Educating OSA patients about CPAP critical to successful treatmentJune 13, 2007WESTCHESTER, Ill. - Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a chronic condition in which enhancement of patient self-efficacy is critical for long-term management. One of the most important ways to help these patients manage their OSA is to effectively educate them about continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), the most common and effective treatment for OSA, according to a research abstract that will be presented Wednesday at SLEEP 2007, the 21st Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS). The study, authored by Wendy Moore, of the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, was based on interviews with 12 patients with newly-diagnosed OSA to learn more about their initial experiences. Moore found that two-thirds of patients approached their evaluation with a hope for improvement in their overall quality of life. However, Moore also found widely varying reactions to CPAP. Fifty percent were open to CPAP, while 25 percent expressed outright fear and 17 percent disappointment. Forty-two percent viewed CPAP as the lesser of two evils. "The study participants recognized the impact of sleep apnea on their quality of life. The significant number of negative initial responses suggests that the ability to effectively educate patients about CPAP is of paramount importance," said Moore. Persons who think they might be suffering from OSA, or another sleep disorder, are encouraged to consult with their primary care physician, who will refer them to a sleep specialist. OSA affects an estimated 15 million to 20 million Americans, as well as millions more who remain undiagnosed and untreated. Scientific evidence shows that CPAP is the best treatment for sleep apnea. CPAP provides a steady stream of pressurized air to patients through a mask that they wear during sleep. This airflow keeps the airway open, preventing the pauses in breathing that characterize OSA and restoring normal oxygen levels. American Academy of Sleep Medicine |
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| Related Sleep Apnea Current Events and Sleep Apnea News Articles Fighting Sleep, Penn Researchers Reverse the Cognitive Impairment Caused By Sleep Deprivation A research collaboration led by biologists and neuroscientists at the University of Pennsylvania has found a molecular pathway in the brain that is the cause of cognitive impairment due to sleep deprivation. Improved diet and exercise alone unlikely to cure obstructive sleep apnea in obese patients A study in the Oct. 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that while a strict diet and exercise program may benefit obese patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), it is unlikely to eliminate the condition. Surgery is an option for some patients hoping to get a good night's rest According to research recently published by an Oregon Health & Science University scientist, a form of surgery called uvopalatopharyngoplasty is effective for treating certain patients who suffer from sleep apnea, one of the most common sleep disorders. Being overweight super-sizes both risk and consequences of sleep-disordered breathing Overweight individuals are not just at greater risk of having sleep-disordered-breathing (SDB), they are also likely to suffer greater consequences, according to new research. Minimally invasive procedure effective for treating snoring Radiofrequency ablation, a procedure that uses heat to shrink the tissue of the soft palate, is an effective and minimally invasive procedure that can be used to treat patients who snore. Many patients with sleep apnea also suffer from GI tract conditions Patients who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) also tend to have additional gastrointestinal (GI) tract conditions, such as gastric reflux and hiatal hernia, which form at the opening in your diaphragm where your food pipe (esophagus) joins your stomach. Radiofrequency energy technique as effective as tonsillectomy surgery Radiofrequncy-tonsillotomy, which enables surgeons to reduce the size of the tonsillar tissue instead of removing the tonsils entirely, seems to be an effective and safe method of treating children with symptoms of enlarged tonsils. Stress, fatigue plague patients with allergic rhinitis and obstructive sleep apnea Patients who suffer from both allergic rhinitis and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may experience escalated symptoms of stress and fatigue. Severe sleep apnea tied to increased risk of death Moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea is associated with an increased risk of death from any cause in middle-aged adults, especially men, according to new results from a landmark study supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Obstructive sleep apnea is prevalent in adults with Down syndrome A study in the Aug. 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine shows that adults with Down syndrome also frequently suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). More Sleep Apnea Current Events and Sleep Apnea News Articles |
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