While education and information surrounding sleep apnea has certainly increased in the past few years, there are still an alarming number of people and healthcare professionals who don't see the disorder as the silent killer it can be. So many times the loud snoring associated with Obstructive Sleep Apnea is laughed or teased about and considered a normal part of many American's lives. But based on our experiences here dealing with sleep apnea patients every day and on studies done by physicians specializing in sleep medicine, snoring and the other outward symptoms of sleep apnea (daytime sleepiness, lack of concentration, forgetfulness, dry mouth, acid reflux while sleeping) are not normal and should not be part of anyone's regular day-to-day routine. So many sufferers blame these outward signs on increased age or lifestyle changes and ignore or attempt to adapt to some of the debilitating symptoms. Obstructive Sleep Apnea is shockingly prevalent in today's population with an estimate... [More]

The reality show 'Deadliest Catch', a Discovery show about Alaskan crab fishing, has been plagued by tragedy since its beginning. Viewers have seen cap-sized ships, lost crews, and the death of the gruff, but lovable, Phil Harris from the Cornelia Marie. The fishermen are facing another tragedy as the death of another of their compatriots has been revealed. Justin Tennison, a 33 year old fisherman on the Time Bandit, died in February of this year. Autopsy reports revealed that his death was due to complications related to sleep apnea. Untreated sleep apnea can cause elargement of the heart, high cholesterol, and hardening of the arteries (and many other conditions). Many individuals with heart disease may have untreated Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Stories like the tragedy of Justin Tennison remind CPAP users to stick with treatment, and hopefully will also bring awareness to those currently undiagnosed.  To read more about the new season of 'Deadliest Catch', visit ABC News for the f... [More]

Insomnia is a common problem, and over-the-counter sleep aids are a billion dollar industry. Everywhere people are trying to get sleep, yet, according to a recent Huffington Post article, no one really understands what sleep is and what its function is supposed to be in our life. Dr. Rubin Naiman, Ph.D. has an interesting (if somewhat controversial) take on sleep theory and how modern day man's views on sleep affect how we actually sleep each night. The full article is available online at Huffington Post, but below are a few of our favorite excerpts: "I believe the main reason we struggle with epidemic sleep disorders is our failure to examine fundamental misconceptions that inform our understanding of and approach to sleep. These misconceptions are rooted in a tendency to define sleep negatively -- that is, in terms of what it's not. Like our conception of health, which is generally understood as the absence of disease, we naively conceive of sleep as the absence of waking. When we ar... [More]

The number of health complaints believed to be related to Obstructive Sleep Apnea are plentiful, with cardiovascular disease, GERD, and high cholesterol all possibly related to untreated apnea. One of the most well-researched related health conditions, though, is the life-changing and very common Type 2 Diabetes. The most common form of diabetes by far, Type 2 is marked by high glucose levels in the blood and can be associated with obesity. It is now estimated that up to 1 in 4 individuals with Type 2 Diabetes will also have Obstructive Sleep Apnea, and, unfortunately, many of these people are currently undiagnosed and untreated. Untreated OSA makes controlling blood sugar more difficult as, it is theorized, the hormones released during interrupted sleep inhibit the effects of insulin in the body. So not only could someone with untreated OSA be opening themselves up to a host of other related medical problems, they also could be inhibiting their diabetes treatment, or causing their dia... [More]