Distinguishing Between Sleep Apnea and ADHD

Does your child struggle in school, or have difficulty focusing on one activity for a period of time? Though diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has exploded among kids in recent years, it’s possible that your child could be suffering from sleep apnea symptoms.

The symptoms of ADHD and sleep apnea can sometimes overlap. Both often result in:

• Extreme daytime fatigue
• Diminished concentration
• Mood swings and irritability

Children with sleep apnea often face a number of challenges. Chronic inability to sleep well at night can compromise performance in the classroom, cause behavior problems that lead to strained social interactions with peers, and long-term even stunt growth.

Thankfully, there are a variety of sleep apnea treatments that can be customized for adults and kids alike. Although only a qualified physician can provide diagnosis and recommend the correct treatment option, sleep apnea does have several warning signs your child could exhibit.

Like many adults with the disorder, children who suffer from sleep apnea often snore very loudly at night. They might also be extremely tired during the day, and complain of headaches upon waking up.

If you’ve noticed symptoms like these in your child, contact an experienced sleep doctor in your area or call 1-866-727-6275 (1-8-NO-PAP-MASK) to begin exploring sleep apnea treatment options.

Sleep Apnea Appliance Market on Upward Move

Recent data suggest that the market for devices used to diagnose and treat sleep apnea is expected to grow by more than 15 percent in the next two years. Greater supply of and demand for sleep apnea appliances can be attributed to the increasing prevalence of the sleep disorder, which can have fatal consequences if left untreated.

The exact cause of sleep apnea is currently unknown. What is known is that the disturbances in blood oxygen level stemming from interrupted breathing during sleep lead to a variety of serious symptoms.

Research shows that some of the major risk factors for developing sleep apnea are: 

• Age: People over 60 are more likely to develop sleep apnea
• Weight: Overweight and obese individuals are at a significantly higher risk of sleep apnea
• Airway obstructions: Nasal congestion, enlarged tonsils, and narrowness of the throat can interrupt the flow of breath during sleep
• Substance use: Alcohol, tobacco, and sedatives can all increase the likelihood of sleep apnea symptoms

If you're at risk for or already have sleep apnea, appliances for diagnosis and treatment are easy to find. However, many patients find themselves unable to use certain sleep apnea appliances long-term due to discomfort and interruptions to sleep.

Before selecting a sleep apnea appliance, consult a qualified sleep physician who can discuss your options and which one might benefit you the most. To begin exploring treatment, please contact a sleep doctor in your area or call 1-866-727-6275 (1-8-NO-PAP-MASK).

Sleep Apnea Treatment Options

If you find yourself snoring throughout the night and oftentimes waking up severely tired, you may be suffering from sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a condition in which a person has difficulty breathing while sleeping, which can sometimes lead to brief cessations of breathing altogether. These breathing problems can cause the patient to never have a fully restful sleep, oftentimes leaving them groggy and sluggish throughout the day.

When considering treatment options for sleep apnea, there are a variety of ways to alleviate the symptoms, including:

•         CPAP device
•          Oral appliance therapy
•          Surgery
•          Behavioral changes
•          Positional sleep therapy
•          Medications

A very common treatment is the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device which is often prescribed for sufferers of sleep apnea. The CPAP device would involve you wearing a mask while you sleep that sends air through the nasal passages using a pressurized system. This keeps air flowing through your airway, however, it is oftentimes considered uncomfortable.

Oral appliance therapy involves the use of an oral appliance that can be used to manipulate the jaw so breathing isn't difficult during sleep.

Sometimes medications will be administered in order to alter hormones that may be involved in the breathing difficulties that arise from sleep apnea.

Behavioral therapy can also help to lessen your sleep apnea symptoms. These can include limiting your alcohol consumption and stopping smoking, as both of these can contribute to relaxed muscles in the throat.

Positional sleep therapy can also be integrated as a form of treatment where you simply train yourself to sleep in positions that do not inhibit your breathing abilities.

For more information on sleep apnea treatment, please contact a sleep doctor in your area or call 1-866-727-6275 (1-8-NO-PAP-MASK) today.

FDA Approves New Sleep Apnea Treatment

The Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation device is expected to be available to sleep apnea patients later this year after receiving FDA approval at the beginning of May. The Inspire appliance is the latest addition to the wide range of sleep apnea treatments prescribed by doctors to help suffering patients breathe easier at night.

Once it is surgically implanted in the chest, the Inspire device stimulates nerves in the neck with mild electric shocks. These shocks trigger nerve activity that keeps the airway open during sleep. 

According to the New England Journal of Medicine, patients who used Inspire experienced a 68 percent reduction in apnea attacks.

Though Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation isn't yet available to consumers, there are other sleep apnea treatments to choose from. Some of the most common examples include:

·         Weight loss, adjustments to your normal position in bed, and other behavior modifications

·         Specially made oral appliances, such as a custom splint or mouth guard

·         Surgery to adjust structures in the airway that block air flow

The continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device is often considered the “gold standard” treatment for sleep apnea. Unfortunately, many users find the appliance uncomfortable and difficult to use night after night, hampering its effectiveness as a treatment option.

Before you decide on any sleep apnea treatment, it's important to consult a professional who can carefully evaluate your health and determine which remedy could best restore your good night's rest. Untreated sleep apnea can be deadly: Don't delay contacting a local sleep physician or calling 1-866-727-6275 (1-8-NO-PAP-MASK) today to find an experienced doctor near you. 

How Is Snoring Linked to Weight Gain?

A recent article written by a Philadelphia sleep specialist for Philly.com discussed the effect snoring can have on the body’s ability to retain a healthy weight. Though snoring is often an indicator of weight gain, particularly in the face and neck area, the opposite relationship can also occur.

When a person snores during sleep, he/she is having difficulty breathing. Interruptions to the air flow consequently diminish the quality of sleep. Thus, daytime fatigue is a common symptom of chronic snoring.

If you snore at night and feel exhausted during the day, your appetite will increase and your capacity for activity will decrease. Taken together, these effects can lead to weight gain and difficulty losing said weight.

Snoring can negatively affect health in other ways which, when combined with weight gain, can cause severe issues over time. Potential complications from snoring include:

• High blood pressure
• Increased risk of heart disease and other cardiovascular conditions
• Diabetes

Snoring is also a sign of sleep apnea, a disorder where breathing actually stops for brief periods of time during rest. Sleep apnea can also lead to daytime fatigue, weight gain, and many of the serious conditions discussed above.

Please contact a qualified sleep specialist in your community or call 1-866-727-6275 (1-8-NO-PAP-MASK) today to begin exploring treatment options for snoring, sleep apnea, or other issues interrupting your ability to get a good night’s rest.

Sleep Apnea Patients at Higher Risk for Osteoporosis

People who suffer from sleep apnea are nearly three times more likely to develop brittle bones, according to a new study from researchers in Taiwan. HealthDay reports that the researchers found this correlation after analyzing medical records for patients diagnosed with sleep apnea over the course of six years. This latest information on sleep apnea demonstrates yet another dangerous complication linked to the disorder.

The nightly breathing cessation that occurs during sleep apnea deprives the body of necessary oxygen. The Taiwanese researchers linked this lack of oxygen to an increased risk of osteoporosis, especially among female and elderly patients.

However, diminished skeletal strength isn’t the only negative health consequence of lower blood oxygen levels. Other serious conditions you might be at higher risk for if you suffer from sleep apnea include:

• Stroke
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Irregular heartbeat and/or breathing

If you suffer from chronic daytime fatigue, or a spouse or roommate complains about your loud snoring night after night, you might be suffering from sleep apnea. To begin restoring proper oxygen flow during sleep and lower your risk of serious complications, a trained physician can perform a sleep study and discuss treatment options.

For more information on sleep apnea, please contact a sleep doctor in your area or call 1-866-727-6275 (1-8-NO-PAP-MASK) today.

Is Sleep Apnea Affecting Your Job?

While investigating a train derailment that killed four passengers last year in New York City, the National Transportation Safety Board revealed that the engineer who operated the train suffers from severe sleep apnea. One of the foremost symptoms of sleep apnea is daytime fatigue, which can pose a major danger to patients and bystanders alike in the workplace. 

The interruptions to breathing and alterations in blood oxygen levels caused by sleep apnea can lead to a wide variety of poor physical health effects. There are also a number of symptoms that can affect mental and emotional state.

The following sleep apnea symptoms can compromise cognitive and emotional function, which can not only cause problems in your personal life but diminish your ability to perform your duties at work:

• Trouble concentrating
• Poor short-term memory
• Mood swings
• Depression
• Anxiety

Though sleep apnea is dangerous no matter what your occupation, the disorder might be especially dangerous for employees who regularly operate heavy machinery, handle hazardous materials, or engage in other tasks with little margin for error.  Whether you snore at night, wake up feeling tired, or get drowsy during your commute or throughout the day at work, it might be time to seek medical attention.

Please contact a local sleep doctor or call 1-866-727-6275 (1-8-NO-PAP-MASK) today. A physician specializing in sleep disorders can evaluate your symptoms and determine whether or not you’re suffering from sleep apnea.