"Sleep, Breathing, and Menopause"

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), is more common in men than in women. However, menopause increases the risk for development of OSA. Administration of estrogen and progesterone to postmenopausal women with OSA decreases apnea and hypopnea during sleep.

Because beneficial changes can be observed soon after administration of a short course of hormones, we hypothesized that suppression of these hormones would rapidly result in the development of SDB.

Production of sex hormones was suppressed with daily administration of leuprolide acetate (LA), a gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue, for 5 weeks in women who were participating in a study on pharmacologically induced menopause and physiology.

Read via Entrez PubMed

"Benign Neonatal Sleep Myoclonus"

Neonatal sleep myoclonus is a benign disorder characterized by myoclonic jerks occurring only during sleep and presenting in the first month of life. The condition is self-limited, requires no treatment and is unassociated with any developmental and neurological deficits(1,2).

The fact that benign neonatal sleep myoclonus (BNSM) is an innocuous and non-epileptic phenomenon is not well recognized(2,3). Not uncommonly, BNSM is confused with neonatal seizure disorder, resulting in unnecessary investiga-tions, treatment and parental anxiety(1,2).

Here we describe 2 cases of BNSM with an aim to create awareness about this condition.

Read via Indian Pediatrics

"Ambulatory EEG Systems Offer a Cost-Effective Alternative"

Long-term video-EEG monitoring has become a mainstay of modern neurological diagnosis and treatment. It has proven critical for differentiating epilepsy from psychogenic events, sleep disorders and other mimickers of seizures.

In addition, video-EEG monitoring can characterize the frequency and type of epileptic seizure, as well as localize the area of the brain from which ictal events originate. Unfortunately, in hospital monitoring over several days is often not possible.

Patients may be unwilling or unable to spend so much time in the hospital for a variety of reasons. Ambulatory EEG systems offer a cost effective alternative.

Read via medcompare

"Usability Testing based on the Cognitive Mismatch EEG Signals"

This paper describes how electroencephalogram (EEG) signals can be utilized in usability testing, especially for evaluating the cognitive mismatch between a user’s mental model and an appliance’s working model.

We aim to evaluate the usability of information appliances that interact with users. In addition to traditional usability testing, it is necessary to consider the user’s mental state, that is, how users understand and predict an appliance’s response.

Read via ACTA Press

"Inflammatory Aspects of Sleep Apnea and their Cardiovascular Consequences."

Abstract: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common medical condition that occurs in a considerable percentage of the population. Substantial evidence shows that patients with OSA have an increased incidence of hypertension compared with individuals without OSA, and that OSA is a risk factor for the development of hypertension.

It is established that OSA may be implicated in stroke and transient ischemic attacks. OSA is associated with coronary heart disease, heart failure, and cardiac arrhythmias.

Read via HighBeam Research

"Cardiovascular Consequences of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome"

This article is an update of past and current data on the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and cardiovascular diseases. CURRENT KNOWLEDGE AND KEY POINTS: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is a common, but under-recognised, condition and should not be considered simplistically as the association of snoring and obesity.

It may be suspected by the clinical history but a definite diagnosis requires the practice of polysomnography. Numerous studies have found a significant relationship between the presence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and the occurrence of cardiovascular events.

Read via Entrez PubMEd

"Home Tests Effectively Detect Sleep Apnea: Study"

Simple take-home tests for sleep apnea are just as good at diagnosing the breathing disorder as extensive overnight monitoring in a sleep laboratory, an Alberta study suggests.

The researchers hope their finding will help bring faster diagnosis and treatment for people with the condition, which can cause daytime drowsiness, boost the risk of motor vehicle accidents and, in severe cases, contribute to heart disease and stroke.

Read via cbcnews

"Sleep Disorders Testing: Minimally Invasive Device For Monitoring Gastric Reflux In The Airway"

Respiratory Technology Corporation (Restech) announced today the launch of its Dx-Sleep Adapter?, a new accessory for its recently released Dx-pH Measurement System?, the world's first and only device for monitoring real-time breath to breath pH.

Restech's "plug & play" adapter allows sleep medicine professionals to track their patients' airway pH events in real-time on their existing patient monitoring equipment and presents patients with a procedure that is minimally invasive and more comfortable than current technology.

Read via MEDICAL NEWS TODAY

"Sleep Quest Presents An At-Home Diagnostic Alternative"

As an innovative leader in the diagnosis and treatment of the millions of patients suffering from sleep-related breathing disorders we have recently added a new technology to our line up of sophisticated, portable home testing services. The Watch_PAT100, by Itamar Technologies, is a non-invasive, FDA approved device for patient-friendly at-home diagnostic evaluation.

This self-contained device is worn on the wrist and uses a non-invasive finger mounted probe to measure peripheral arterial tone (PAT). Peripheral arterial tone accurately identifies respiratory events during sleep. In addition to the PAT Signal, the Watch_PAT100 records oxygen saturation, pulse rate, movement (actigraphy) and sleep/wake states.

Read via SLEEP QUEST

"Sleepiness, Sleep Apnea, and Driving: Still Miles To go Before We Safely Sleep"

Over the past 10 to 15 years, the problem of drowsy driving has received increasing attention. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that each year, 100,000 police-reported crashes are the direct result of driver fatigue.

Many researchers believe that these estimates are conservative (1), in part due to lack of awareness by many crash investigators of drowsiness (fatigue) as cause for many crashes and the lack of simple, reliable field measures of sleepiness (c.f. breathalyzer for alcohol levels), which could provide evidence for causality.

Read via FIND ARTICLES

"Sleepiness and Driving: the Experience of UK Car Drivers."

A postal questionnaire survey aimed at exploring the relationship between accidents and daytime sleepiness was sent to 9000 male drivers of which 4621 (51.3%) responded (mean age 47.7, SD 17.1).

Drivers provided details of the accidents they had experienced in the last 3 y, and identified those factors, including tiredness, they thought contributed to the accident.

In addition, drivers completed the Epworth scale measuring daytime sleepiness and reported whether they had felt close to falling asleep whilst driving during the past 12 mo.

Read via Entrez PubMEd

"Chronic use of Triazolam: the Effects on the Sleep Patterns of Insomniacs."

The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of triazolam 0.5 mg on the sleep of insomniac patients when given for 3 weeks.

The results showed that both acute and chronic triazolam administration are effective in decreasing sleep latency, increasing sleep duration, increasing sleep efficiency and decreasing total wake time without producing major effects on sleep staging.

Sleep Stages 1 and 2 were significantly altered by drug treatment but in a positive direction. This change is primarily attributable to the significant decrease in sleep onset.

Read via Entrez PubMed

"Sleep-Wake Function and Personality Patterns in Chronic Insomniacs and Healthy Controls."

A comparison was made between 16 middle-aged chronic insomniacs and 16 normal sleepers, matched by age and sex, in a psychophysiological study, including polysomnographic night sleep recordings, MMPI personality profiles, testing of cognitive performance, and relaxation capability during daytime.

Both objective and subjective criteria of night sleep demonstrated a clear separation of the two groups. Insomniacs had psychosomatic personality profiles.

Read via Entrez PubMed

"Sleep Disturbances, Nightmares are Common Among Suicide Attempters"

In the first known report of its kind, a study published in the January 1st issue of the journal SLEEP finds that sleep disturbances are common among suicide attempters, and that nightmares are associated with suicidality.

The study, conducted by Nisse Sjöström, RN, and colleagues of Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Göteborg, Sweden, focused on 165 patients between the ages of 18-68, who were admitted to medical units or psychiatric wards at Sahlgrenska after a suicide attempt.

Read via ScienceDaily

"Shift Work Sleep Disorder"

With industrialization, we have gone to a 24-hour society. Not only are there consumers who are awake at all hours, shopping, driving, dining, and recreating; but there are industries oriented towards 24-hour production.

This has led to increasing proportions of our society involved in shift work. About 20% of American workers are engaged in some form of shift work system. Shift workers have higher incidence of health problems, particularly gastrointestinal complaints.

Read via CHESAPEAKE

"Hormonal Changes In Satisfied And Dissatisfied Shift Workers Across A Shift Cycle"

To better understand the variation in tolerance of shift work, researchers focused on the endocrine differences between two types of shift workers. Results show that dissatisfied shift workers accumulated problems with sleep and fatigue across a work period.

There is ample evidence that shift work, including night work, increases the risk for developing both psychological and physiological health problems.

The most well established links exist between shift work and increased risk for cardiovascular heart disease, gastrointestinal disorders, and clinical sleep disorders.

Read via The American Physiological Society

"Shift Work and Ill-Health"

Studies compiled by the Circadian Learning Centre in the United States have shown that shift workers, especially those who work nights, can suffer from a number of health problems.

They include sleep disorders, fatigue, heart disease, high blood pressure and gastrointestinal upsets. Shift work can speed the onset of ulcers.

In one study of Italian workers, the time between the start of work and diagnosis of an ulcer was 12 years for day workers, 5.6 years for permanent night workers and 5 years for workers on a rotating eight-hour schedule.

Read via wsws.org

"Effects of Timed Bright-Light Exposure on Shift-Work Adaptation in Middle-Aged Subjects."

Shift workers suffer from a constellation of symptoms that can severely compromise their ability to perform optimally on-shift. The largest single factor contributing to shift-worker problems is sleep disturbance, and there is little question that the primary cause of such sleep disturbance is circadian disruption.

Recently, a number of studies have demonstrated that timed exposure to bright light can help facilitate adaptation to simulated shift-work schedules, at least in younger subjects.

The aim of the current study was to assess the effects of bright-light interventions in middle-aged individuals undergoing a simulated shift-work regimen.

Read via Entrez PubMed

"Sleep Disorders: Drug Treatments"

In some cases, doctors will prescribe medicines for the treatment of sleep disorders. Medications should be used in combination with good sleep practices and/or behavioral treatments.

Medications are often prescribed for short-term use.Types of Medications Used to Treat Sleep Disorders.

Listed below are some of the types of drugs used to treat sleep disorders. Your doctor can prescribe the appropriate medication for your particular sleep disorder.

Read via WebMD

"Promising Treatments Target Depression, Aim at Body's Response to Stress"

After decades of treading water, Big Pharma appears to be making progress in the search for better treatments for depression.

Midstage human testing of new drugs, which attack the mood disorder in different ways, is already under way. Companies from Pfizer Inc. to Sanofi-Aventis are targeting a system of brain chemicals that are involved in the body's response to stress. Also showing potential are drugs that block the brain's pain, sleep and nicotine receptors, and could also influence mood.

Read via post-gazette

"Men must Confront Prostate Problems"

Prostate health is taking its place among all those things you’re not sure you want to hear about while snacking in front of the TV.

Not since “erectile” and “dysfunction” became household words have there been so many media messages about middle-aged men and their plumbing problems.

But here’s the thing about the prostate gland: Every guy has one. And as men get older, this body part they were only vaguely aware of can cause problems such as frequent or difficult urination.

Read via Times Leader

"Inadequate Sleep Can Lead to Health Risks in the Elderly"

"Inadequate sleep at night leads to daytime fatigue and mental cloudiness. In the elderly, that can result in being less engaged socially to being at greater risk for falls and fractures," says Ammar Sakkour, M.D., director, UCLA's Pulmonary Fitness and Rehabilitation Program.

Two medical disorders - sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome - are more common in older persons and can contribute to inadequate restful sleep and daytime drowsiness.

Read via UCLA Healthcare

Clinical Significance of Sleep Apnea in the Elderly"

The generally accepted polysomnographic criteria for diagnosis of sleep apnea is exceeded by elderly subjects with such frequency that the validity of its application to this age group has been questioned.

We studied a group of elderly volunteers with nocturnal polysomnography and partitioned them into 2 groups based upon an apnea index of greater than or less than 5 per hour.

The results of a protocol evaluating the presence of potential complications of sleep apnea including cardiac arrhythmias, systemic hypertension, cor pulmonale, daytime sleepiness, and cognitive impairment were compared for the 2 groups.

Read via PubMed

"Better to Rest than Cram for Tests, Researchers say"

Overnight cramming sessions might hurt students' exam grades rather than help them, and naps before games might help athletes improve their performance.

Those were the findings this semester of a Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts sophomore, Danielle Durand, whose study of 10 students, under the supervision of psychology professor Peggy Brooks, Ph.D, indicates people retain factual information better when they've had a good night's sleep.

Read via BerkshireEgle

"The Quest for Rest can be Dangerous"

We're a stressed-out, sleep-starved nation. According to recent National Sleep Foundation statistics, 10 million Americans will not get a good night's sleep tonight.

They're just a fraction of the 70 million people in our country who suffer from sleeping problems -- and a majority of those people are women. But lack of sleep can be the beginning of much bigger problems.

Read via News 14 Carolina

"Light Therapy Fights Winter Depression"

berlin • It starts when the days get shorter in late autumn and often does not disappear until March: Winter depression. It not only causes sufferers long periods of feeling down, but also is accompanied by other aggravations such as restless sleep, loss of drive and a state of anxiety. Experts say one of the best ways of alleviating the problem is light therapy.

Light therapy is the most practical solution, an expert says. A special lamp is used to provide the sensation of bright sunlight. The therapy can take place at a doctor’s office or at home. The lamp’s white rays of light shine into the retina, stimulating areas of the brain, which in turn produce the hormone serotonin. A filter blocks out harmful UV rays.

Read via ThePeninsula

"Memory Improves After Sleep Apnea Therapy"

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may improve their memory by using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). A new study published in the December issue of CHEST, the peer-reviewed journal of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), shows that the majority of patients with OSA, who were memory-impaired prior to treatment, demonstrated normal memory performance after 3 months of optimal CPAP use.

The study also showed that memory improvement varied based on CPAP adherence. Patients who used CPAP for at least 6 hours a night were nearly eight times as likely to demonstrate normal memory abilities compared with patients who used CPAP for 2 or fewer hours a night.

Read via ScienceDaily

"Don’t lose Sleep over Insomnia"

Pam was not meeting sales quotas and was worried about losing her job. Each night she lay in bed letting various anxiety-provoking scenarios run through her mind. She knew she needed rest to do her job properly; yet she usually climbed out of bed in the morning with less than enough sleep.

Virtually everyone experiences insomnia at one time or another. For about half of Americans, episodes of sleeplessness last from a few days to a few weeks, but they eventually pass. About 10 to 15 percent report chronic insomnia lasting six weeks or longer.

Read via EnidNews

"Search for Sound Sleep Pays"

Loud snoring and insomnia used to be merely annoying. Now they are big business.

In Philadelphia and across the country, sleep-diagnostic centers are popping up and people once aggravated by a lousy night's sleep are getting help.

One beneficiary of the push for more testing is a local company, Viasys Healthcare Inc., which makes medical equipment including devices to diagnose and treat sleep ailments like sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing stops repeatedly for brief periods during sleep.

Read via PhillyCom

SLEEP APNEA DIAGNOSTIC DEVICES

"Fortune in Medical Inventions Born from Curious Mind"



While most of his fourth-grade classmates were tooling around on their bikes and tossing baseballs around the sandlot, Mark Knudson was hanging out at a doctor's office in his hometown of Libby, Mont., and reading medical texts for the fun of it.

"I was always interested in the cool stuff," Knudson said, "like what happens when a snake bites you, and why the same thing doesn't happen if you swallow the poison (while sucking it out of a bite). I just have an undying curiosity about things."

Read via Ventura CountyStar

"Improve your Memory with a Good Night Sleep"

Sleep makes it easier for our body to metabolise free radicals-molecules that are said to lead to the ageing of cells and even cause cancer. In a recent study carried out by the University of Chicago, 11 healthy young men were allowed only four hours of sleep a day for six days. At the end of this period, their body cells were performing like those of 60-year-old, and their blood insulin level comparable with that of a diabetes sufferer!

Sleep deprivation even affects the production of white blood cells and the hormone, cortisol, making a person more prone to infectious and circulatory diseases.

Read via Nigerian Tribune

"How to Sleep Well"

After trying to get in the shopping, baking, traveling and visiting, people could have racked up more than credit card debt this holiday.

"The one thing people give up is sleep," amid the holiday festivities and planning, said Medcenter One Sleep Center Director Lana Curl.

When people might be feeling they've been bitten by the bah hum bug, it could be that they aren't getting enough sleep.

Read via Bismarck Tribune

Sleep Deprivation affects Appetite Regulation

At this time of year, there are at least half a dozen items vying for your attention, and adequate sleep is often overlooked.

One of the most extreme examples of sleep deprivation was in the case of the window-washer who fell asleep on the job. Passersby in Nashville noticed something odd about the window washer at the 20th floor of a bank building. Firefighters were called to the scene, woke him and got him to descend from the dizzying height. Nashville Fire Chief Henry Booker admitted, “It’s unusual to fall asleep outside while on scaffolding that high up.”

Read viaNashuatelegraph

"Sleep Deprived Children Have Health Problems"

If your child has frequent health and/or emotional problems, consider that a lack of sleep may be all or at least part of the problem.



Every function in the body is affected by sleep. And for a child, the risks of sleep deprivation are much more serious than simply waking up in a grumpy mood. Research shows that children with sleep disturbances have more medical problems — such as allergies, ear infections, and hearing problems. They are also more likely to have social and emotional problems.

Read