Saturday, February 28, 2009

Losing Weight Can Cure Obstructive Sleep Apnea In Overweight Patients

Losing Weight Can Cure Obstructive Sleep Apnea In Overweight Patients
For sufferers of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a new study shows that losing weight is perhaps the single most effective way to reduce OSA symptoms and associated disorders, according to a new study in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, one of the American Thoracic Society's three peer-reviewed journals.

Sleeping Double in a Single Bed
Anyone who has any knowledge at all of country music will probably remember the Barbara Mandrell hit, "Sleeping Single in a Double Bed." That, according to the song, is not a favorable situation. However, please consider the alternative. Snuggling together on a narrow bed may sound appealing to the newlyweds, but believe me, keep it up and the honeymoon will soon be over. Buy a bed large enough to give both people room to move around, stretch...

Dreams Can Carry More Weight Than Conscious Thoughts, Say Researchers
While science tries to understand the stuff dreams are made of, humans, from cultures all over the world, continue to believe that dreams contain important hidden truths, according to newly published research. In six different studies, researchers surveyed nearly 1,100 people about their dreams. "Psychologists' interpretations of the meaning of dreams vary widely," said Carey Morewedge, an assistant professor at Carnegie Mellon University and the study's lead author.

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...

'Wake Up' To The Health Risks Of Heavy Snoring
Heavy snoring can be far from a nuisance. It can be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea, a condition where an individual briefly stops breathing during the night which raises the risk of heart failure and strokes. "Sleep apnea or sleep disordered breathing is one that we're getting more and more interested in because we see a very strong association with strokes, heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems," says Dr. Melvyn Rubenfire, M.D.

Study: Sleep Apnea Masks Help Hearts Heal, Too
It's estimated that some 12 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea*- which means they could stop breathing in their sleep, in some cases hundreds of times per night. Most people who have moderate to severe cases of sleep apnea are given a mask to wear at night that helps them sleep better, but it might be doing much more than that. In the first study of it's kind, Doctors have found it may be helping to heal the heart too.

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...