Friday, November 6, 2009

45,000 deaths per year linked to lack of insurance

45,000 deaths per year linked to lack of insurance
Researchers say that number--which equals one person every 12 minutes--equals more deaths annually than deaths caused from murder and drunk driving combined.

Sleeping Easier After Retirement
Title: Sleeping Easier After Retirement
Category: Health News
Created: 11/3/2009 10:37:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 11/3/2009 10:37:35 AM

Insomnia linked to high blood pressure
A new study published in the journal Sleep has found that people who suffer insomnia may also have heightened nighttime blood pressure.

Health Tip: Create Baby's Bedtime Routine
Title: Health Tip: Create Baby's Bedtime Routine
Category: Health News
Created: 11/5/2009 8:10:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 11/5/2009

Gene may explain how some function on little sleep
A lucky few can get by just fine on six hours of sleep, and a new study suggests a genetic mutation might help explain why.

Resetting your body clock after a time change
Despite "gaining" an extra hour, experts say the fall time change can still wreck havoc on your body clock.

Health Tip: Putting Baby to Bed
Title: Health Tip: Putting Baby to Bed
Category: Health News
Created: 10/19/2009 8:10:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 10/19/2009

Sleepy Drivers a Menace on the Road
Title: Sleepy Drivers a Menace on the Road
Category: Health News
Created: 11/4/2009 12:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 11/5/2009

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Penn Researchers Reverse The Cognitive Impairment Caused By Sleep Deprivation

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. Just as important, the team believes that the cognitive deficits caused by sleep deprivation, such as an inability to focus, learn or memorize, may be reversible by reducing the concentration of a specific enzyme that builds up in the hippocampus of the brain.

Shared Bed May Raise SIDS Risk
Title: Shared Bed May Raise SIDS Risk
Category: Health News
Created: 10/14/2009 8:10:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 10/14/2009

Coffee Decreases Quality Of Daytime Recovery Sleep For Night Workers
Night-shift workers should avoid drinking coffee if they wish to improve their sleep, according to research published in the journal Sleep Medicine. A new study led by Julie Carrier, a Université de Montréal psychology professor and a researcher at the affiliated Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur Sleep Disorders Centre, has found the main byproduct of coffee, caffeine, interferes with sleep and this side-effect worsens as people age.

Sleep Deprivation Can Negatively Affect Information Processing
A study in the Nov.1 issue of the journal Sleep shows that sleep deprivation causes some people to shift from a more automatic, implicit process of information categorization (information-integration) to a more controlled, explicit process (rule-based). This use of rule-based strategies in a task in which information-integration strategies are optimal can lead to potentially devastating errors when quick and accurate categorization is fundamental to survival.

World Trade Center Workers Have More Cases of Acid Reflux
Title: World Trade Center Workers Have More Cases of Acid Reflux
Category: Health News
Created: 10/26/2009 2:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 10/27/2009

Sleep Disturbances Improve After Retirement
A study in the Nov.1 issue of the journal Sleep shows that retirement is followed by a sharp decrease in the prevalence of sleep disturbances. Findings suggest that this general improvement in sleep is likely to result from the removal of work-related demands and stress rather than from actual health benefits of retirement. Results show that the odds of having disturbed sleep in the seven years after retirement were 26 percent lower (adjusted odds ratio of 0.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Relieving Those Restless Legs

Relieving Those Restless Legs
Let’s continue talking about restless legs syndrome (RLS).   We reviewed some of the symptoms, causes, and adverse effects of restless legs syndrome in the past two blogs, now let’s talk about how RLS is diagnosed.  Due to the unusual sensations that patients with RLS complain of, it is sometimes difficult for a healthcare provider to determine if these complaints are actually related to RLS.  Contrary to popular...

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. Just as important, the team believes that the cognitive deficits caused by sleep deprivation, such as an inability to focus, learn or memorize, may be reversible by reducing the concentration of a specific enzyme that builds up in the hippocampus of the brain.

Teeth Grinding Linked To Sleep Apnea
There is a high prevalence of nocturnal teeth grinding, or bruxism, in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), particularly in Caucasians. New research presented at CHEST 2009, the 75th annual international scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), found that nearly 1 in 4 patients with OSA suffers from nighttime teeth grinding; this seems to be especially more prevalent in men and in Caucasians compared with other ethnic groups.

'No Flu Shots for My Kids'
Title: 'No Flu Shots for My Kids'
Category: Health News
Created: 10/9/2009 8:10:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 10/9/2009

GE Develops Pressure Sensor For Sleep Apnea Devices
Sleep apnea is a common disease that affects millions of people all over the world, and if left undiagnosed and untreated can cause serious health complications. GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies (NYSE: GE) has developed the Nova Pressure Amplified (NPA) series of pressure sensors for medical devices. Small and effective, the NPA is a critical component in creating cost-effective sleep apnea monitors that are more accurate and reliable than those currently on the market.

Melatonin Helps Autistic Kids Sleep
Title: Melatonin Helps Autistic Kids Sleep
Category: Health News
Created: 10/13/2009 11:40:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 10/13/2009 11:40:05 AM

Race Is Strong Predictor For Restless Legs Syndrome
New research shows that Caucasian women may suffer from restless legs syndrome (RLS), a sleep disorder characterized by the strong urge to move the legs, up to four times more than African-American women. The study, presented at CHEST 2009, the 75th annual international scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), found that, overall, non-African-American (NAA) patients experienced RLS four times more often than African-Americans (AA).

Sleep Deprivation Can Negatively Affect Information Processing

Sleep Deprivation Can Negatively Affect Information Processing
A study in the Nov.1 issue of the journal Sleep shows that sleep deprivation causes some people to shift from a more automatic, implicit process of information categorization (information-integration) to a more controlled, explicit process (rule-based). This use of rule-based strategies in a task in which information-integration strategies are optimal can lead to potentially devastating errors when quick and accurate categorization is fundamental to survival.

News From Annals Of Internal Medicine, October 6, 2009
Early Releases: 1. Earlier H1N1 Vaccination Prevents More Deaths, Saves Health Care Costs A vaccine for H1N1 influenza is anticipated to become available this fall. With the amount and timing of vaccine release still in question, policy makers struggle to set priorities regarding who should be vaccinated when.

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.

The Basics of CPAP
 Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is the most common treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Except for tracheotomy, it is also the most effective treatment for OSA. CPAP is basically a computerized air pump that delivers pressurized air through a hose and then through a nasal interface into the patient's throat. The pressurized air splints open the upper airways, preventing the airflow pauses (apneas) and airflow...

Sleep Apnea In Obese Patients Unlikely To Be Cured Solely By Improved Diet And Exercise
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. Results show improvement in typical OSA symptoms including snoring, daytime sleepiness, impaired vigilance, poor quality of life and mood after the completion of a 16-week diet and exercise program.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Diagnosing Restless Leg Syndrome

Diagnosing Restless Leg Syndrome
You’ve all seen the ads.  You might have even heard about the charges of “disease mongering” that have been bandied about, specifically about this disorder.  We are going to start covering the topic of restless legs syndrome (RLS).  (By the way, disease mongering is when someone with a financial interest in a disease, like a pharmaceutical company with an effective medicine, publicizes a disorder with the sole...

Sleep - Too Little? Too Much?
Sleep is one of the necessities of life along with water, food and air. But just how much sleep do we need? What is too much? What is too little, and how does sleep affect our health?A new study, reported in Science News, explains that Alzheimer's is linked to lack of sleep. Plaques of Alzheimer's increase in the brains of mice and also in  the spinal fluid of people during wakefulness. These plaques destroy brain cells and lead to...

When Clocks Change, Body May Need Time to Adjust
Title: When Clocks Change, Body May Need Time to Adjust
Category: Health News
Created: 10/30/2009 8:10:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 10/30/2009

Health Tip: Signs of an Asthma Attack in Your Child
Title: Health Tip: Signs of an Asthma Attack in Your Child
Category: Health News
Created: 10/22/2009 8:10:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 10/22/2009

All Sleep is Not Created Equal
In my last blog we were reviewing the fundamental question of why we sleep.  We left off trying to sort out the level of activity of the brain and body during different stages of sleep (i.e. Non-REM and REM).    During non-REM the body and brain are at their most relaxed state.  Ironically, most people think of REM as deep sleep, but actually during REM the level of brain activity resembles the awake state.  Our most...

Health Tip: Leave Jet Lag Behind
Title: Health Tip: Leave Jet Lag Behind
Category: Health News
Created: 10/26/2009 8:10:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 10/26/2009

Did Diprivan Lead to Michael Jackson's Death?
It's no surprise to hear that Michael Jackson suffered from insomnia. According to an Associated Press news release, he'd been plague with insomnia as far back as 1989 and the "Bad" tour.   Sleep problems are common among celebrities, and, no matter your personal opinion of Michael Jackson, there's no doubt he was a celebrity - a super nova of the music world. Can you imagine the stress and pressure of most of life? Then add to that his...

Monday, November 2, 2009

Shared Bed May Raise SIDS Risk

Title: Shared Bed May Raise SIDS Risk
Category: Health News
Created: 10/14/2009 8:10:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 10/14/2009 Read more ...

A course of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) may help insomnia patients get a better night's sleep, even long after the treatment ends. Read more ...

Title: Health Tip: Leave Jet Lag Behind
Category: Health News
Created: 10/26/2009 8:10:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 10/26/2009 Read more ...

Title: World Trade Center Workers Have More Cases of Acid Reflux
Category: Health News
Created: 10/26/2009 2:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 10/27/2009 Read more ...

Title: Drugs May Save Memory of the Sleep-Deprived
Category: Health News
Created: 10/22/2009 11:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 10/22/2009 11:00:05 AM Read more ...

Title: Health Tip: Signs of an Asthma Attack in Your Child
Category: Health News
Created: 10/22/2009 8:10:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 10/22/2009 Read more ...

Causes and Symptoms of Restless Leg Syndrome

Causes and Symptoms of Restless Leg Syndrome
We started our discussion about restless legs syndrome (RLS) in my recent blog, so let’s continue where we left off.   Mild symptoms of RLS occur in 5-15% of the general population, which makes it the second or third most common sleep disorder.  Of these cases, only about 2-3% are considered clinically severe enough to require treatment.  It appears to occur more commonly in females and can even affect children.  Due...

Relieving Those Restless Legs
Let’s continue talking about restless legs syndrome (RLS).   We reviewed some of the symptoms, causes, and adverse effects of restless legs syndrome in the past two blogs, now let’s talk about how RLS is diagnosed.  Due to the unusual sensations that patients with RLS complain of, it is sometimes difficult for a healthcare provider to determine if these complaints are actually related to RLS.  Contrary to popular...

The Function of Sleep Not Quite Explained
We finished the last blog in mid-thought.  We were talking about REM sleep and the idea of brain plasticity- the rewiring of our brains that take place when we learn new information.   A recent study in rats showed that 4 days of REM sleep deprivation decreased the amount of new cells in the part of the brain that is associated with long-term memory, in other words they did not make those new circuits.   Another study with...

Treating the Winter Blues
In my last blog we began a discussion of seasonal affective disorder or SAD.  We will pick up where we left off.   There is actually some debate in the psychiatric community whether or not SAD is actually a separate diagnosis, apart from general depression.  Those who claim it is not suggest that it is no more than a seasonal coincidence that occurs in someone with recurring episodes of depression.  As support to this idea...

Diagnosing Restless Leg Syndrome
You’ve all seen the ads.  You might have even heard about the charges of “disease mongering” that have been bandied about, specifically about this disorder.  We are going to start covering the topic of restless legs syndrome (RLS).  (By the way, disease mongering is when someone with a financial interest in a disease, like a pharmaceutical company with an effective medicine, publicizes a disorder with the sole...

Sleep Deprivation 101: What You Should Know
In my previous blogs I have written about the importance of good sleep, but I don’t think we ever really explained the significance of sleep deprivation and the effects on society and the individual. I thought that it would be a good idea to go over some significant facts and figures to convince you of the importance of getting a good restful sleep and of the need to address sleep problems with your doctor.What is sleep deprivation?It is...

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Sleep Apnea In Obese Patients Unlikely To Be Cured Solely By Improved Diet And Exercise

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. Results show improvement in typical OSA symptoms including snoring, daytime sleepiness, impaired vigilance, poor quality of life and mood after the completion of a 16-week diet and exercise program. Read more ...

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. Just as important, the team believes that the cognitive deficits caused by sleep deprivation, such as an inability to focus, learn or memorize, may be reversible by reducing the concentration of a specific enzyme that builds up in the hippocampus of the brain. Read more ...

Nearly all patients who underwent surgery to treat oropharyngeal cancer experienced some degree of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), according to new research presented at the 2009 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO, in San Diego, CA. Read more ...

A study in the Oct.1 issue of the journal Sleep shows that long-term alcoholism affects sleep even after long periods of abstinence, and the pattern of this effect is similar in both men and women. Results indicate that in long-term alcoholics who had not had a drink for up to 719 days, the percentage of slow wave sleep was significantly lower (6.6% in men, 11.1% in women) than in controls (12.0% in men, 12.1% in women). Read more ...

Obesity in children significantly increases the risk of major and minor respiratory complications following surgery to correct sleep disordered breathing (SDB), according to new research presented at the 2009 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO, in San Diego, CA. The study, which followed the post-operative recovery of 49 obese children compared with a control group, revealed that 75. Read more ...

NECT (Nifurtimox-Eflornithine Combination Therapy), the first new treatment in 25 years against Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) or sleeping sickness, is now available. Endemic countries have now begun the process of ordering the new combination treatment and kits through the World Health Organization (WHO). Developed by DNDi and its partners, NECT cuts the cost of treatment by half and significantly reduces the burden on health workers. Read more ...

Despite recent advances in anti-inflammatory therapy, many rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients continue to suffer from pain. Research published in BioMed Central's open access journal, Arthritis Research & Therapy found that inflammation is associated with heightened pain sensitivity at joint sites, whereas increased sleep problems are associated with heightened pain sensitivity at both joint and non-joint sites. Read more ...