Recent studies have shown a link between obstructive sleep apnea and memory loss. Obstructive sleep apnea affects an estimated 900+ million people in the world, making this a global concern. How Does OSA Cause Memory Loss? People think that they are having issues with memory because of not sleeping enough. However, studies point to the brain actually being injured, and […]
Devices Are Keeping You Awake While you may feel the itch to constantly be on your phone, tablet, or laptop, you may want to consider putting it away in the evenings. Research has shown that stimulation from electronic devices negatively affect healthy sleep. 1. Reduces Melatonin Melatonin is the hormone your body naturally releases to stimulate sleepiness and the circadian […]
Well here we are…2019! A new year brings new opportunities and new beginnings. Get your year started right…utilize the information within the following list and CPAP better in 2019! 1. Invest in a CPAP Sanitizer Maintaining clean CPAP supplies is a crucial aspect of your therapy. Dirty supplies can lead to ineffective treatment and/or sickness. An easy way to do […]
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a consequence of untreated sleep apnea. Blood pressure is an important aspect of the cardiovascular system. If that pressure is too high it can lead to numerous complications that are both scary and life threatening. CPAP therapy is a proven method of treating sleep apnea. Therefore, in a way CPAP is responsible for lowering […]
ResMed is arguably the face of CPAP. This article explains how they came to be the powerhouse they are today. Timeline 2,000+ years ago: First records of sleep apnea symptoms 1836: Charles Dickens inspires first term for sleep apnea, “Pickwickian syndrome” 1877: London Physician gives first known detailed description of OSA 1965: First “apnea” recorded using a polysomnograph […]
This article teaches you the issues that alcohol presents to people with obstructive sleep apnea. You’ll go over what alcohol does to your body. Then, you will review some factors that relate to sleep apnea. Alcohol is seen as an “initiation” of sorts in our present culture. The majority of high school students just CANNOT WAIT to turn 21. Drinking […]
The short answer, Yes, your child can have pediatric OSA. Sleep apnea can affect young people of any age, ethnicity, and genetic makeup. This article will go over some risk factors and consequences. as well as treatment options for you and your child. Precautions must be taken, but your child could grow out of any Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) issues. SDB’s can […]
Did you know that truck drivers, and other commercial drivers, are a risk on US roadways when they do not adhere to obstructive sleep apnea treatment? This article discusses DOT regulations, how sleep apnea affects drivers and driving, some risk factors, and symptoms. Lastly, you can review some F.A.Q.’s. “An American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) survey of more than 800 […]
Did you know that your body does a lot more than simply relax during sleep? Well, some of your body’s most productive work is done while you’re sleeping! What is Sleep? Sleeping is your body’s way of recuperating the energy used each day by your mental and physical activity. Neurotransmitters signal parts of the your brain that its time to […]
If you’re a sports geek like I am…you are ecstatic about what the next few months is going to bring! The MLB World Series was epic, the NFL and College Football seasons are well underway, the NHL and NBA are just getting going, and NCAA Basketball is just around the corner! To me…this is the best time of the year […]
Recent studies have shown that sleep apnea can lead to a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Sleep apnea is a beast all its own, but Alzheimer’s disease is a burden you most likely have a greater understanding of. It is a brutal disease that you would not wish upon anyone… What is Alzheimer’s? Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that […]
October 21st was National Check your Meds Day…weird holiday, I know. However, there is some merit to the reasoning behind the idea. Millions of people take daily prescriptions, most of which are required for them to function properly. It is important to be educated about those medications: know what they are made of, the side effects the medicine causes, how […]
The end of summer and warm weather has officially set in! No more days at the pool with the kids…no more days spent on a boat under the sun…no more daylight savings… The end of warm weather also means the end of having that extra hour of daylight. Regretfully, that “extra” hour of sleep that we think we get is […]
My how the year is flying by! Halloween is right around the corner; Thanksgiving and Christmas are looming. The fall season brings about hoodies & sweatpants, bonfires & s’mores, and hayrides & cider… Consequently, the summer/fall changeover also brings stuffed noses, congestion, sinus problems, and over-agitated sleep apnea symptoms! Obstructive sleep apnea is a beast of a condition, […]
How Apnea Played a Role in Leia’s Death Carrie Fisher, known for her role as Princess Leia in the Star Wars franchise, made the news this week when it was released that sleep apnea played a role in her untimely death. Throughout the years working as a sleep technologist I can attest to the long running Darth Vader jokes from patients when I […]
Sleep Apnea Linked To Shoulder Pain Apnea and Aches Could my sleep apnea be the cause of my shoulder pain? Anyone who has crossed over to the 40 years and older club will tell you that you start feeling your age. Recently I began experiencing pain in my elbow caused by tendinitis or otherwise called “tennis elbow”. I thought nothing of […]
Stern Show “Wack” Packer Needs CPAP Hey Now. While listening to some Sternthology on the Howard Stern show a few weeks ago I came across one of the shows that highlighted the first time the “Wack Packer” Bigfoot was introduced to the show. He was on a panel of people that were being interviewed for consideration of becoming a member […]
Home Sleep Study Cost and Options It’s that time of year again when people with health insurance will notice their deductible is about to roll over. Insurance is one of those words that feel like a safety blanket to protect you against high out of pocket cost for unexpected tests or treatment but in a lot of cases you are […]
12 Times CPAP Made A Guest Appearance in Television A lazy Sunday afternoon playing Words with Friends or some other addicting phone app when one of my kids screams out “CPAP”. I pull my nose out of my iphone and with a confused look to see my 9 year old pointing at the television where an episode of iCarly is […]
Snoring Mouth Guards or CPAP? When did the phrase “As Seen on TV” become the gold standard barometer of a quality product? I just heard a commercial on satellite radio with a bold message to “get rid of your CPAP and fix your snoring and sleep apnea with a mouth guard”. If you are willing to believe this I have a […]
The Best CPAP Mask for Your Nose It can be very frustrating trying out different CPAP masks every night just trying to find the best CPAP mask for you. There are so many different types it can lead some people to just give up on CPAP therapy completely. While every other CPAP user that you know may tell you their […]
Sleep Apnea Statistics Sleep apnea effects up to 22 millions people however most of these people are unaware they suffer from it. Sleep apnea statistics say that as much as 80% of the people that have this sleep disorder have been undiagnosed. An even more alarming stat is that only 50% of the people diagnosed with disordered breathing actually use […]
Simple Hacks to Improve CPAP Comfort One night in the sleep lab while preparing the hook-up (sleep technician talk for applying electrodes and sensors) I witnessed something I had never seen in my 8 years as a sleep medicine professional. Before I tell you what it is I would like to give you a little bit of background on this […]
How Much Sleep Debt Do You Owe? You may have a credit score above 700 but that doesn’t mean that a debt collector is not calling to you every day in the form of daytime sleepiness, fatigue and irritability. The creditor in this scenario is a little company called “Your Mind and Body”. How much of a sleep debt are […]
I had to fight nausea a few times when I was handed a excessively dirty CPAP mask. We have seen our fair share of stomach churning dirty CPAP masks come into our store over the years. I often ask myself how or why someone would continue to use such a dirty piece of equipment, especially something that comes in contact with their […]
A look at the lighter side of sleep apnea therapy and treatment! 1. Your friends and family will make every sci-fi character reference that comes to mind when they see you with your mask on. Darth Vader has been the longest comparison but Bane has been the most popular in recent years. Let’s also not forget the elephant trunk reference […]
Ever Wonder Why Doctors Take Vacation in July? I saw a major trend every year during the summer months at the sleep disorders center I worked for as a Director of Lab Operations. Referrals were down and patient schedulers’ were feverishly making phone calls to patients to try to get them in for follow up appointments and re-evaluations. Ever go […]
How Many Hours Do I Need? Sleep and Age Sleep is essential to having a healthy and productive life, but getting enough is not always very easy. Many people believe that eight hours of sleep is the ideal amount of rest that everyone needs each night to feel their best, but research has shown that is not true. Individual people […]
It may seem strange to see the words pregnancy and sleep together in the same sentence since they so rarely coexist. Between all of the hormonal and physical changes, getting rest can seem like a very rare occurrence. Each trimester has its own challenges, and feeling tired is a factor in just about every single stage. The First Trimester The […]
Improve My Sleep with These Tips It is important to get a good night’s rest, but so few people manage it consistently. Any insomniac can tell you that sleep is so much more than just laying down to go to sleep. There are, however, certain behaviors and practices that can help you not only fall asleep, but stay asleep. 1. […]
Sleep is more than just time to rest after a busy day. It is, in fact, when your body has a chance to regenerate and heal, and it is a necessity for the overall health of your body. While we drift off into dreamland, important healing processes are taking place inside us. What happens while you sleep? Sleep is a […]
Depression with CPAP Therapy Many people experience depression and the feelings of sadness and hopelessness it brings. The chemical imbalances that cause depression can result in a loss of interest in things that you use to enjoy, days full of fatigue, and sleepless nights. Depression can affect every aspect of your life if left untreated and depression with CPAP can be […]
Sleep apnea is a common disorder that plagues more than 18 million Americans every year. This condition causes the back of the throat to collapse during sleep, which constricts the airflow that delivers life-giving oxygen to vital organs such as the heart and the brain. If the airflow is restricted often enough, the blood-oxygen levels in the body decrease to […]
My Name is Jason and I Snore…Loudly Many of us are all too familiar with being banished to the couch or spare bedroom because of our embarrassing little problem; heavy snoring. Maybe some of you are the butt of your golfing buddies’ jokes about that upcoming trip where one poor soul gets the short end of the straw to share […]
CPAP and Weight Loss While driving my 8 year old son to baseball practice last week I heard what may be the best marketing angle for a commercial on the radio. It wasn’t your typical “We are the Best” or “Our Product Will Do This Better than Anyone Else” it was a simple warning (repeated in a stern voice) that […]
7 Common CPAP Problems Users Face In 2004 I was working CPAP consultations at our sleep lab when a little old couple walked in for their follow up appointment. I immediately remembered them from their nights at the sleep lab because they reminded me of my grandparents and the way “Mrs. Smith” took care of “Mr. Smith”. It had been […]
Odd Sleep Facts 1.) What Do My Dreams Mean? There’s not a clear cut answer and some experts argue that we dream to fix experiences in long-term memory, meaning we dream about things in our life worth remembering. Others argue the point that we dream about things worth forgetting – to eliminate overlapping memories that would otherwise clog up our […]
Thankful for CPAP In honor of Thanksgiving, we are giving our list of 30 things for 30 days of November we are thankful for. 1.) Our loyal customers (guess that’s a given, huh) 2.) Selling ResMed CPAP products lower than anyone else online. 3.) That we can offer the average person affordable CPAP machines, masks, and supplies even when they […]
Need More Sleep? #JustLetMeSleepALittleLonger I do not want to work out this morning. Period. End of Story. I want to pull the covers back over my head, reset my alarm clock for one more hour of precious sleep. Within 30 seconds I can come up with 14 excuses as to why I don’t need to, why I shouldn’t, and why […]
It says C-P-A-P, not C-R-A-P. Do you call it “soda” or do you call it “pop”; or maybe you call it “soda pop”? Whatever you call it, it’s always weird or awkward to hear it called by something else yet you know what that person is referring to when they say it. We encounter this everyday at 1800CPAP.com when customers […]
Cuts to CPAP Reimbursement and CPAP Replacement Schedule Hold on to your hats; it’s an election year and the hot topic is still healthcare reform and reimbursement cuts. So what does this mean to the average CPAP user? Considering most commercial insurance providers typically follow Medicare standards, the complete landscape of how often you get new CPAP supplies and the […]
I see a lot of diagnostic sleep tests come across my desk and it’s not uncommon to see Mr. John Doe have an AHI (apnea hypopnea index) on average of 30. What does that mean, AHI = 30? Many people get that number confused with the amount of times during the night that they quit breathing but, and this is […]
CPAP & Red Wine: Hangover Cure Recent studies have suggested that consuming red wine may significantly benefit your health; and millions everywhere parlayed this data into “Sure I’ll have another glass; it’s doctor recommended”. One sentence into this blog you may be wondering how drinking red wine remotely relates to CPAP and sleep apnea. Great question, but this blog is […]
