Untreated snoring in kids may lead to heart disease: expert

TNN | Aug 26, 2014, 10.51PM IST

Kanpur: Does your kid snore while sleeping at night? If the answer is `yes', you should immediately consult a doctor, as it can be a symptom of sleep breathing disorder, a more serious underlying problem that can affect your child's physical and mental well-being, an expert revealed during the third day of IMA CGP.

Dr JC Suri from New Delhi, said that sleep breathing disorder is most common among kids between 2-18 years of age. "This problem is seen in about 5% of children between this age group. The biggest reason being excessive growth of tonsils and adenoid in the back of the throat. Major symptoms of the disease include snoring, irregular sleep, increased aggressiveness, change in attitude etc.

Children who are chronically sleep deprived may be prone to problems with attention behavior, learning and mood. If not treated on time the disorder can take shape of chronic heart disease. With the advancement of science today we have developed ways to cure the disease without operating the child," the doctor said.

Dr Anant Kumar, a urologist from New Delhi,speaking on the occasion said that Kidney stone has become one of the major concerns among youngsters today. He said the changing lifestyle and environmental conditions are responsible the for increasing cases of Kidney stones.

"The problem is common in all age groups. It is wrong to say that the only reason is excessive eating of junk food. Our over all lifestyle is responsible for the alarming situation. Kidney is a support system of the human body. Any damage to any part of the body may hamper the working of the kidney," he said.

"The main symptoms of kidney disease include, swelling of legs and area under the eyes, rise in blood pressure, lethargy etc. Person with these symptoms should be immediately taken to a doctor, followed by a urine test. Every person after the age of 50 years must go for regular checkups." Dr Kumar added.

In the third session of the day, Dr. Anupam Sachdeva, a senior doctor in Sri Gangaram Hospital, New Delhi, talked about common hematological problems in children. He told how the blood test can be helpful for identification of different diseases. He said that blood cancer in kids is now treatable and to a large extent even curable.

A good night's sleep is a matter of technicality.

Notes from Dr. Norman Blumenstock
Technology can possible help or hinder a good night's sleep.

Technology is a double-edged sword when it comes to sleep. It's been proven that one should shut off the "screens" — TV, computer, smartphones and beyond — well before hitting the sack, but sometimes, those future-forward devices hold the ticket to getting a good night's rest.

Sleep-related apps

IQ ALARM: Wakes people with an IQ test as an alarm; $.99

SLEEP CYCLE ALARM CLOCK: Tracks sleeping habits and quality, and awakens people with soothing tones; $.99

SLEEP: Sends people to sleep with soothing sounds, lullabies and relaxing music; $.99

DEEP SLEEP WITH ANDREW JOHNSON: Guided meditation; $2.99

INSOMNIA CURE: Hours of audio content and 40 pages of insomnia tips and learning tools; $2.99


Sleep time gadgets

These products are said to improve sleeping habits.

FitBit is a digital sleep tracker that analyzes sleep patterns and quality, similar to the SleepIQ Technology in Sleep Number beds. The One model tracks steps, distance, calories burned and stairs climbed during the day, but also measures sleep quality at night, according to FitBit.com. Sync the device to a computer or smartphone, and review the real-time progress. Various colors and styles are available. $99.95;www.fitbit.com.

The Snore Relief Wrist Band by Hammacher Schlemmer, though no longer available for purchase, reports that it did provide natural relief for snoring by stimulated the median nerves at the inner wrists.

"Snoring can be caused by loose soft tissues vibrating in the throat, and when the device detects snoring, it releases a signal that gently stimulates the body to shift position, stopping snoring," Hammacher Schlemmer states online.

Clinical trials for the product showed that 80 percent of participants' spouses observed a decrease in snoring after two weeks of use, leading to better sleep quality, according to the website.

Familiar with fumbling around in the dark? Senzo light switches are called "smart switches" and include infrared and radio frequency wireless communication for control. It features a built-in timer, wireless sensor, smartphone and Internet control, a remote control and a night light to easily find your way about in darkness. They can even be locked to prevent unauthorized users. For more information, visitwww.senzo.com.my.

Behind closed doors
Here's what's going on inside the bedroom, according to the 2013 Sleep Council Survey:

• 27 percent now use desktop computers/laptops to surf the Internet in the bedroom.

• 17 percent of respondents talk on the phone in the bedroom.

• 62 percent of 16 to 24 year olds like to eat in their bedrooms compared to only 22 percent of respondents overall. In fact 16 to 24 year olds like to do most things in their rooms: 28 percent do hobbies/crafts, 76 percent listen to music, and 28 percent exercise there.

• 65 percent of respondents read in the bedroom.




Source: Sleepcouncil.org

The Comparison of CPAP and OA in Treatment of Patients with OSA

Li W, Xiao L, Hu J.

Respir Care. 2013 Jan 3

A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to compare the outcomes of oral appliances (OA) with those of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in treatment of patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Relevant studies were retrieved from the following electronic databases up to and including September of 2012: MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, and Central Register of Controlled Trials. The main variables were epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), health-related quality of life, cognitive performance, blood pressure, apnea and hypopnea index (AHI), arousal Index (AI), minimum saturation (Min SaO2), rapid eye movement sleep, % (REM%), treatment usage, side effects, treatment preference and withdrawals.

Fourteen trials were finally included in this review. The investigators results demonstrated that the effects on ESS, health-related quality of life, cognitive performance, and blood pressure of OA and CPAP were similar. Besides, pooled estimates of cross-over trials suggested a significant difference in favor of CPAP regarding AHI, AI, and Min SaO2, while pooled estimates of parallel-group trials showed a significant difference in favor of CPAP regarding AHI and REM%. Moreover, OA and CPAP yielded fairly similar results in terms of treatment usage, hours/night in cross-over trials and, hours/night, nights/week in parallel-group trials), treatment preference, side effects and withdrawals.

The authors concluded that CPAP yielded better PSG outcomes especially in reducing AHI than OA, indicating that OA was less effective than CPAP in improving sleep disordered breathing. However, similar results from OA and CPAP in terms of clinical and other related outcomes were found, suggesting that it would appear proper to offer OA to patients who are unable or unwilling to persist with CPAP. 

Who can be affected by Sleep Apnea?

People that are most likely to develop sleep apnea are the ones that are overweight and/or snore loudly. Any abnormality in the nose, throat or other parts of the upper airway can contribute to the condition as well as high blood pressure. 

Although sleep apnea affects more middle-aged men, one out of 50 middle-aged women suffers from sleep apnea. 

According to the National Sleep Foundation, studies show that people with moderate-to-severe sleep apnea are three to four times more likely to have a stroke. Approximately 50 percent of those with sleep apnea have high blood pressure and are at risk for a heart attack, proving this condition can be fatal if not treated. 

Children are not free from this sleep apnea. If your child sleeps in strange positions, has confusion upon awakening, has morning headaches among other symptoms he/she may suffer from childhood sleep apnea. A sleep test, called polysomnography is usually done to diagnose this condition. 

Read more on Sleep Apnea.

Sleep Apnea Treatment May Lower Heart Risks

Study: CPAP Can Lower Many Risk Factors for Heart Disease, Stroke
By Salynn Boyles
WebMD Health News
Dec. 15, 2011 -- In addition to improving sleep, an effective treatment for sleep apnea can also improve blood pressure and other risk factors for heart attack, stroke, and type 2 diabetes, new research shows.

Continuous positive airway pressure therapy, or CPAP, helps patients with sleep apnea breathe better during sleep by pushing air into the nose through a mask to keep airways open.

The treatment has been shown to improve daytime sleepiness and reduce blood pressure, but its impact on heart disease, stroke, and diabetes risk factors that are common in patients with sleep apnea has not been well understood.

Results from a study published in the Dec. 15 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine suggest that CPAP is associated with a lower risk for metabolic syndrome, a cluster of symptoms that increase the risk for heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

Researcher Surendra K. Sharma, MD, PhD, of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi tells WebMD that along with weight loss and lifestyle modification, treatment with CPAP may be an important way to lower heart attack, stroke, and diabetes risk in patients with sleep apnea.

A Visual Guide to Sleep Disorders

Sleep Apnea, CPAP, and the Heart

More than18 million adults in the U.S. have sleep apnea, according to the National Sleep Foundation, and a significant percentage of them are overweight or obese.

Other than weight loss, CPAP is considered the most effective nonsurgical treatment for patients with moderate to severe sleep apnea.

The new study included 86 patients with sleep apnea, including 75 who had metabolic syndrome.

Study participants were treated with either CPAP or a fake therapy for three months, followed by a month of no treatment and three additional months of the opposite treatment.

Before and after each phase of the study, researchers recorded the participants’ blood pressure, blood sugar, blood fats called triglycerides, hemoglobin A1c levels, neck artery thickness, abdominal fat, and insulin resistance, which measures the body's ability to use insulin efficiently.

When compared to the fake therapy, three months on CPAP was associated with significantly lower blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol, the so-called bad cholesterol.

Treatment with CPAP was also associated with a significant decrease in abdominal fat and body mass index (BMI).

It was also associated with a significant decrease in hemoglobin A1c values, which indicate average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. And 1 in 5 patients with metabolic syndrome before starting CPAP treatment no longer had the condition after three months of treatment.

Lack of Sleep and Chronic Disease

Sleep specialist Meir Kryger, MD, of the Yale University School of Medicine and the VA Connecticut Health System, tells WebMD the findings highlight the growing recognition that sleep disturbances play a significant role in chronic disease.

Kryger is a board member with the National Sleep Foundation.

“It is now clear that patients with heart disease or a metabolic disease like type 2 diabetes should be asked about their sleep habits, and they should be treated if they have sleep apnea,” he says.

Cardiologist Tara Narula, MD, of Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, says sleep issues have not been a major focus in cardiology in the past. But she says this is changing.

“We are seeing more and more studies linking sleep disorders and stress to [heart disease and stroke risk],” she tells WebMD. “This study suggests that a simple, effective treatment for sleep apnea may help reverse the abnormalities that lead to heart attack and stroke.”

While CPAP may be simple and effective, Kryger acknowledges that most patients don’t like wearing a mask while they sleep.

But he adds that CPAP technology and masks have improved dramatically over the last few years. Most new machines are even able to monitor how often the treatment is used and how well it is working.

Sleep Apnea & Multi-Modal Transportation Conference in Baltimore

Dr. Blumenstock has attended the Sleep Apnea & Multi-Modal Transportation Conference in Baltimore on November 8-9, 2011. This event was sponsored by the American Sleep Society to promote and find solutions for transportation safety.

Want To Know What It Feels To Sleep Again?

We all want to feel rested and mentally sharp every day. Our productivity depends on it. But not having a good night's sleep affects far more than just our ability to stay focused or have a day full of energy.

Not having enough sleep directly affects our brain and our cognitive function and may even cause depression. Sleep apnea, if left untreated, can lead to serious conditions but also its effects can severely interrupt daytime cognition.

If this is your case, Dr. Blumenstock can help you! Identifying and treating sleep apnea is the first step for knowing what it feels to sleep again. Sleep apnea can be treated and you can sleep again.

Read more on sleep apnea

Real Solutions for Sleep Apnea

Our goal at the Central Jersey Dental Sleep Medicine is to help sleep disorder sufferers find REAL solutions to their sleep problems. No one wants to live with never getting a full night's rest, and we would like to help you sleep better. There are many solutions to sleep apnea, but the first step is to get diagnosed. If you visit us then you will receive an objective medical assessment by a team of physicians, neurologists, pulmonologists, and ear, nose, and throat specialists.

Following their referral, Dr Blumenstock will examine you and discuss all options to solve your sleep apnea. One common solution is an oral appliance, but often changes in behavior will also affect your sleep apnea. Get diagnosed and treated with a real solution for your sleep apnea.

Read more on Dentist Norman Blumenstock

Interview with Dr. Blumenstock, Sleep Apnea Dentist

Dr. Blumenstock has been working with sleep apnea patients for over 20 years. Earlier in his experience, he realized many of his dental patients had headaches. Many of these patients did not respond to TMJ treatments. Dr Blumenstock discovered that they all had one thing in common, sleep issues.

Before the 1980's, tracheostomy was the most common cure for people with sleep apnea. This is a surgical procedure that involves cutting a hole in the lower neck to penetrate the trachea. Later, in Australia, the first CPAP machine was invented by putting a vacuum cleaner in reverse and attaching it to the face. As time progressed, another surgical treatment for sleep apnea appeared. Surgery on the soft palate was an option for people suffering from sleeplessness. This type of surgery was not successful for every case. The surgery was successful for those patients choking in a specific location. It wasn't until oral appliances arrived that many more patients where treated successfully. Most oral appliances push the jaw and tongue forward to reduce the conditions of sleep apnea.

Today, there are many different appliances for different situations. It takes the experience of professionals like Dr. Blumenstock to know which appliance will work the best for each situation.

Read more on Sleep Apnea Dentist

Snoring? A quick and practical questionnaire...

Many patients come to us because their partners or family members noticed heavy snoring or frequent episodes where they stopped breathing. Spouses often report pauses in breathing followed by a gasp for air.

But not everyone can discover their situation this way. Many people sleep alone, or with partners who sleep too deeply to notice a problem. If you suspect you have a nighttime breathing problem but aren’t sure, ask yourself these questions:

• Do you snore on a regular basis, or wake others up in your household?
• Do you awaken frequently at night gasping for air?
• Are you excessively tired during the day?
• Do you fall asleep at unusual times during your day?
• Do you have morning headaches or frequent sore throats or dry mouth?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should consider getting a thorough sleep evaluation. Visit our website for Snoring Solutions.