Good Sleep Apnea Article

You can read a good sleep apnea article written in the Wall Street Journal at this link:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704107204575039101390202576.html?mod=WSJ_hp_editorsPicks

Sleep Apnea and Stroke

Sleep affects brain function and may contribute to problems of the vascular system in the brain.

There is an increased incidence of stroke between 6 AM and 12 noon. Risk factors for stroke such as high blood pressure, ischemic heart disease, and diabetes are modified by sleep apnea.

There is also a relationship between the severity of sleep apnea and the odds for developing high blood pressure. Statistically, 50% of people with sleep apnea have high blood pressure, and 30% of people with high blood pressure have sleep apnea.

Recently, it has been shown that there is evidence of a causal relationship between sleep apnea and stroke. Following a stroke, patients have a high prevalence of sleep apnea that reduces the potential for rehabilitation, further increases the risk of secondary stroke, and heightens mortality.

Successful correction of sleep apnea with noninvasive positive airway pressure ventilation lowers mean blood pressure, and indirectly lowers the risk of stroke. Unfortunately, patients with stroke tolerate positive noninvasive ventilation poorly, so CPAP is often not used. Thus, other means of correcting sleep apnea need to be investigated, and may be an indication for use of an oral apppliance to help correct the apnea.

How do you treat Sleep Apnea

Treatment of sleep apnea is determined by the patient's medical history, physical examination, and results from the sleep study. In most cases, medications are not effective in the treatment of sleep apnea. One of the ways to treat sleep apnea is through behavioral therapy. In some mild cases, changing some behaviors is all the person needs to get rid of his/her sleep apnea. The use of alcohol, tobacco, and sleeping pills make the airway more likely to collapse during sleep and they extend pauses in breathing. People who are overweight can profit from losing weight; even a ten percent drop in weight can reduce the severity of the disease.

Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) is the most common and effective treatment for sleep apnea. Nasal CPAP controls airway closure while the person uses it; pauses in breathing come back when a person removes the CPAP or uses it incorrectly.

Dental appliances are another method of treatment; these ‘orthotics’ reposition the lower jaw and tongue to open the collapsed airway similar to CPR (cardio pulmonary resuscitation). Orthotics are most effective in patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea, or a person who snores but does not have apnea.

There are numerous surgeries used in the treatment of sleep apnea, although no procedure is without risks or totally successful. Common procedures include the removal of adenoids and tonsils (most effective in children), nasal polyps or other tissue blocking the airway as well as correction of structural deformities. Younger patients seem to benefit more than older people when undergoing surgical procedures.

Home Sleep Studies

It seems most people do not like to have an overnight sleep study. Until recently, that has been the only option.

Now, thanks to technology, you can have a sleep study in your home...in your own bed.

More to come.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Snow in Denver

We had to close our office today due to the snow. We will be open tomorrow for sure.

Stay warm and safe!