Northshore Sleep Medicine
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. [...]
The National Sleep Foundation (http://www.sleepfoundation.org/alert/ntsb-makes-recommendations-sleep-apnea?utm_source=NSF+Alert&utm_campaign=3f724bfd5d-NSF_Alert_8_18_098_18_2009&utm_medium=email) is reporting on the recommendations made by the National Transportation Safety Board (www.ntsb.gov) after they investigated the case of the pilot and co-pilot falling asleep on a flight from Honolulu to Hilo. It was found that likely the pilot’s untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was a major contributing factor as [...]
In March 2009, A health reporter for National Public Radio, Allison Aubrey, did a piece on snoring without once mentioning that it can be (and usually is) a sign of a serious sleep disorder (obstructive sleep apnea), nor did she educate her listeners that only an overnight sleep study can distinguish benign snoring from sleep [...]
Yesterday NBCchicago ran a short piece about how sleep apnea increases your risk for stroke. Research does show a 2-3 fold increased risk for stroke if severe sleep apnea is left untreated. In fact, there are many studies that show even snoring puts you at higher risk for stroke and cardiovascular disease. It is important to note that [...]
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 [...]
