Many patients “hate” CPAP at first, but most of the initial difficulties can be solved by close follow up with a caring, comprehensive medical team. For example, it is common to have sneezing and runny nose when you first start CPAP. What is happening is that the the histamine receptors inside your nose are being [...]
Posts under ‘About Northshore Sleep Medicine’
Weight Gain and Obesity are Linked to Sleep Apnea and to Poor Sleep
Please see these two articles from the Weight Watchers website that discuss the possible causal connection between inadequate sleep, whether insufficient in duration or quality, and weight gain. http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=69971&sc=3053 http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=58391&sc=3405 Laboratory research, much of which was done at University of Chicago, points to the explanation for this. When your sleep is disrupted or restricted, then your [...]
Fighting Off Sleepiness: Myths and Facts
I was interviewed by Web MD for this article on how to evaluate if your sleepiness is a sign of a serious disorder. If it is not, there are lots of good tips and strategies for how to have more energy during the day. http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/excessive-sleepiness-10/myths-facts?src=RSS_PUBLIC
Do you hate CPAP?
If you hate CPAP, then you need to check out my blog every Tuesday for the Tuesday Tips for CPAP Strugglers. If you can’t get use to the CPAP, the most common reason is that you have not found the right mask, so you think that you hate the CPAP when in fact you hate [...]
CPAP on the Sabbath
More than once, the question has come up from one of my Jewish patients: Can I use my CPAP on the Sabbath? Most Rabbis agree that it is alright to use medical equipment such as CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) that your doctor has determined is medically necessary for treatment of your obstructive sleep apnea. [...]
Treating Sleep Apnea Helps Cardiac Arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation
My patient, Tom, recently emailed me to say that since he started using his CPAP regularly, he has had no episodes of atrial fibrillation (a condition marked by an irregular heartbeat and one that greatly increases your chance of stroke). He is delighted to have a reprieve from this troublesome disorder and he attributes his [...]
Chicago Tribune Reports on Sleep Disorders
The Chicago Tribune ran a piece yesterday with the headline: Sleep Disorders: Some facilities try new home-style approach. There wasn’t much about home testing. It was more about how common sleep apnea is (TRUE) and how under-diagnosed it is (VERY TRUE) and about how there are sleep labs opening up all over Chicago. The reporter, Robert Mitchum [...]