Sleep Suffers During Wartime Deployment – The stress of war is affecting our troop’s sleep and peace of mind, making it harder to adjust upon their return home.
“After a 0-2 start to the season, things are looking bleaker by the day for the Minnesota Vikings. 40-year-old Quarterback Brett Favre is showing his age, and his primary target Sidney Rice won’t catch a pass until at least November.
The latest let-down involves the feel-good story of the NFL’s season opener. NBC’s Andrea Kremer reported mid-game that Percy Harvin found the cure for debilitating migraines. The athletic wide-receiver had sleep apnea and didn’t know it.
Harvin was diagnosed after collapsing on the field during practice last month. Numerous reports claimed CPAP treatment would solve the chronic migraines that plagued him since childhood. Harvin would be a whole new player capable of living up to his sky-high potential.
Then the news broke Wednesday that the 2008 first-round pick and future franchise wide receiver did not participate in team practice because of migraines.
Harvin’s health issues are huge blow for the Vikings, who have scored only 19 points over the first two regular season games.
Currently, it’s not entirely clear why the migraines have returned. There are two likely possibilities:
a) Harvin didn’t sleep with CPAP previous to practice
b) Something other than sleep apnea is causing the migraines
It’s disappointing that Harvin is having migraines again, but the sleep apnea diagnosis is a huge step forward for his health. After all, treatment can save his life.”
A recent news story from Westfield, Massachusetts vividly illustrates how the danger of falling behind the wheel. From WWLP 22 in Massachusetts:
“An SUV barreled through a Westfield business around 6:43 Sunday evening. Sgt. Raymond Manos told 22News that 42-year-old Tina Richard of Ludlow crashed her Jeep Grand Cherokee through the Four Mile Country Store on Russell Road in Westfield. Her four-year-old daughter was in the car with her. Both were transported to Noble Hospital with minor injuries. Sgt. Manos said Richard passed a field sobriety test. He said there was no indication that she was drunk or had abused drugs. He said she may have fallen asleep. Luckily, the store was closed and no one was inside at the time of the crash.”
Driving while sleep deprived can inhibit reaction times as much as driving while drunk. Also it has been shown that having Obstructive Sleep Apnea doubles your risk of having a serious crash with personal injuries. If you feel tired while driving, pull over and take a nap. Driving while drowsy puts everyone’s life at risk. For more information about drowsy driving or to set up an appointment to be tested for a sleep disorder contact Oregon Sleep Associates.
Do you have Diabetes? If so, your sleep may be more important to controlling your blood sugar than you think…
Research indicates that 50 to 80% of people with Type 2 Diabetes also suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea and a lack of restorative sleep in general is considered a risk factor for developing the disease.
Oregon Sleep Associates is hosting an exclusive free seminar on Diabetes and it’s connections with sleep. Board Certified Sleep Specialists Dr Daniel Root and Dr Jennifer Kim will be speaking. Seating is limited so reserve your spot now.
Where: Oregon Sleep Associates, 2228 NW Pettygrove St, Suite 150, Portland, OR 97210
When: Thursday, June 24th @ 5:30-6:30pm.
Diabetic refreshments provided.
Please RSVP to 503-288-5201 or email: admin@oregonsleepassociates.com
“Forty-five percent of U.S. residents have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes, possibly increasing their risk for cardiovascular disease, according to a data brief released by the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) on Monday, ABC News reports.
This is the first study conducted by the agency to examine the combined effect of all three conditions. The study is based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, an ongoing study that administers interviews, physical examinations and laboratory tests to participants. The results showed that about 3 percent of adults have all three conditions, while 13 percent have two.
The report also found that about 15 percent of adults with one or more of the conditions have not been diagnosed. According to experts, the cause of these chronic conditions is related to the purported obesity epidemic that has swept the country over the past few decades. Nearly 67 percent of U.S. adults are overweight or obese, according to the CDC.”
This finding is very important because, as we have reported in the past, having Diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol are all contributing factors to severe sleep disorders such as sleep apnea. If youhave any of these conditions talk to your doctor and get screened for sleep disorders. For more information on sleep or to talk to a board certified sleep specialist, contact Oregon Sleep Associates.
The dentist has been telling you for years. Maybe you even use a night guard to protect your pearly whites. But new research indicates that teeth grinding, or Bruxism, may be a sign of something more dangerous to your health.
Bruxism occurs in approximately 8% of the US population and is not considered a life threatening condition. It can cause excessive wear on the enamel surfaces of the teeth and is usually diagnosed by dentists. Many times a simple nighttime retainer or oral appliance is all that is needed to correct the problem. But researchers recently uncovered a connection between Bruxism and Obstructive Sleep Apnea. They found that nearly 25% of people with Sleep Apnea also grind their teeth at night. The connection may come from the frequent nocturnal arousals associated with Sleep Apnea. “The ending of an apneic event may be accompanied by a number of mouth phenomena, such as snoring, gasps, mumbles, and teeth grinding,” said Dr. Shyam Subramanian of Baylor College of Medicine. The researchers found that teeth grinding is most prevalent in Caucasian males and may also be related to anxiety and heavy caffeine use.
While having Bruxism doesn’t guarantee you have Obstructive Sleep Apnea, it may be prudent to watch for signs of the condition. Overly sensitive teeth, painful jaws, and inflammation in the mouth are all symptoms of Bruxism. At your next dental visit, ask your dentist to check for signs of teeth grinding. They can tell you if there is damage to the enamel of your teeth and the best method to prevent it. Then, visit a sleep specialist to make sure you don’t have an underlying sleep disorder such as Sleep Apnea.
We recently came across this local radio interview with Dr. Root from a while back. In it he discusses sleep disorders such as Sleep Apnea, Snoring, Insomnia, Bad Sleep Hygiene, and Restless Legs Syndrome. Check it out!
Many people today have heard of Sleep Apnea, if not, you probably have at least heard the symptoms of it: The constant snoring rattling your tents when you’re on a camping trip with friends, the coworker who just can’t seem to stay awake during a meeting, or the guy in his car nodding off at the red light in front of you.It seems like we all know someone or are related to someone who does these sorts of things.
But how do you know whether you are at risk for this sort of behavior, after all, how can you watch yourself when asleep?
Here are some questions I found which could help you determine whether to get screened for Sleep Apnea:
Do you wake up in the morning feeling unrefreshed or tired?
Have you ever been told you snore?
Have you ever been told you struggle, gasp, or stop breathing at night?
Do you get morning headaches?
Do you have a hard time staying awake during the day? What about without caffeine?
Have you ever fallen asleep driving a car?
Do you feel you have a hard time remembering things or focusing on tasks?
Do you have high blood pressure?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should visit a sleep specialist to be screened for Sleep Apnea.
Myth: Snoring is common, especially among men, but it isn’t harmful.
Fact: Although snoring may just sound annoying, it is a major symptom of Sleep Apnea, a potentially life threatening condition which is related to heart disease, strokes, and many other conditions.
Myth: Turning up the radio, opening the window, or turning on the air conditioner are effective ways to stay awake when driving.
Fact: These methods will do little to wake you up on the road. It is best to pull over and take a 15-45 minute nap. Remember, falling asleep for even a couple of seconds behind the wheel can be fatal.
Myth: Teens who fall asleep in class have bad habits and/or are lazy.
Fact: On average teens need more sleep than adults, usually 8-9.25 hours. Unfortunately, early school start times and technological distractions take away from that time and may exacerbate tiredness.
Myth: Daytime sleepiness always means a person isn’t getting enough sleep.
Fact: Though this may commonly be the case, daytime sleepiness may also be a sign that the sleep a person is getting is not of good quality. It could be fragmented by an underlying sleep disorder such as Sleep Apnea and should be addressed.
Myth:If you wake up in the middle of the night, it is best to lie in bed, count sheep, or toss and turn until you eventually fall back asleep.
Fact: Most experts agree that if you do not fall back asleep within 15-20 minutes, you should get out of bed, go to another room and engage in a relaxing activity such as listening to music or reading. Return to bed when you feel sleepy. Avoid watching the clock.
You see the commercials on TV and hear the ads on the radio for simple snoring cures. People give testimonials about how much better they sleep and how they don’t snore anymore. The product always seems simple to use, doesn’t require a doctor, and is available for 3 easy payments of only $19.99.
But do these cures actually do what they say they do?
Recently a former Air Force doctor, Eric Mair MD, decided to conduct a study to determine the validity of over the counter snoring cure claims. He did so after a soldier was reprimanded because his snoring had given away his camp’s position to the enemy during a training mission. As outlined in the latest issue of Sleep Review, Dr. Muir started by looking at three commonly sold treatments: An oral spray applied before bedtime, a Nasal Strip designed to maintain airway patency, and a head positioning pillow.
The study measured the loudness of snoring in patients using each of the three treatments. The sound levels were then compared to baseline levels without any treatments. According to the study authors, the results were conclusive, “Palatal snoring, palatal loudness, average loudness of snoring, averaged palatal flutter frequency, and respiratory disturbance index did not significantly change when comparing the three snoring aids with no treatment.”
In short, these three snoring solutions touted as revolutionary ways of getting a better nights sleep did nothing to improve anyone’s slumber. Don’t believe everything you see on TV.
If you’d like more information about what solutions are medically proven to actually reduce or eliminate snoring, visit Oregon Sleep Associates.
