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.

Research shows that failing to get the sleep you need can negatively affect both your mental and physical well-being. Sleep deprivation is associated with increases in the risk of heart disease, weight gain, diabetes, stroke, cancer and even death. A lack of sleep can also result in decreased mental functioning, slower reaction times and mood disturbance.

According to the Huffington Post, new research published in the journal Sleep shows that people’s accuracy on working memory tasks decreased by approximately 15 percent after staying up all night. While you sleep, your brain processes information. If you fail to get the sleep you need, your brain is incapable of storing important data that you obtained during the day.

Results of another study published in the journal Sleep shows that ‘recovery sleep’ or sleeping in on the weekend may not eliminate the effects of sleep loss. Findings of the study show that it takes multiple nights to obtain full relief from extended periods of sleep deprivation. This means that if you skip a few hours of sleep,  your performance at school or work could suffer for several days.

It is a well known fact that most Americans are not getting the sleep they need. The Seattle Times recently reported that in a Working Mother survey, 77 percent of mothers said they don’t get the shut-eye they need. A survey by Men’s Health showed that 62 percent of participants said they manage on less than seven hours of sleep a night.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that adults sleep between seven and eight hours each night in order to function at their fullest potential. Some warning signs that you may not be getting enough sleep include dependence on an alarm clock in the morning, forgetfulness and an increase in sickness.

During my lecture I will discuss the association of sleep disorders with impaired glucose tolerance, changes in appetite hormones, diabetes and weight gain/obesity.  There is a growing body of literature that shows a strong  association between short sleep durations and weight gain/obesity.

Research shows that sleep deprivation increases your risk for weight gain and obesity. The Huffington Posts reportsthat sleep restriction has been shown to increase levels of the hormone ghrelin, which makes you feel hungry while also slowing your metabolism. A new area of research focuses on how specific sleep disorders such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Insomnia, Restless Leg syndrome may lead to weight gain, either through the short sleep mechanism or other physiologic pathways.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine claims that at least 40 million Americans have chronic sleep problems, and an additional 20 million experience occasional sleep disturbances. As many as 47 million Americans have metabolic syndrome, which is a group of conditions that are shown to increase the risk of heart disease and stroke and is usually associated with overweight/obesity.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, a study published in the International Journal Obesity found that middle-aged women who suffer from sleep disorders are more likely to have problems with their weight than their peers who get eight hours of sleep per night. Results were unique, in that they demonstrated that sleep problems precede weight gain.

A study published in the May 2010 edition of the journal Sleep found that people who fail to get an adequate amount of sleep (less than six hours per night) tended to weigh more and exercise less. This group was also more likely to prefer fatty foods, snack frequently and eat out more often.

It is important to recognize the relationship between sleep and weight gain, in order to address the epidemic of obesity. Many people do not realize that sleep is as important to good health as exercise and diet. By obtaining seven to eight hours of sleep per night, you are helping your body stay strong, both mentally and physically.

According to a 2005 survey conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, nearly one in four American couples sleep in separate bedrooms. Many of the participants in the study explained that they were choosing to sleep apart from their partner because their sleep is disturbed by their partner’s sleep disorder.

Often, both people in a relationship suffer from serious health problems if a sleep disorder remains untreated. Those who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea(OSA) are at increased risk for stroke, heart disease, diabetes, obesity and even death. Most people, but not all, who suffer from sleep apnea snore  and of course this can greatly disturb their bed partners.

Other disorders that disrupt a bed partner’s sleep include restless leg syndrome, periodic limb movement disorder, insomnia and REM Behavior Disorder (acting out dreams and nightmares).  Loud snoring, restlessness or tossing and turning may keep the unaffected partner from sleeping.

Bedmates of those suffering from a sleep disorder may feel resentment, because they are unable to get the sleep they need. Also many spouses of my sleep apnea patients talk to me about the fear and anxiety that they have at night while they lie there in the bed watching their partners stop breathing. Often, they feel it is their duty to stay awake and watch out for their spouses, for example, by nudging or shaking them in order to get them to breath.

Partners of those suffering from untreated sleep disorders may also be compromising their physical and mental well-being, as sleep deprivation is associated with increased risk for many of the health problems that we see associated with sleep apnea.

Although sleeping together can be difficult when one partner suffers from an untreated sleep disorder, couples may be able to share a bed in peace if the partner receives treatment. Some sleep problems can be eliminated by improving sleep hygiene (making positive behavioral changes), such as keeping technology out of the bedroom and creating a routine sleep habit.

If making changes in your sleep habits does not improve the quality of your sleep, you may be suffering from a sleep disorder. You should visit a sleep expert if your sleep problems persist for more than a month.  Loud snoring, a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea can be treated  through the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy or with oral devices that advance the jaw and open the airway while you sleep.  According to the American Academy of Sleep medicine’s Sleep Better Blog, marital conflicts caused by sleep difficulties decrease after three months use of CPAP therapy. Doctors may also recommend cognitive behavioral therapy or a prescription sleep aid if insomnia is the problem. As for Restless Leg Syndrome and Periodic Limb Movement Disorder, there are medications that are safe and effective.

Take home message:  whatever sleep problem you or your partner has, a sleep physician can help treat it.  And treating a person’s sleep disorder not only improves the patient’s health outcomes but can play a role in improving in his or her marriage.

The study analyzed existing national, longitudinal and panel survey data collected for 1,930 children and adolescents between the ages of 0 and 13 years. The study began in 1997 and a follow-up survey was completed in 2002. Children were separated into a “younger” group (ages 0 to 59 months) and an “older” group (ages 60 to 154 months).

Results show that short duration of nighttime sleep at baseline was associated with increased risk for children being overweight or obese.  At follow-up, 33 percent of the younger group and 36 percent of the older group were overweight or obese. In the older group, short sleep duration at baseline was not associated with weight gain; however, adolescents who obtained insufficient amounts of sleep were more likely to shift from a normal weight to being overweight at follow-up. Findings also indicated that in the older group, nighttime sleep duration five years prior had no meaningful effect on weight. This information suggests that sleep habits prior to the age of five years may be critical in determining future weight status.

Authors believe that sleep duration could be a vital and modifiable factor in obesity prevention and treatment.

The National Sleep Foundation claims that a combination of healthy sleep habits, eating together and spending less time watching television may prevent the development.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends the following nightly sleep durations for children:

• Infants (3 to 11 months): 14 to 15 hours
• Toddlers: 12 to 14 hours
• Preschoolers: 11 to 13 hours
• School-age children: 10 to 11 hours
• Teens:  9-9.5 hours

The study, which included data from 723 adolescents with a mean age of 14.7, measured how long participants slept on weeknights and weekends, frequency of sleep problems and foods and beverages they consumed. Accelerometers were used to track activity levels in participants.

Results indicate that shorter sleep duration is associated with higher body mass index (BMI) and percentage of body fat. The relationship between insufficient sleep was especially prevalent in boys in middle school, compared to high school students. In girls, only less sleep on weekends was associated with a higher BMI.

Sleep deprivation is associated with many problems in children. Those who do not obtain the amount of sleep they need each night are at increased risk for developing cognitive, behavioral and mood problems. School performance may also suffer if your child is not getting enough sleep.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that infants (children between the ages 3 to 11 months) sleep for 14 to 15 hours per night, toddlers for 12 to 14 hours, preschoolers  for 11 to 13 hours and school-age children for 10 to 11 hours per night.

Parents can help their kids get enough sleep by following a consistent bedtime routine, setting aside “wind down” time before bed and keeping technology such as computers, video games and televisions out of the child’s bedroom.

While many parents have a hard time getting their children to go to sleep at night, children who consistently suffer from sleep problems may be suffering from a sleep disorder and may benefit from a consultation with a sleep specialist.

 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 metabolic rate is slowed, your appetite hormones are not functioning properly(making you hungrier) and your ability to regulate your glucose and insulin is impaired, not to mention that you just have no energy to exercise or take the time to prepare nutritious food.  So any sleep disorder that affects the quality or quantity of your sleep, especially insomnia and sleep apnea, can lead to weight gain and obesity.

There is a growing body of research that shows that people who sleep too little or who have poor quality of sleep are more likely to be over-weight or obese.  The new research from the University of Chicago (www.uchospitals.edu) has a new and interesting implication:  that you might be able to lose weight if you are sleep deprived, but it might not be fat that you are losing. The study is limited by small sample size, but it indicates that weight loss during periods of sleep restriction may be due more to loss of lean body mass than to loss of fat. Fat represented 57% of the weight loss when the nine subjects slept 8.5 hours on average in a 2 week period , but only represented 26% of the weight loss when they slept 5.5 hours during another 2 week period.  The total amount of weight they lost in each period was practically the same.

The other study mentioned in this article showed what many population studies have showed:  Those people who sleep less, gain more weight.  There are numerous population studies that show that people who sleep fewer than 6 hours or have sleep that is disrupted by disorders such as sleep apnea are much more likely to be over-weight or obese. 

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 metabolic rate is slowed, your appetite hormones are not functioning properly(making you hungrier) and your ability to regulate your glucose and insulin is impaired, not to mention that you just have no energy to exercise or take the time to prepare nutritious food.