According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, CPAP is used to keep your airway open as you sleep by providing you with a steady stream of air pressure.  It keeps your tissues in your throat from collapsing and thereby ensures that you get the oxygen you need.

Results of the study show that while weight loss and surgery to remove tissue in the throat  may sometimes effectively treat sleep apnea, the evidence behind these treatments isn’t as strong as that which supports the usage of CPAP, according to the team from the Tufts Medical Center Evidence-Based Practice Center, which prepared the report.

About 12 million Americans are known to have obstructive sleep apnea, and it’s likely that millions more are undiagnosed, according to the AHRQ. The condition, caused by the repeated collapse and blockage of the upper airway during sleep, leads to a cessation in breathing that usually occurs many times through the night typically 5-100 times per hour!

The main symptoms of sleep apnea are loud snoring and feeling very sleepy during the day. Although, many patients, even those with severe OSA, can deny daytime sleepiness. Your bed partner may notice periods when you stop breathing during sleep. Other symptoms may include tossing and turning during sleep, frequent awakenings during the night, waking up with a headache, and feeling irritated and unrested.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) Obstructive sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and increased risk of accidents because of daytime fatigue.

Anyone from age 2 to 92 can suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. It was commonly thought to be a disorder of over-weight, middle-aged men, but sleep specialists are revising their opinion. Thin people often have a long narrow pharynx and that predisposes them to sleep apnea. Children have tonsils that are large relative to their small throats and they can have sleep apnea that leads to symptoms of ADHD, learning difficulties and psychiatric problems such as depression. Pregnant women often develop snoring and sleep apnea and there is ongoing research into the dangers this might pose to mothers and their unborn children.  Post-menopausal women have the same risk as men.

If you are sleepy during the day despite adequate sleep time, then sleep apnea should be investigated, especially if you’re told that you snore or stop breathing at night. Studies report that anywhere from 4 percent-24 percent of men suffer from OSA, and 2–15 percent of women. Both sexes over the age of 65 have a rate of 20–25 percent.

Only a sleep specialist can determine if you are suffering from OSA, and what the best method of treatment is for you.  Contact Northshore Sleep Medicine at 847.674.3600 if you believe you or your bed partner are suffering from Obstructive Sleep

The article states that a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that overweight people on a reduced-calorie diet lost more weight from fat if they slept eight hours a night than those who slept less than six hours a night.

An article published by WebMD explains that new research shows that sleep disruption can negatively affect Leptin (a chemical that sends signals to indicate fullness) and Ghrelin(a chemical that stimulates the appetite).  When you fail to get the sleep you need, your Leptin levels decrease, meaning that you don’t feel full even after you’ve eaten and Ghrelin levels increase, which means you feel hungry, even if you’ve just eaten.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine reports that research shows that routine exercising can improve sleep. Exercising 4-8 hours before bedtime can help primary insomnia patients get to sleep faster, wake up less often and increase total time asleep. Aerobic exercise may help reduce anxiety at bedtime, leading to better sleep.

Research shows that poor sleep is related to many serious health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Many people fail to make sleep a priority; however, many also suffer from undiagnosed  sleep disorders. If you suffer from insomnia-like symptoms, such as difficulty falling or staying asleep, daytime sleepiness and un-refreshing sleep for more than a month, you should contact a sleep doctor in order to diagnose and treat your sleep problems.

About two-thirds (63 percent) of Americans say their sleep needs are not being met during the week. Most say they need about seven and a half hours of sleep to feel their best, but report getting about six hours and 55 minutes of sleep on average weeknights. About 15 percent of adults between 19 and 64 and 7 percent of 13-18 year olds say they sleep less than six hours on weeknights.

Results of the survey found that 43 percent of Americans between the ages of 13 and 64 say they rarely or never get a good night’s sleep on weeknights. More than half (60 percent) say that they experience a sleep problem every night or almost every night (i.e., snoring, waking in the night, waking up too early, or feeling un-refreshed when they get up in the morning.)

Findings also show that Americans are very active in their technology use in the hour before bedtime. Almost everyone surveyed, 95 percent, uses some type of electronics like a television, computer, video game or cell phone at least a few nights a week within the hour before bed.

Baby boomers (46-64 year olds), generation X’ers (30-45 year olds), generation Y’ers (19-29 year olds) and generation Z’ers (13-18 year olds) report very different technology preferences.

About two-thirds of baby boomers (67 percent) and generation X’ers (63 percent) and half of generation Z’ers (50 percent) and generation Y’ers (49 percent) watch television every night or almost every night within the hour before going to sleep.

Computer or laptop use is also common. Roughly six in ten (61 percent) say they use their laptops or computers at least a few nights a week within the hour before bed. More than half of generation Z’ers (55 percent) and slightly less of generation Y’ers (47 percent) say they surf the Internet every night or almost every night within the hour before sleep.

Cell phones were sometimes a sleep disturbance. About  one in ten of generation X’ers (9 percent) say that they are awakened after they go to bed every night or almost every night by a phone call, text message or email. About one in five of generation Y’ers (20 percent) and generation Z’ers (18 percent) say this happens at least a few nights a week.

Cell phone use, specifically texting and talking on the phone, shows a significant age gap. More than half of generation Z’ers (56 percent) and nearly half of generation Y’ers (42 percent) say they send, read or receive text messages every night or almost every night in the hour before bed compared to 15 percent of generation X’ers and 5 percent of baby boomers.

Generation Z’ers and generation Y’ers report more sleepiness than generation X’ers and baby boomers, with the 13-18 year olds being the sleepiest of all. Roughly one in five of generation Z’ers (22 percent) and generation Y’ers (16 percent) rate as “sleepy” using a standard clinical assessment tool (included in the poll) compared to about one in ten generation X’ers (11 percent) and baby boomers (9 percent).

Generation Z’ers report sleeping an average of 7 hours and 26 minutes on weeknights, about an hour and 45 minutes less than the 9 hours and 15 minutes recommended by experts. More than half of 13-18 year olds (54 percent) say they wake up between 5:00 am and 6:30 am on weekdays— compared to 45% of generation X’ers and baby boomers and 24 percent of generation Y’ers.

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep each night to function at their highest level. School-age children require 10 to 11 hours per night. Chronic sleep deprivation can lead to sleep debt, which results in decreases in performance, alertness and reaction times, and increases in fatigue, errors and risk for health problems.

Americans are coping with sleepiness by drinking caffeine and taking regular naps. The average person on a weekday drinks about three 12 ounce caffeinated beverages, with little difference between age groups.

Napping is common in all age groups, but the two youngest groups reported slightly more napping during the week. More than half of generation Z’ers (53 percent) and generation Y’ers (52 percent) say they take at least one nap during the work week/school week compared to about four in ten generation X’ers (38 percent) and baby boomers (41 percent).

For those who are employed and report not getting adequate sleep, about three quarters (74 percent) of those over 30 said that sleepiness affects their work.  About two-thirds of adults (61 percent) said that their intimate or sexual relations were affected by sleepiness (13-18 year olds were not asked this question).

Sleepiness also played a factor in safe driving practices. Half of generation Y’ers (50 percent) say they drove while drowsy at least once in the past month. More than a third of generation X’ers (40 percent) and approximately a third of generation Z’ers (30 percent) and baby boomers (28 percent) also say so. A staggering number, about one in ten, of generation X’ers (12 percent), generation Y’ers (12 percent) and generation Z’ers (8 percent) say they drive drowsy once or twice a week.

If you are having problems sleeping, the National Sleep Foundation suggests the following to improve your sleep:

• Set up and stick to a sleep schedule. Go to bed and wake up at the same times each day.
• Expose yourself to bright light in the morning and avoid it at night.
• Exercise regularly. Avoid vigorous exercise close to bedtime if you are having problems sleeping.
• Create a cool, comfortable sleeping environment that is free of distractions.
• Treat your bed as your sanctuary from the stresses of the day. If you find yourself still lying awake after 20 minutes or so, get up and do something relaxing in dim light until you are sleepy.
• Avoid caffeinated beverages, chocolate and tobacco at night.Avoid large meals and beverages right before bedtime. No nightcaps. Drinking alcohol before bed can rob you of deep sleep and can cause you to wake up too early.
• Stop using electronic media one hour before desired bedtime. This is good advice for everyone, but especially if you are having problems with sleep.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea occurs when you regularly stop breathing for 10 seconds or longer during sleep. It can be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the number of times in an hour that your breathing stops (apnea) or becomes very shallow (hypopnea).

Common symptoms of OSA include loud snoring, daytime sleepiness, unintentionally falling asleep during the day, fatigue and un-refreshing sleep and insomnia. OSA is also induced with increased risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, diabetes and stroke.

CPAP, a device used to keep the airway open in order to help patients sleep better at night while you sleep, is the most common, and most effective, treatment for OSA.

The study compared the effects of a treatment with CPAP compared to placebo treatment in 59 adults diagnosed with OSA on self-reported measures of fatigue and energy.

Results show that CPAP treatment significantly decreased fatigue and increased energy after three weeks of treatment.

Authors of the study claim that these findings are significant, as they emphasize the importance of complying with CPAP therapy.

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, OSA can occur in men and women of any age, but it is most common in obese, middle-aged men. A strong relationship exists between obesity and OSA. We estimate that 80% of people with OSA are overweight or obese.  However, I see patients every day in my clinic who are quite thin, but have horrible apnea usually because they have small, narrow throats.  The disorder is easily diagnosed with an overnight sleep test.

Loud snoring, difficulty falling asleep and un-refreshing sleep were significant predictors of metabolic syndrome, a group of risk factories related to obesity. These factors increase risk for heart disease, diabetes and stroke. Snoring doubled the risk for metabolic disease, while difficulty falling asleep increased the risk by 80 percent.

The study analyzed 2,000 patients who were enrolled in an ongoing, community-based prospective heart health study. Participants ranged in age from 45 to 74 years, lived in or around Pittsburgh, and had no co-morbidity that limited life expectancy. Individuals who were either non-black or non-white, or had a diagnosis of metabolic syndrome or diabetes were excluded. The final sample consisted of 812 patients, with a group of 294 patients who agreed to undergo further evaluation at home.

Participants were evaluated for the presence or absence of metabolic syndrome at the three-year follow up. Waist circumference, fasting glucose, and lipids were measured at baseline and annually for three years.

Patients were evaluated for insomnia and sleep apnea. Researchers also documented history of smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activeness and depressive symptoms.

At the three-year follow up, 14 percent of patients had developed metabolic syndrome. After analysis, only loud snoring remained a significant predictor of the disorder.

Results of the study emphasize the importance of identifying and diagnosing sleep problems and disorders, due to their association with heart disease.

Findings indicate that shorter sleep duration is associated with a thickening of men’s carotid arteries which are located in the neck.  This thickening is considered to be a major marker for future heart attack and stroke.  This association of short sleep duration and thickening of the carotid artery wall was found only in men.  More research needs to be done to follow up on this association between short sleep and cardiovascular disease.

More than 600 middle-aged black and white individuals from across the country were chosen to participate in the study. Subjects underwent ultrasound analysis of their carotid arteries.  Participants ranged in age between 37 and 52 years. Almost 60 percent were women.

Results show that men slept 5.7 hours per night, while women slept 6.3 hours per night. On average, male participants also had thicker carotid artery walls (0.74 mm) compared to females (0.68 mm).

Sleep experts recommend that adults sleep between seven and eight hours each night in order to maintain both mental and physical well being.

The study analyzed 12 years worth of data on over 14,000 Canadians that were obtained through Canada’s National Population Health Survey between the years of 1994 and 2007. Subjects ranged in age between 18 and 102 years. .

After accounting for social demographics, health status and lifestyle factors that increase the risk of mortality, researchers involved in the study determined that the consumption of sleeping pills for the treatment of insomnia or anti-anxiety medications was associated with a 36 percent increase in the risk of death.

Scientists believe that the association between consumption of sleeping and anti-anxiety medication could be caused by several factors, including delayed reaction time and decreased coordination, which could result in more falls and accidents.

People experiencing ongoing insomnia symptoms (difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or waking up early) should speak with their doctor or a sleep specialist for a proper diagnosis and to determine the best method of treatment.

Sleep experts typically recommend cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to ease symptoms before prescribing medication. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a non-pharmacological way to obtain long- lasting relief for insomnia. Because of potential side effects and addictive properties, sleep medications are typically only used to relieve symptoms for a short period of time.  Patients often resist CBT because they think it won’t work but many research studies and my own clinical experience show that it is the best long term treatment for insomnia.

According to a study released by the AAA Foundation, the contribution of drowsy driving to motor vehicle accidents that result in injuries and deaths are not fully appreciated. Results of the study found that about one in eight deadly crashes was related to drowsiness or fatigue; one in ten crashes resulting in occupant hospitalization, and one in twenty crashes in which a vehicle was towed.

A study that was published in the June 2010 edition of the journal Sleep found that extreme sleepiness increases the likelihood of an auto accident causing serious injury. Overall, crash rates were about 12 percent higher in tired drivers.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine reports that drowsy driving is related to at least 100,000 motor-vehicle accidents and more than 1,500 deaths per year in the United States.

Tired drivers often experience slower reaction times, vision impairment, lapses in judgment and delays in processing information. Research shows that being awake for more than 20 hours results in an impairment equal to a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent, the legal limit in all states.

Sleep experts recommend that adults sleep seven to eight hours a night in order  to function at their highest level; however, due to work and family obligations many people fail to get the sleep they need on a regular basis.

Sleepy drivers often do not recognize the extent of their fatigue, and can inadvertently put themselves, their passengers and their fellow drivers at risk.

If you experience any of these symptoms, you are most likely incapable of driving safely:

• Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking and/or heavy eyelids
• Difficulty keeping reveries or daydreams at bay
• Trouble keeping your head up
• Drifting from your lane, swerving, tailgating and/or hitting rumble strips
• Inability to clearly remember the last few miles driven
• Missing exits or traffic signs

As the holidays approach, it is likely that there will be more tired drivers on the road more frequently. In order to keep yourself safe while driving, there are a few tactics you may consider to maintain a high level of alertness while driving.

• Find a safe place to take a 15-20 minute nap if you think you might fall asleep.
• Avoid alcohol and medications that cause drowsiness as a side-effect.
• Avoid driving at times when you would normally be asleep.
• Consume caffeine. The equivalent of two cups of coffee can increase alertness for several hours.

Keep in mind that if you suffer from an undiagnosed sleep disorder, your chances of drowsy driving are greatly increased.  Consult with a physician if you have excessive daytime sleepines, sleep difficulties at night, memory or mood impairments or loud snoring.

For more information about drowsy driving, visit the National Sleep Foundation’s drowsy driving website at www.DrowsyDriving.org.

Researchers involved in the study discovered that 27 participants in their study experienced REM sleep behavior disorder for at least 15 years before developing Parkinson’s disease and dementia.  People experiencing REM sleep behavior disorder act out their dreams. The disease is most common in men over the age of 50 years.

The study found that the time between the start of the sleep disorder and the symptoms of Parkinson’s and dementia could be up to 50 years, with an average span of 25 years. Of the participants, 13 were diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and 13 were diagnosed with dementia.

Results of the study may be an important medical breakthrough; these findings may allow scientists to develop therapies that can slow down or end the progression of both diseases before the symptoms appear.

Results support the theory that Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep is a vital element of the brain’s ability to create and maintain memories.

Adults who sleep between seven and eight hours a night typically experience four to five periods of REM sleep. These periods tend to be longer towards the end of the night.  This means that adults who are not getting the sleep they need are impairing their brain’s ability to form strong memories.

Participants involved in the study were presented with a word association puzzle once in the morning and once in the afternoon. In between, some were allowed to nap with REM sleep, some without achieving REM sleep and others had a simple quiet rest period.

The quiet rest and non-REM sleep groups showed no improvement in their test results, but participants who reached REM sleep improved on their morning performance by an average of almost 40 percent.

Results of the study indicate that neurological processes that occur during REM sleep enhance problem solving skills. Findings also showed that people who were awakened while in REM recalled much more colourful and elaborate dreams than people who were awakened during other stages of sleep.

Based on previous research, scientists now believe that sleep helps the brain sort relevant information and discard irrelevant information which allows to remember the important things.