 |
|
Research underway to give sleep apnea sufferers relief and rest
September 29, 2008For some, a full night's rest can be anything but restful. That's because they have sleep apnea, which causes them to struggle for breath in bouts throughout the night. Six percent of the population is affected by the condition-but many don't even know they have it.
"They don't make the connection between the fact that they snore loudly at night and they complain about being tired during the day," says Samuel Krachman, D.O. , professor of medicine and director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Temple University School of Medicine and Hospital. "They think that they're just tired, not getting enough sleep or just working too hard. But in reality, it's related to the sleep apnea."
Krachman is leading research on an experimental device to help patients who suffer from positional sleep apnea. Positional sleep apnea refers to patients who have episodes where they stop breathing when they're on their back, but when they are on their side, the abnormal breathing resolves. Fifty percent of patients with mild sleep apnea (those who experience anywhere from five to 15 events an hour) and 20 percent of people with moderate sleep apnea (15 to 30 events an hour) have positional sleep apnea. Krachman explains how wearing the device, called Zzoma, works to reduce those episodes.
"Zzoma is a device which is worn around the chest area like a belt, with a device on the back, which is a firm, foam material wrapped in canvas to keep them from moving on their backs. Over the last year, we've been studying its use in treating patients with mild to moderate positional sleep apnea."
The device was created by former Temple Fellow Joseph G. Crocetti. He and Krachman have worked together to treat positional sleep apnea. Their research has shown that the Zzoma device is less obtrusive and easier to use than the leading alternative, a continuous positive airway pressure machine or CPAP, a mask that blows air on a person's face to keep the airway open.
"Although CPAP is very effective, the best studies have shown it's only used correctly 50 percent of the time," says Krachman. "That leaves many diagnosed with sleep apnea but not treated."
Untreated sleep apnea can lead to a host of other medical problems. Just having sleep apnea is an independent risk factor for developing high blood pressure, coronary disease and heart failure. That's why Krachman hopes the FDA approves Zzoma to treat positional sleep apnea, to give sufferers an effective alternative to the burden of CPAP.
Temple University
"Zzoma is a device which is worn around the chest area like a belt, with a device on the back, which is a firm, foam material wrapped in canvas to keep them from moving on their backs. Over the last year, we've been studying its use in treating patients with mild to moderate positional sleep apnea."
The device was created by former Temple Fellow Joseph G. Crocetti. He and Krachman have worked together to treat positional sleep apnea. Their research has shown that the Zzoma device is less obtrusive and easier to use than the leading alternative, a continuous positive airway pressure machine or CPAP, a mask that blows air on a person's face to keep the airway open.
"Although CPAP is very effective, the best studies have shown it's only used correctly 50 percent of the time," says Krachman. "That leaves many diagnosed with sleep apnea but not treated."
Untreated sleep apnea can lead to a host of other medical problems. Just having sleep apnea is an independent risk factor for developing high blood pressure, coronary disease and heart failure. That's why Krachman hopes the FDA approves Zzoma to treat positional sleep apnea, to give sufferers an effective alternative to the burden of CPAP.
Temple University
Sleep Apnea Current Events and Sleep Apnea News RSSStudy Helps Explain Connection Between Sleep Apnea, Stroke And Death
Obstructive sleep apnea decreases blood flow to the brain, elevates blood pressure within the brain and eventually harms the brain's ability to modulate these changes and prevent damage to itself, according to a new study published by The American Physiological Society.
Arousal frequency in heart failure found to be a unique sleep problem
A study in the Jan. 1 issue of the journal Sleep demonstrates that the frequent arousals from sleep that occur in heart failure patients with central sleep apnea (CSA) may reflect the presence of another underlying arousal disorder rather than being a defensive mechanism to terminate apneas.
Eye conditions linked with obstructive sleep apnea
If a good night's sleep helps the brain and body perform better, it's a good guess that sleep problems can cause more than just fatigue. Numerous studies have shown a connection between sleep disorders and medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, and metabolic disorders, including the risk of obesity and diabetes mellitus. In the November issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Mayo Clinic researchers outline several interesting associations between sleep disorders and eye disease.
Sleep Apnea May Be Risk Factor for Sudden Cardiac Death, Mayo Clinic Research Concludes
After studying the sleep characteristics of nearly 11,000 adults in an overnight sleep laboratory, Mayo Clinic researchers suggest that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) - and, in particular, the low nighttime oxygen saturation of the blood it causes - may be a risk factor for sudden cardiac death (SCD).
Smokers see decline in ability to smell, rise in laryngitis, and upper airway issues
As Americans prepare for a day without cigarettes and tobacco products as part of the American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout (R) (November 20), new research gives them more reasons to extend that break to a lifetime.
New drug target in obesity: Fat cells make lots of melanin
As millions of Americans gear up for the Thanksgiving holiday, a new research report published online in The FASEB Journal, may provide some relief for those leery of having a second helping.
Green neighborhoods may reduce childhood obesity
Childhood obesity can lead to type 2 diabetes, asthma, hypertension, sleep apnea and emotional distress. Obese children and youth are likely to be obese as adults, experience more cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and stroke and incur higher healthcare costs.
Neighborhood greenness has long term positive impact on kids' health
In the first study to look at the effect of neighborhood greenness on inner city children's weight over time, researchers from the Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and the University of Washington report that higher neighborhood greenness is associated with slower increases in children's body mass over a two year period, regardless of residential density.
Even mild sleep apnea increases cardiovascular risk
People with even minimally symptomatic obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may be at increased risk for cardiovascular disease because of impaired endothelial function and increased arterial stiffness, according to a study from the Oxford Centre for Respiratory Medicine in the UK.
Association found between severe obstructive sleep apnea
A study in the October 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine shows that unrelated to obesity, people with severe SDBs consume a more unhealthy diet, which may be a factor contributing to greater cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. These findings were most evident among women.
More Sleep Apnea Current Events and Sleep Apnea News Articles
 | Sleep Apnea-The Phantom of the Night: Overcome Sleep Apnea Syndrome and Win Your Hidden Struggle to Breathe, Sleep, and Live by T. Scott Johnson Sleep apnea disrupts the lives of millions of unsuspecting victims. Their struggle to breathe during sleep is a major cause of daytime sleepiness, accidents, poor health, lost years of productivity and happiness, and even death. Experts in sleep medicine and a patient guide people with snoring and sleep apnea and their families to take advantage of dramatically effective medical... |
 | Snoring and Sleep Apnea: Sleep Well, Feel Better by Ralph A. Pascualy Snoring and Sleep Apnea is written people with sleep apnea, as well as for their bed partners, families, and friends, and for health care professionals involved in sleep apnea management. Written by experts in the field, the book covers causes, diagnosis, treatment, and surgical techniques as well as the pros and cons of specific therapies. Readers learn when snoring is a sign of sleep apnea, why... |
| Surgery for Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea by M. Fabiani | |
| Phantom of the Night: Overcoming Sleep Apnea Syndrome and Snoring-Win You Hidden Struggle to Breathe, Sleep, and Live by Jerry Halberstadt | |
 | Restless Nights: Understanding Snoring and Sleep Apnea by Peretz Lavie This title is useful for people who snore. People with severe sleep apnea may struggle for breath all through the night, not breathing for as long as 90 seconds at a time during their sleep. This syndrome, which affects at least four percent of men and two percent of women, can cause daytime fatigue, traffic and work accidents, deteriorating cognitive abilities, and cardiovascular problems. In... |
 | Coping With Snoring And Sleep Apnea (Overcoming Common Problems) by Jill Eckersley Are you sick and tired of people making jokes about your snoring? Are you the long-suffering partner of a chronic snorer? Is your relationship suffering because you and your partner can't get a good night's sleep? Snoring is often seen as bit of a joke, but those who live with a snorer know that it can be a serious problem--it can even lead to the breakdown of loving relationships. Jill... |
 | The Perils of Sleep Apnea--An Undiagnosed Epidemic: A Layman's Perspective by Burton Abrams Are your doctors doing all that they can to keep you in good health? Have they ever investigated the possibility that you may have sleep apnea, a condition whose incidence has reached epidemic proportions? Probably not, because most doctors don’t do that screening routinely, although they certainly should. The long-term consequences from sleep apnea are wide-ranging and very serious, even... |
 | No More Snoring: A Proven Program for Conquering Snoring and Sleep Apnea by Victor Hoffstein, Shirley Linde Expert help for the millions of Americans who suffer from chronic snoring. Drowsiness, irritability, and congestion. Memory and concentration problems. Decreased alertness and productivity. Increased risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, migraines, and strokes. The ravages of snoring are all too familiar, yet easy to prevent. In No More Snoring, one of the world's leading... |
| Surgical treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.(Home Study Program)(Cover Story): An article from: AORN Journal by Wayne Colin, Susan Duval This digital document is an article from AORN Journal, published by Thomson Gale on September 1, 2005. The length of the article is 8610 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.From the author: * REPEAT SLEEP... | |
 | Sleep Apnea and Snoring: Surgical and Non-Surgical Therapy by Michael Friedman Finally, a multi-disciplinary approach that covers both the surgical and non-surgical interventions for sleep apnea and snoring. From the editor of Operative Techniques in Otolaryngology, this new reference will quickly become the standard in surgery for this key area within otolaryngology. ., Full-color line drawings illustrate key concepts and create a comprehensive way of learning surgical... |
| © 2009 BrightSurf.com |