Northshore Sleep Medicine
Sleep apnea is a risk predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and death in diabetes patients who are receiving peritoneal dialysis. A new study published in Kidney International found that sleep apnea is an independent predictor of increased all-cause mortality in patients receiving peritoneal dialysis independent of age, male gender and diabetic status. Risk increases with the [...]
This is the question asked me in the comment section (#33) of my piece in the New York Times All Nighters Series. Although it is quite common for people to complain of insomnia and then on further investigation to be found to have sleep apnea, I think that 90% is a bit high. This is [...]
Many patients have asked me to comment on the article that described research done by 2 Israeli scientists that seemed to show that sleep apnea may confer cardiovascular benefits as we age. I want to wait until I get the full scientific article. So please keep watching my posts in the next few days.
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 [...]
If you are having a hard time getting use to the CPAP pressure, ask your doctor to lower the pressure while you get accustomed to this therapy. Also, you might try a Bilevel machine which gives a higher pressure when you inhale (so you and the machine are working together) and a lower pressure when you exhale (which [...]
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 [...]
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
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 [...]
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. [...]
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 [...]
