Showing posts with label snoring. Show all posts
Showing posts with label snoring. Show all posts

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Don't "Ignore the Snore"

Ignoring Snoring?


Check out Dr. Carol Ash on "CBS This Morning" discussing sleep related health issues, and why simply "ignoring the snoring" could have serious consequences.

Monday, October 20, 2014

Athlete's Decision to Undergo Facial Surgery Draws Further Attention to Seriousness of Sleep Disorders

According to an article on ESPN Boston, Red Sox first baseman Mike Napoli will undergo surgery in early November to treat his sleep apnea.

The decision is yet another call to action for public discourse on the seriousness of sleep apnea and the ongoing struggle roughly 18 million Americans have with this potentially life threatening disorder, characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep.

The procedure Napoli will undergo is called bimaxillary advancement surgery, which separates the front portions of the lower and upper jaw and moves them forward to allow more room behind the tongue, reducing the chances of obstruction.

 Carol Ash, DO, Director of Sleep Medicine for Meridian Health, had this to say during a recent interview with CBS This Morning:

"When we go to sleep at night, our muscles lose tone and our airways start to narrow. This is true of all of us, but we can continue to breathe."

"But in people with sleep apnea, when they lose that muscle tone, their airway collapses all the way down. Airflow is compromised and oxygen can't get in."


Bimaxillary advancement surgery is just one of a range of treatment options used to treat sleep apnea, which include Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP).

CPAP utilizes an air splint, which blows air to the back of the throat, splinting the airway open so it can't collapse.

During the interview, Dr. Ash discussed another potentially game changing advancement in sleep technology, currently awaiting FDA approval, called a pulse generator. By sensing the body's effort to breathe, the device stimulates nerves in the neck contriving the muscles that keep the airway open.

"When you look at the range sleep disorders, and how we are just not getting enough sleep, this is the biggest public health issue facing society today," Ash says.

Monday, August 11, 2014

Improve Mind, Body and Relationship By Sleeping Separately

He likes it cold; she likes it hot. She's a mover and a shaker; he's down for the count.

Opposites may attract, but when it's time to call it a night, some differences come at a cost.

It sounds extreme, but on an episode of "The Doctors," Dr. Carol Ash discussed how sleeping separately from your partner could provide a healthier night's sleep all around.

Dr. Ash discussed findings from a study that found people who sleep alone tend to get a better night's sleep - as over 50% of those surveyed blamed their mates for their sleep disturbances.

Researchers add that relationships and overall health can improve dramatically when couples opt to sleep separately.

So what does Dr. Ash have to say? Is "divide and conquer" an option worth considering for couples not getting adequate sleep?
 

 "We think of sleeping apart as taboo and something we should never do," Ash says. "But the truth of the matter is, sleep is so important,  if that is what you have to do to get a good night's sleep, then, yes, it is."

Watch the full segment below and decide for yourself.




Friday, July 25, 2014

Can't sleep? The answer may be all around you.

Sleep deprivation can be a symptom of numerous health issues, but it's important to remember that the causes of our sleep disruptions aren't always internal.

According to Dr. Carol Ash, the following external factors can affect our sleeping patterns:
  • Room temperature
  • Jet lag
  • Variations in schedule
  • Snoring
 Watch Dr. Ash's Weather Channel appearance to learn more about the effects our environment can have on our sleep habits.