations from their studies are graphically highlighted below. To download a pdf version of this infographic, click here. As you can see from this […]
Important Medical Bulletin Issued on OSA and Driving Commercial Vehicles
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) released a bulletin to Medical Examiners and Training Organizations regarding Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The purpose of the bulletin was to remind healthcare professionals of the current physical qualifications concerning the respiratory system, specifically how the requirements apply to drivers that may have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). FMCSA’s physical […]
