PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) manifests itself in many ways. The symptoms of PTSD aren’t limited to distressing memories and emotional trauma. In fact, a large body of research has shown that veterans suffering from PTSD are at increased risk for a host of sleep disorders. The complex relationship between anxiety, breathing problems, hyperarousal, and intrusive … Read More »
If you recently had or ordered a sleep study to test for sleep apnea, the question foremost in your mind is probably what your results have to say about your sleep health or the health of your patient. However, unless you know what to look for, your sleep study report may seem more perplexing than informational. Here … Read More »
Sleep studies are performed to rule out or diagnose sleep disorders such as sleep apnea and narcolepsy. A sleep study can take place in a sleep center or in a patient’s home (learn about the difference between in-center and in-home testing here). If you have just scheduled or are planning to schedule your first sleep study, … Read More »
PAP (positive airway pressure) therapy treats obstructive sleep apnea by delivering pressurized air into the airways to keep it open during the night while sleeping. PAP can reduce or completely eliminate sleep apnea (learn more about how PAP therapy works here). There is significant evidence that treating sleep apnea with PAP therapy improves quality of … Read More »
CPAP is the gold-standard therapy for adult patients with obstructive sleep apnea. It is the most effective therapy, when used properly, at reducing or eliminating apnea events. CPAP therapy has been shown to prevent and even reduce the negative effects that sleep apnea can have on the body, including increased risk of death from heart problems. … Read More »
The patient clearly has sleep apnea, but it’s not severe enough for the insurance company to cover therapy. Why? Unfortunately, there are varying opinions about how sleep apnea is diagnosed and when CPAP is the appropriate therapy. Primarily, the difference is between how Medicare (CMS) and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) define a diagnosis … Read More »
I wanted to start this week with a real warm and fuzzy post about how grateful we are for our sleep technologists. We call them night techs. Each October, the American Association of Sleep Technologists celebrates Sleep Tech Week to recognize the technologists who play a vital role in sleep centers across the country. Who performs … Read More »
Picture the typical person with sleep apnea. Odds are, you just thought of a man. But studies show that almost one in two sleep apnea patients is a woman. How likely are women to have this disorder…and how often are they treated?
This is the second post in a two-part series about women and sleep apnea. Our first post, Why Women with Sleep Apnea are Overlooked, investigates the differences in how women experience and report sleep issues and directly addresses the stereotype that sleep apnea is a man’s disease. In this post, we look at the causes … Read More »
This is the first post in a two-part series about women and sleep apnea. The second post, The Health Hazards of Sleep Apnea in Women, looks at the causes and effects of sleep apnea in women. In this post, we investigate the differences in how women experience and report sleep issues and directly addresses the stereotype that sleep apnea … Read More »
