Can weight loss cure sleep apnea? There are clear connections between sleep apnea and other diseases such as diabetes and heart disease that are improved with weight loss. How does weight loss affect sleep apnea? While studies have shown that losing weight decreases the severity of this sleep disorder, its may not completely eliminate the need for CPAP.
Sleep apnea affects more than 20 million Americans, yet most are undiagnosed and untreated. A sleep study, whether performed at-home or in a sleep center, is the most effective way to diagnose many sleep disorders, like sleep apnea. Learn about the typical requirements for ordering sleep studies. Talk to your doctor about your sleep issues … Read More »
We’ve covered the benefits of exercise for improving the quality of your sleep and how to balance sleep and exercise (click here). In this post we’ll cover the importance of sleep for athletes at all levels, including recent scientific studies that look at the benefits of sleep for recovery after exercise.
Telemedicine was a hot topic at this year’s Sleep conference, a joint meeting of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society, in Denver, Colorado. Telemedicine has been embraced by primary care physicians in rural areas who struggle to arrange for specialist consultations for their patients who have limited access due to the cost … Read More »
I talk to many people I encounter in my day-to-day activities about sleep apnea. Recently, I went for my routine eye check and my opthamolgist told me that he can diagnose sleep apnea too! Most often, he has discovered sleep apnea when one of his patients is sedated for surgery, but less often he sees an … Read More »
CPAP is the only treatment that is 100% effective for treating obstructive sleep apnea, but a lot of patients struggle with using the device properly and using it every night. CPAP works by blowing air into the air way to keep the airway from closing at night (this closure is called an apnea, learn more … Read More »
In this guest post, Dr. Eric Kezirian answers your questions about upper airway stimulation therapy with the Inspire device. Positive airway pressure therapy (whether CPAP, BPAP, APAP, or another form) is the first-line treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (see the image of an obstructed airway to the right). However, some patients cannot tolerate or sleep comfortably … Read More »
While CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) therapy is the gold-standard therapy for obstructive sleep apnea, we know that it isn’t easy. Barriers to compliance with CPAP therapy include the discomfort of sleeping while wearing a mask, having air blown through your airway all night, the inconvenience of traveling with a CPAP machine and the cost of the … Read More »
In a new study released in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, researchers found that sleep duration is associated with insulin sensitivity and beta cell function (glucose tolerance) in healthy men. While the researchers state the that evidence is circumstantial and that this study did not show cause and effect, recent studies have shown similar decreases. More … Read More »
Many people suffering with sleep disorders are wary of sleep testing because of the inconvenience (discomfort) of spending the night in a sleep center. In-center testing can also be cost prohibitive, especially with the rise in insurance plan co-pays and high deductibles. Fortunately, HST—home sleep apnea testing—is providing an increasingly convenient and comfortable alternative … Read More »
