Archive for March, 2010

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The “Big” Deal about Sleep Apnea

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

Sleep Tech Tip of the Week

by Angela Terry, RPSGT

Sleep apnea is one of the most common, yet most under-diagnosed disorders among the population. A more obvious health concern is obesity.  All types of people are battling obesity and many are failing. There could be an underlying reason that even some doctors, are not considering.  The most prevalent risk factor for sleep apnea is obesity but could sleep apnea be a risk factor for obesity? My answer is yes. Here’s why….

From my first day in the sleep lab in 2001, our patients were well over two hundred and fifty pounds, some reaching as much as six hundred. These people were experiencing all types of issues secondary to obesity so were ordered by their doctors to lose weight. The weight loss order was easier said than done. Patients were struggling to eat right while exercise was an even bigger challenge, due to their size. Even the ones that were complying with these regimens were seeing very little, if any, progress.  It wasn’t until they received their CPAP machine and treating their sleep apnea that certain people were able to start losing weight. Interesting to say the least, but why? (more…)

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Posted in Physician Corner, Sleep Tech Corner | 6 Comments »

Sleep Hygiene: Can Everyone Afford To Give It Thought?

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

By Nancy Carballo

Diet and exercise are at the forefront of health concerns for most Americans these days, but what about the basic need to sleep? Millions of people suffer from sleep disorders in varying degrees and forms. Often, these individuals are misdiagnosed or their sleep habits are simply not considered when interviewed by physicians. Trends encountered by nutritionist Monika Woolsey, who specializes in sleep disorders, are of primary importance. Her findings over the last few years through patient care point to the same conclusions found in current medical research. A variety of current major illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and infertility can all be linked directly to poor sleep hygiene, particularly among underserved populations. (more…)

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Posted in Sleep Tech Corner | 12 Comments »

HIPAA, Does It Apply To You?

Monday, March 15th, 2010

Sleep Tech Tip of the Week

By Michael Miller, RPSGT

Throughout most of my career as a sleep professional I believed that “The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)” protected all personal health information from the scrutiny of unauthorized personnel.  It was not until I was directly involved in a situation where HIPAA was the subject matter of an investigation as it related to a patient that was under my care for a sleep study, that I truly became educated about HIPAA. (more…)

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Posted in Sleep Tech Corner, The Business of Sleep | 5 Comments »

Patient Safety In The Sleep Lab

Monday, March 8th, 2010

Sleep Tech Tip of the Week

by Michael Miller, RPSGT

Pt being treatedI recently read an article in a sleep publication that inspired me to choose patient safety as the topic for the sleep tech tip of the week. The article referenced the recent untimely passing of a young patient whose cause of death was due to sudden cardiac arrest. Upon reading that editorial I was immediately reminded of a patient whom I encountered early in my career as a sleep professional. I was actually in the process of waking up my patient in order to disconnect him from the equipment when he stood up briefly, fell backwards into the bed, and instantly became cyanotic. I called for help while simultaneously assessing the patient and initiating CPR. (more…)

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Posted in Sleep Tech Corner | No Comments »

Improving patients’ acclimation to PAP therapy

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

Sleep Tech Tip of the Week

by Mike Miller RPSGT

PAPDo you want to improve your patients’ acclimation to PAP therapy?

The following tip is intended to make the acclimation process to PAP treatment for our patients as seamless and streamlined as possible. Simply put, be patient with your patients and offer them several mask options. Personally, I like to propose three different mask types for my patients (a full face mask, a nasal mask, and a nasal pillow/cushion option) to practice with prior to beginning their titration. A 30 minute practice period is often sufficient for most patients, which gives them roughly a 10 minute trial per mask. At the conclusion of the practice period a brief dialogue of which mask type best fits their needs as it relates to comfort, breathing style, and overall satisfaction is essential to determine which mask will be most advantageous for the titration and for their at home use. (more…)

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Posted in Sleep Tech Corner | No Comments »

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