Sleep Blog

The body’s production of urine follows a circadian rhythm, according to research presented at a recent conference. During the day, the body experiences greater urinary frequency, but at night, urine production declines, allowing most people to get uninterrupted sleep. The regulation of urine excretion during nighttime hours is influenced by many factors, including hormones, blood flow (hemodynamics), and sleep-related factors.

Although the exact mechanism behind the day vs. night urinary change is not yet understood, Danish researchers have examined the urinary patterns of sleep-deprived volunteers and have found a lack of sleep leads to increased urinary output with higher salt content. The findings were found to be more prevalent in males.

Continue Reading »

No Tags

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Complaints about the Respironics REMstar Heated Humidifier have been received by Respironics concerning complaints of failures involving the AC inlet connector on specific models.

According to a recall notice voluntarily issued by Respironics, Inc., this recall involves Respironics REMstar Heated Humidifiers manufactured between December 2001 and April 2003, all with the following model numbers:

In its recall, Respironics explained that small number of the failures have resulted in thermal damage to the humidifier enclosure. Because of that, there is a remote possibility, according to Respironics, that a thermal failure could possibly result in the ignition of materials near the device, such are carpeting, clothing, bedding or other items near the humidifier itself.

Anyone with a Respironics REMstar Heated Humidifier made between those dates is asked by the manufacturer to  unplug the humidifier from its power source, but advising, wisely, that continued use of the CPAP should not be halted.

If you have a Respironics REMstar Heated Humidifier and it is one of the model numbers listed above, call Stericycle, Inc at 877-574-5038 or 317-275-7667, for details about replacement.

No Tags

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

In a study that examined the relationship between race, menopausal status and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), middle-aged black women were found to be more likely to experience OSA symptoms than their white counterparts.

The study’s author, Elizabeth Beothy of the University of Pennsylvania, administered a questionnaire to 269 subjects with an average age of 48. In the study group, 49.4 percent of the women were black. Overall, 37.5 percent of the women were were pre-menopausal, 43 percent in the menopausal transition, and 19.5 percent post-menopausal.

The mean apnea score among black women was nearly double that of white women, according to a research abstract presented at Sleep 2007, the 21st Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS), by Beothy.

According to her findings, menopausal status was not a significant predictor of OSA symptoms. Race remained a significant predictor of OSA symptoms after adjustment for current body mass index (BMI), BMI change over time and menopausal status.

“Although menopausal status did not predict OSA symptoms, OSA symptoms on our cohort of menopausal women increased with higher BMI and larger BMI increases over time,” said Beothy, who added that studies to document whether OSA is more common among black women than white women should be performed to further investigate these findings.

OSA affects an estimated 20 million Americans, as well as millions more who remain undiagnosed and untreated.

Scientific evidence shows that CPAP or BiPAP, depending on the patient’s needs, is the best treatment for sleep apnea. CPAP or BiPAP devices help alleviate, and, in most cases, prevent apneic events by maintaining a patent, or well-maintained airway during sleep. With the air from the CPAP, tissues in the airway which would collapse and causes the actual apneas, are prevented from doing so by a constant flow of air delivered into the airway, generally through a mask worn over the nose or nose and mouth, during sleep. This airflow, in addition to preventing the apneas — pauses in breathing for at least 10 seconds, but often as long as 90 seconds or longer — but also helps maintain normal oxygen levels.

________________
Technorati Tags: black - white - black - white - Elizabeth Beothy - University of Pennsylvania - menopause - menopausal - menopausal transition - post-menopausal - pre-menopausal - APSS - Associated Professional Sleep Societies - Sleep 2007 - menopausal status - apnea predictors - sleep apnea - obstructive sleep apnea - symptoms - signs - treatments - findings - study findings - patients - pressurized air - room oxygen - blood oxygen levels - blood ox - room air - normal oxygen levels - CPAP - BiPAP - patient needs - black women - white women - health - questionnaire

No Tags

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Dr. Elizabeth J. Susman

New study findings suggest that a preference for nighttime over daytime activities may be associated with anti-social behavior in adolescents, even in children as young as eight years old.

Those who prefer later bedtimes appear to exhibit more anti-social behavior than those who like to wake early and participate in daytime recreational activities, researchers report.

Continue Reading »

No Tags

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!