Sleepmedrx, LLC

01/21/2023

The risk for major adverse cardiovascular events among patients with sleep apnea who used positive airway pressure for at least 6 hours a night was lower than among those who used it for less time, according to study results.“These real-life clinical data demonstrate a dose-response relationsh...

01/17/2023

https://www.sleepmedrx.com/insights/sleep-apnea-whats-the-big-deal

Let’s try and break down why sleep apnea can be so detrimental to your health...

08/30/2019

💥 Partner Company Highlight! 💥

SleepMedRx has Partnered with DocViaWeb and VitruOx to provide a dynamic sleep program. 💪

DocViaWeb allows for online consultations with SleepMedRx's sleep specialists who diagnose sleep apnea and order treatment therapy. 👨‍💻

VirtuOx is able to provide the ability to test for sleep apnea using advanced diagnostic sleep medicine tools at home! 🏡

08/26/2019

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea??

📍 Intermittent airflow blockage during sleep

📍Seen in all age groups but frequency increases with age and in male gender

📍Symptoms include snoring and daytime sleepiness

📍Diagnosis is simple. SleepMedRx can help!

📍Treatment consists of lifestyle changes and medical devices including CPAP or an oral appliance.

08/23/2019

Get the inside scoop of a home sleep test. 🤓

If it takes you more than 30 minutes to fall asleep, you wake up a lot during the night, or you feel exhausted during the day even when you spend enough time in bed, then you may have a sleep disorder.

Sleep tests can help determine whether you have a sleep issue by uncovering breathing problems such as sleep apnea. The good news is that there are home sleep tests (HSTs), in case the idea of spending the night in a sleep lab (hooked up to monitors) doesn’t sound appealing to you.

How a Home Sleep Test Works 🤷‍♀️

You’ll get a portable monitor that’s small and lightweight. It comes with step-by-step instructions. Each one is slightly different. Any questions can be answered by customer service representatives. Then return the device, and a technician will create a detailed report based on your results.

What It Measures 📈

A home sleep test (HST) measures oxygen saturation, heart rate, airflow, movement in your chest and abdomen and it will also record time spent snoring and your sleep position. A HST is effective at helping to diagnosis sleep apnea (one of the most common sleep disorders), but not other disorders.

The Pros 👍 and Cons 👎

The pros of HSTs are that you can snooze in the comfort of your own bed versus a lab, it’s cheaper, and more convenient. The cons are a HST may underestimate the severity of your sleep apnea compared with an in-lab test and you won’t get the extensive results that you’d get from a sleep study performed in a lab.

08/19/2019

There are many options for treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Here are the most common options:
💨 Positive airway pressure machines (including CPAP, BiPAP, and AutoPAP). They used with a variety of breathing masks and are the most widely used treatment for moderate and severe sleep apnea. Studies of the effect of PAP therapy show that people with sleep apnea who CONSISTENTLY use their machines feel better and encounter fewer complications of the disease.
😬 Oral appliance therapy is an effective, non-invasive treatment that fits easily into your lifestyle. Patients like oral appliance therapy because it is:
* Comfortable
* Easy to wear
* Quiet
* Portable
* Convenient for travel
* Easy to care for
These appliances are worn in the mouth, just like a sports mouth guard or an orthodontic appliance, while you sleep. Oral appliances hold the lower jaw forward just enough to keep the airway open and prevent the tongue and muscles in the upper airway from collapsing and blocking the airway.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has approved oral appliance therapy as a first line treatment for patients diagnosed with mild to moderate OSA. The AASM also recommends oral appliances for patients with severe OSA, who are unable to tolerate or cannot wear CPAP devices. Over 100 different oral appliances are FDA approved for the treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. If it’s determined that an oral appliance is a good option for you, it should be fitted by a dentist specially trained in Dental Sleep Medicine.
🍏 Weight loss can be an effective way to help manage sleep apnea. About 70 percent of people with obstructive sleep apnea are overweight or obese. Their health care professionals usually encourage them to lose weight.
🛌 Positional therapy can help patients with mild sleep apnea. Some people snore or have sleep apnea only when sleeping on their back. Such people can eliminate or reduce airway blockage simply by learning to sleep on their side. In more severe cases, the airway collapses no matter what position the patient assumes.
🏥 Surgery is often effective in treating snoring. It is less effective in treating obstructive sleep apnea.
If you snore or believe you have sleep apnea, contact SleepMedRx to schedule a home sleep study to determine if you do have OSA. We will help you determine which treatment options are best for you!

08/16/2019

Q&A: Sleep Apnea and Women

❓Are women with sleep apnea as likely to be diagnosed as men?
No, a recent studies show that men are 2-3x more likely to be diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

❓Why are women less likely to be diagnosed with sleep apnea?
Women may present with slightly different symptoms than the "classic" symptoms of snoring, witnessed breathing pauses at night and excessive sleepiness during the day. Instead, women may present with fatigue, insomnia, morning headaches, mood disturbances. Because these symptoms are not specific for OSA, women may be misdiagnosed and are less likely to be referred to a sleep clinic for further evaluation.

❓Does the relationship between OSA and hypertension or diabetes differ between men and women?
No. OSA is a significant risk factor for heart disease and diabetes for men and women.

❓What should prompt a woman or her healthcare provider to consider that she might have OSA?
Daytime fatigue, lack of energy or excessive sleepiness despite getting an adequate amount of sleep (usually 7-8 hours) at night, morning headaches, history of snoring, dry mouth on awakening, or a sense of being overwhelmed. Women's risk for sleep apnea increases as they transition through menopause. Post-menopausal women are up to 3x more likely to have OSA compared to pre-menopausal women.

08/12/2019

The FINANCIAL cost of untreated Obstructive Sleep Apnea is staggering‼️

The cost of OSA on society is tremendous. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, undiagnosed (and untreated OSA) cost the United States nearly 150 billion dollars in 2015!! 😲

Of this, $26.2 billion was spent due to car accidents related to sleepiness in the setting of undiagnosed OSA. Nearly 30% of car accidents in the US are associated with drowsy driving which is well-known to be seen in those with sleep apnea. Fortunately, according to the AASM, there is data to suggest that those treated for their OSA are at lower risk.

This doesn't even factor in the physical and emotional cost of this disorder. Don't let yourself or your loved ones go undiagnosed or untreated! 😔

08/09/2019

Five 🖐 Factors that Worsen Obstructive Sleep Apnea
1️⃣ Weight gain - if the airway is narrowed to begin with, the fat at the base of the tongue and along the airway may make things worse. Weight loss can help to reduce both snoring and sleep apnea.
2️⃣ Sleeping on your back - sleeping on your back leads to increased breathing disruption because the soft tissues of the airway, including the soft palate and tongue, can fall back and block the passage of air.
3️⃣ Excessive drinking - as a muscle relaxant, it can make the upper airway more collapsible. It is best to avoid alcohol before bedtime. As a rule of thumb, allow one hour to pass each alcoholic beverage before going to bed.
4️⃣ Smoking - to***co irritates and inflames the upper airway, causing it to narrow and making it easier to block.
5️⃣ Nasal congestion - increased difficulty breathing through your nose, whether from an anatomical problem or allergies, increases the likelihood of developing obstructive sleep apnea.

08/05/2019

Oral appliance therapy is an effective option for preventing snoring and treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). A custom-fit oral appliance can improve your sleep, restore your alertness and revitalize your health. 💥

Worn only during sleep, an oral appliance fits like a sports mouth guard or an orthodontic retainer. It supports the jaw in a forward position to help keep the upper airway open.

An oral appliance is an effective, non-invasive treatment that fits easily into your life. Patients like oral appliance therapy because it is:
☑️Comfortable
☑️Easy to wear
☑️Quiet
☑️Convenient for travel
☑️Easy to care for

Preventing snoring or treating obstructive sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy can help you feel like a new person!! It is likely that you will sleep better, have more energy and feel more alert throughout the day. You may find that your bed partner sleeps better too!

08/02/2019

Did you know sleep apnea effects your bone health?? 🦴

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder which has been linked to an increased risk of osteoporosis and abnormal bone metabolism.

OSA is characterized as frequent, but short, episodes of shallow (or even stopped) breath when sleeping. This lack and deprivation of oxygen can harm many of the body’s systems, including the skeletal one, which may lead to weakened bones and consequently may raise the risk of developing osteoporosis. People suffering from OSA are 2.7 more times likely to get osteoporosis. 😲

Symptoms of OSA include:
💤 Loud snoring
💤 Headaches (especially in the morning)
💤 Night-time restlessness
💤 Daytime drowsiness
💤 Difficulty concentrating

07/29/2019

Snoring is a common part sleep for many people, and as annoying as it may be to those who hear it there is nothing harmful about it on its own. In certain cases, though, snoring can indicate the presence Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a potentially serious sleep disorder.

How can you tell the difference? Look for these signs to determine if someone’s noisy nighttime breathing warrants a trip to the doctor’s office.

📢 Volume

While light sighs during sleep aren’t usually cause for concern, deeper and more audible snorts can be. Louder snores have a greater chance of being associated with OSA.

〽️ Consistency

Many people are occasional snorers, especially if they’re suffering from a cold or congestion—or anything that causes a temporary blockage of the airways. With an underlying condition like OSA, though, a person will snore nearly every night even when he or she is otherwise in good health.

😲 Gasping and Trouble Breathing

Episodes of snoring that are interrupted by gasps, choking sounds, or irregular pauses in breathing may suggest something more serious is afoot. Telltale signs of OSA include snoring sessions that are punctuated by bouts of breathlessness.

😡 Other Symptoms Accompany Snoring

For people with OSA, snoring doesn’t usually occur in a vacuum. Other symptoms of the condition, which is more common in middle-aged and older men, include nocturia (getting up to urinate in during the night), depression, irritability, and sexual dysfunction tied to the lack of restful sleep.

~National Sleep Foundation

SleepMedRx is here to help you with all your sleep apnea concerns! Don’t wait, contact us today!

07/26/2019

If you wake up with tired, tight jaw muscles😬 or sensitive teeth😱, it could be a sign that you grind or clench your teeth during the night. This condition is known as bruxism. If left untreated, bruxism can lead to tooth decay, cause headaches, and even trouble sleeping. 💤

There are many health issues that are linked to bruxism including stress and teeth misalignment, but one of the biggest risk factors is a serious health condition called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This occurs when the throat muscles relax during the night, causing the airway to be blocked and interrupting breathing. Almost 1️⃣ in 4️⃣ people with OSA grind their teeth at night, and men are even more likely to be affected. 🚹

Luckily, by treating sleep apnea, nighttime teeth grinding may also resolve. 🦷 Lifestyle changes can help but you may need to use an oral appliance also. This is an effective treatment recommended for those with mild to moderate sleep apnea, or severe sleep apnea who are not able to tolerate continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).

Whether you’re noticing symptoms of teeth grinding, sleep apnea, or both, contact SleepMedRx or your dentist so we can help clear up the issue and have you sleeping soundly again soon!! Www.SleepMedRx.com

07/22/2019

5 Tips for Sleep When You’re Off Your Normal Routine:

#1: Say "no" to long naps.
It can be tempting to doze off on the couch after a big, heavy meal. But if you nap for too long, it may be hard to fall asleep once you are able to go to bed. Limit your sofa snooze to 20 minutes, and try to schedule it for around 2:00pm or 3:00pm, when it’s least likely to affect your nighttime sleep.

#2: Try a pre-bed ritual.
After a busy day, it’s important to give your body time to wind down before bed. Shift into sleep mode with a calming activity, such as knitting, listening to soothing music, or taking a bath. You should also dim bright lights and turn off tech devices—the blue light that they emit can make it harder to fall asleep.

#3: Take an item from home when traveling.
Sleeping in a new place can be disruptive. Pack an item that is essential to your comfort at home. Your favorite blanket, go-to pillow or even a stuffed animal can bring a sense of familiarity when on the road.

#4: Avoid nighttime disruptions.
Limit foods and beverages that can trigger nighttime heartburn and wake you up, such as fatty, spicy, greasy, or fried dishes. Pass on alcohol, too. Even one alcoholic drink before bed can disrupt sleep later in the night.

#5: Stick to your usual wake-up time.
Even if you didn’t get much sleep, resist the urge to press snooze. Those extra minutes in bed aren’t restorative, and waking up when your alarm typically goes off can help you get on back on track with your usual sleep routine.

07/19/2019

🛌Sleep Apnea & Depression😔

Sleep is essential for our bodies to rest and repair. It is the only time our brain gets a chance to rest, regenerate, and clean up the memories and inputs from the day.

When sleep is disrupted, the specific stages of restful and restorative sleep are also disrupted. Over time, the brain gets overloaded with toxins, excess information that hasn’t been properly stored, etc.

There is a proven relationship between proper sleep and mental health. The amount of sleep disruptions and severity of being tired during the day correlate with levels of depression. Repeated oxygen starvation also causes significant inflammation throughout the cardiovascular system and in the brain.

Symptoms of depression also overlap with symptoms of sleep breathing disorders including obstructive (OSA) sleep apnea such as fatigue, feeling tired, poor motivation. Patients with OSA also report difficulty concentrating, remembering information, being irritable, loss of enjoyment for life, etc.

If you or someone you know has problems sleeping, with depression or anxiety that isn’t responding with medical intervention, assessment for a sleep breathing disorder would be an important step to take. SleepMedRx is here to help!

07/15/2019

Did you know there is a link between being overweight and having Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)? In fact, about 50% of people who have OSA have a higher than normal Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is your height to weight ratio and can be calculated easily. Here’s a website you can use: https://www.calculator.net/bmi-calculator.html

Increased weight can cause excess fat to accumulate in the neck area which can effect breathing and lead to Obstructive Sleep Apnea. While there is no "cure" for OSA, a 10% weight loss can significantly improve or completely eliminate OSA in some patients!

Untreated sleep apnea can lead to increased weight because it effects hormone production related to appetite and causes daytime sleepiness which leads to decreased physical activity.

If you think you may have sleep apnea and would like to speak with a professional, SleepMedRx is here to help!

07/12/2019

The most common obstructive sleep apnea warning signs include:

✔️Daytime sleepiness or fatigue
✔️Dry mouth or sore throat when you wake up
✔️Headaches in the morning
✔️Trouble concentrating, forgetfulness, depression, or irritability
✔️Night sweats
✔️Restlessness during sleep
✔️Snoring
✔️Waking up suddenly and feeling like you're gasping or choking
✔️Trouble getting up in the morning

Do you or someone you know have some or ALL of these symptoms? SleepMedRx can help!