Although there is no cure for narcolepsy, the symptoms can be managed with medications. Sleepiness is treated with stimulants, while the symptoms of cataplexy and abnormal REM-sleep can be treated with antidepressants. There are steps you can take to reduce excessive daytime sleepiness such as sticking to a strict bedtime routine – aim to go…
5 F.A.Q.s about Sleep Telemedicine
by Joseph Krainin MD 1. What exactly is sleep telemedicine? Any health care that takes place between a patient and a clinician who are not in the same physical location could be considered telemedicine. In a sense, many sleep doctors have been practicing telemedicine for a long time by reading sleep studies remotely through virtual…
10 Ways to End Those Bedtime Battles
by Whitney Roban PhD Bedtime battles are a common sleep issue that many parents face with their children on a daily basis. Instead of ending the day in a calming and relaxing manner, many families struggle with bedtime protesting that could potentially last for hours before a child finally falls asleep. Fortunately, there are many…
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
by Rachael Herman Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form of sleep apnea. It is characterized by frequent starts and stops in breathing while asleep. This type of apnea occurs when the muscles in the back of the throat relax and block the airway. These muscles help to support oral and pharyngeal structures…
Sleep Apnea Resources
Association for the Study of Dreams http://www.asdreams.org/ Centerwatch http://www.centerwatch.com/ Circadian Sleep Disorders Association http://www.circadiandisorders.org/ Disruptive Women in Healthcare http://www.disruptivewomen.net/ FoodPyramid.com http://foodpyramid.com Harvard Sleep Health on Sleep Apnea http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/sleep-apnea Healthy Sleep http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/ Insomiacs UK http://www.insomniacs.co.uk/ Narcolepsy Network http://www.narcolepsynetwork.org/ National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention* http://www.nationalforum.org National Library of Medicine – Medline Plus http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/sleepapnea.html National…
Recent developments on narcolepsy from MNT news
Is narcolepsy an autoimmune disease? Around 3 million people worldwide suffer from narcolepsy or bouts of sleepiness and sleep attacks that can affect their ability to have a normal life. There is no cure for the disorder, and few clues about its causes. But now, a new study suggests it could be an autoimmune disease.…
Strengthening Circadian Rhythms through Mapping of Neural Networks
by Rachael Herman Most people feel groggy after hopping time zones. This is the body’s response to the temporary mismatch between the new local time and the body’s natural 24-hour circadian rhythm. This rhythm in mammals is governed by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) on a hormonal and neuronal level. The SCN is a small region…
Higher Risk of Complications in Heart Failure Patients with Central Sleep Apnea
by Rachael Herman Patients with central sleep apnea (CSA) and chronic heart failure (CHF) have a higher risk of being hospitalized and higher mortality rates than people with both obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and CSA. This is true whether or not they get adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) therapy. These results were determined in a French prospective…
The Common but Fixable Problem of Sleep Disorders in Athletes
by Rachael Herman Sleep disorders are more of a problem in professional athletes than many people believe; however, individual counseling, treatment planning, and examination has been shown to help improve their sleep quality. A new Finnish study published in the Journal of Sports Sciences reported, for the first time, that systematic measures can improve the…
Sleep Apnea Left Untreated Can Make Melanoma More Aggressive
by Rachael Herman A new multicenter prospective study on the relationship between cancer and sleep-disordered breathing has shown that severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), if left untreated, may be linked to more aggressive malignant cutaneous melanoma. Sleep-disordered breathing is in reference to frequent starts and stops in breathing throughout the night. This study was presented…