A Patient’s Introduction In the following article, the researcher who coined the phrase "complex sleep apnea" gives an overview of this variant, one that is often poorly understood and has been variously defined. Keep reading
Two bacterial diseases are the leading causes of tooth loss. One is dental caries (tooth decay), and the other is periodontitis (gum disease). Periodontitis affects all of the tissues that hold the tooth in place—the gum, periodontal ligament and the jaw bone itself. Over time, these tissues are destroyed by toxins produced by the bacterial infection and by the immune system’s inflammatory response to fight that infection. Keep reading
One Morning I can tell you the morning it happened. It was remarkable because I remember only three others like it in my life, and they happened a very long time ago. Not new to CPAP use and struggling with the hose, mask, wheezing machinery, rainout, red-lined-face and mask-leak-induced dry eyes since 2008, I had received some benefit overall, but not much. Keep reading
What is atrial fibrillation? Atrial fibrillation is an abnormal heart rhythm that causes the heart to beat in an “irregularly irregular” pattern. Electrical impulses do not follow the usual orderly movement from the heart’s upper chambers (atria) to its lower chambers (ventricles). The ventricles are the chambers that push blood to the rest of the body. Keep reading
Depending on the type and severity of sleep apnea that you have, you may have several possible options to treat your sleep apnea. General Strategies Most people with sleep apnea have worse symptoms when sleeping on their back. There are several devices and tricks that can be used to encourage sleeping on the side or belly which can improve sleep apnea symptoms, especially in people with “position-dependent” sleep apnea. Keep reading
In a recent study, my colleagues at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Columbia University and Baylor Medical Center and I found that older women are at higher relative risk of developing sleep apnea-related heart disease than older men. This study turns on its head the notion that sleep apnea is a “man’s” disease- that is, traditional thinking that men are both more likely to have sleep apnea and have sleep apnea-related health problems. Keep reading
If you think you may have sleep apnea, you should visit your health care provider and let them know of your concerns. Usually, they will complete a physical exam and ask about your medical history for risk factors. There are several questionnaires your health care provider might ask you to complete to help determine your risk level. Keep reading
There are many other health conditions that can increase the risk of sleep apnea or exaggerate the effects of sleep apnea. These include: Risk Factors High blood pressure (hypertension) Heart disease (coronary heart disease, heart failure, heart arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation) Stroke Overweight and obesity Large neck size (>17 inches for men, >16 inches for women) Diabetes Family history of sleep apnea Low physical activity Keep reading
Unilateral stimulation of the hypoglossal nerve (the nerve that controls the movement of the tongue) is a new treatment for people with moderate to severe OSA who are unable to use continuous positive prtessure therapy (CPAP). CPAP, oral appliances, and some surgeries work “from the outside in” to prevent the tissues from relaxing and blocking the upper airway (nasal and oral passages).1 This nerve stimulation therapy works “from the inside out” to move the muscles and keep the airway open. Keep reading
The symptoms of sleep apnea are fairly common for both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. Most people have some of these symptoms. It is not well understood who gets which symptoms. Keep reading
