Information on the treatment of Snoring, Sleep Apnea, Excessive Daytime Sleepiness and other Sleep Disorders by Houston, Texas Neurologist and Sleep Medicine Specialist Jerald Simmons M.D. If you suffer from sleep problems, Dr. Simmons and his staff at CSMA can provide relief with three state of the art sleep medicine centers in the greater Houston area.
Saturday, November 15, 2014
Firefighters may Have an Elevated Risk of Sleep Disorders
Two of the leading causes of death for firefighters in the United States are heart attacks and motor vehicle crashes, both of which share independent risk factors in sleep disorders.
In a recent national sample of almost 7,000 firefighters, researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital examined the prevalence of common sleep disorders and their association with adverse health and safety outcomes. The study found that sleep disorders are highly prevalent, and associated with substantially increased risk of motor vehicle crashes and cardio-metabolic diseases among firefighters.
Based on specific criteria, 66 US fire departments were selected to participate in a workplace based sleep disorders screening and educational program. Approximately 7,000 participants were assessed for common sleep disorders and surveyed about health and safety. Documentation was also collected for reported motor vehicle crashes. Participants reported current health status, previous diagnoses of sleep and other medical disorders, the likelihood of falling asleep while driving, motor vehicle crashes, near crashes, and injuries.
Researchers found that a total of 37.2 percent of firefighters screened positive for sleep disorders including obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, shift work disorder and restless leg syndrome. Firefighters with a sleep disorder were more likely to report a motor vehicle crash and were more likely to report falling asleep while driving than those who did not screen positive. Additionally, firefighters with sleep disorders were more likely to report having cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression and anxiety, and to report poorer health status, compared with those who did not screen positive.
More than 80 percent of firefighters who screened positive for a common sleep disorder were undiagnosed and untreated.
Findings of the study, published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, demonstrate the impact of common sleep disorders on firefighter health and safety, and their connection to the two leading causes of death among firefighters.
Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is a common problem in today's society; it is so common that in some circles people almost consider it a normal aspect of a productive society. The fact is that daytime sleepiness and fatigue are leading causes of accidents, both on the job and on the road, and the cost to society is estimated in billions of dollars per year.
There are several common causes for increased daytime sleepiness, including OSA, PLMS and RLS: these problems are all treatable, but unfortunately many physicians are still not familiar with the diagnosis of these conditions.
If you have a problem with daytime sleepiness and have tried to increase your sleep length without improving your daytime sleepiness, then you should be evaluated by a Sleep Disorders Specialist. With proper care most people can obtain the treatment they need to improve this problem.
Further Reading:
Sleep Disorders That Raise Heart Disease And Depression Risk More Prevalent In Firefighters
Monday, November 10, 2014
Results from new Sleep Survey shows many Americans have problems falling and staying asleep.
From October 20 - 22 2014, the popular NBC television show "Today" conducted a survey among a nationally representative sample of 1,092 U.S. adults aged 18 and older, using a questionnaire focused on self-reported behavior and attitudes toward sleep. The study was fielded by Survey Sampling International, an independent research company based in Connecticut.
The study found that 61 percent of the survey participants reporting problems falling and staying asleep, and eighty percent of people who don’t get adequate sleep report experiencing more stress about finances with 74 percent becoming more worried about their health.
Among other issues, the study found that 32 percent of 18-to-34-year-olds say work makes them fret throughout the night, with 31 percent reporting that their children cause sleepless nights. Overall, 42 percent of people with a child under 18 reported inadequate sleep.
Modern electronic devices can have a serious impact on sleep quality, for multiple reasons. Physically, the blue light emitted by the screens of devices such as mobile phones and tablets mimics daylight and can interrupt our circadian rhythms; it's also known to suppress production of a brain chemical called melatonin, which helps us sleep. But more importantly, using the internet or texting before trying to sleep overstimulates the brain. Nonetheless, the survey reported that people still regularly watch TV and keep their phones at hand when they should be trying to fall asleep:
The reported issues related to sleep problems included:
Source:
Why can't we sleep? TODAY 'Snooze or Lose' survey results may surprise you; Meghan Holohan, November 09 2014
The study found that 61 percent of the survey participants reporting problems falling and staying asleep, and eighty percent of people who don’t get adequate sleep report experiencing more stress about finances with 74 percent becoming more worried about their health.
Among other issues, the study found that 32 percent of 18-to-34-year-olds say work makes them fret throughout the night, with 31 percent reporting that their children cause sleepless nights. Overall, 42 percent of people with a child under 18 reported inadequate sleep.
Modern electronic devices can have a serious impact on sleep quality, for multiple reasons. Physically, the blue light emitted by the screens of devices such as mobile phones and tablets mimics daylight and can interrupt our circadian rhythms; it's also known to suppress production of a brain chemical called melatonin, which helps us sleep. But more importantly, using the internet or texting before trying to sleep overstimulates the brain. Nonetheless, the survey reported that people still regularly watch TV and keep their phones at hand when they should be trying to fall asleep:
- 51 percent of people have TV remote within reach
- 50 percent of people have their smartphones within reach
- 23 percent of people have a computer within reach
- 21 percent of people have a tablet within reach
The reported issues related to sleep problems included:
- Overall 29 percent had difficulty concentrating; among 18 to 34-year-olds that number increased to 39 percent
- 23 percent had difficulty performing daily chores
- 19 percent had lost interest in hobbies or leisure activities
- 16 percent reported falling asleep at inappropriate times during the day
- 16 percent experienced short tempers or inappropriate behavior with children or partners, with 13 percent reporting short tempers or inappropriate behavior at work.
Source:
Why can't we sleep? TODAY 'Snooze or Lose' survey results may surprise you; Meghan Holohan, November 09 2014
Sunday, October 26, 2014
How the Daylight Savings Time Change Affects Sleep.
On Sunday, November 2, 2014 Daylight Savings Time ends for most Americans, a few days after Europe sets its clocks back an hour.
The modern idea of "daylight saving" was first proposed in 1895 by George Vernon Hudson of New Zealand, with Germany and Austria-Hungary organizing the first national implementation in 1916. Since then the concept has garnered its share of both advocates and critics from around the world; changing our clocks benefits retailing, sports, and other activities that are happy to exploit the extra hours of sunlight. Of course it can also disrupt meetings, travel and record keeping and cause multiple other scheduling issues.
On a personal level, moving our clocks in either direction changes our principal time cue -morning sunlight- which controls our 24-hour circadian rhythm track. This means that our internal clock falls out of sync with our current day-night cycle. Our ability to adapt to this depends on several things.
Generally, "losing" an hour in the spring is more difficult to adjust to than "gaining" an hour in the fall. This is similar to the "flight lag" experienced in airplane travel; an earlier bedtime may cause difficulty falling asleep and increased wakefulness during the early part of the night. Conversely, setting the clocks back means we may fall asleep easily but can have a difficult time waking.
Our external time cues are called "zeitgeibers", and they include light, temperature, exercise and food/drink intake. It can take several days for our internal biological clock to re-synchronize with any new schedule, whether it's a clock change or a timezone difference. For some people, this can lead to disrupted sleep and feeling tired during the day (EDS).
Even if the actual time change doesn't affect your sleep, the change in seasons can; the lack of sunlight affects many people's moods despite a one hour change in time not being particularly important. For those who do feel affected, either physically or emotionally, this misalignment between external cues and our internal body clock can also have more serious consequences.
For example, statistics have long shown that the risk of heart attacks spikes on Monday mornings. This is thought to be due to a combination of stress brought on through the anticipation of a new working week, and the sudden changes in our sleep-wake cycle. A recent study published in the AAC journal Open Heart looked at the rates of heart attacks before and after our clock changes over 4 years, and found a 25% increase on the Monday following the shift to daylight saving time; conversely, there was a 21% decrease in heart attacks when the clocks were rolled back in the Autumn.
One of the best sleep practices for the winter months is avoiding bright light exposure at night, which can delay the body's internal clock. This includes computers, tv's, cellphones and tablets - so they shouldn't be in the bedroom.
Routine is key for maintaining a consistent drive to sleep each evening. In the winter, with fewer hours of daylight overall, it’s important to seek out exposure to morning light if you can. Light is a strong cue for your internal clock, and daylight ensures it remains synchronized to a 24-hour day even when your schedule changes slightly. Lack of light exposure during the day can result in a drift of the internal body clock to a longer than 24-hour rhythm, making it harder to get up in the morning in the winter. Here are some tips on how to make a smooth transition to the winter months:
The modern idea of "daylight saving" was first proposed in 1895 by George Vernon Hudson of New Zealand, with Germany and Austria-Hungary organizing the first national implementation in 1916. Since then the concept has garnered its share of both advocates and critics from around the world; changing our clocks benefits retailing, sports, and other activities that are happy to exploit the extra hours of sunlight. Of course it can also disrupt meetings, travel and record keeping and cause multiple other scheduling issues.
On a personal level, moving our clocks in either direction changes our principal time cue -morning sunlight- which controls our 24-hour circadian rhythm track. This means that our internal clock falls out of sync with our current day-night cycle. Our ability to adapt to this depends on several things.
Generally, "losing" an hour in the spring is more difficult to adjust to than "gaining" an hour in the fall. This is similar to the "flight lag" experienced in airplane travel; an earlier bedtime may cause difficulty falling asleep and increased wakefulness during the early part of the night. Conversely, setting the clocks back means we may fall asleep easily but can have a difficult time waking.
Our external time cues are called "zeitgeibers", and they include light, temperature, exercise and food/drink intake. It can take several days for our internal biological clock to re-synchronize with any new schedule, whether it's a clock change or a timezone difference. For some people, this can lead to disrupted sleep and feeling tired during the day (EDS).
Even if the actual time change doesn't affect your sleep, the change in seasons can; the lack of sunlight affects many people's moods despite a one hour change in time not being particularly important. For those who do feel affected, either physically or emotionally, this misalignment between external cues and our internal body clock can also have more serious consequences.
For example, statistics have long shown that the risk of heart attacks spikes on Monday mornings. This is thought to be due to a combination of stress brought on through the anticipation of a new working week, and the sudden changes in our sleep-wake cycle. A recent study published in the AAC journal Open Heart looked at the rates of heart attacks before and after our clock changes over 4 years, and found a 25% increase on the Monday following the shift to daylight saving time; conversely, there was a 21% decrease in heart attacks when the clocks were rolled back in the Autumn.
One of the best sleep practices for the winter months is avoiding bright light exposure at night, which can delay the body's internal clock. This includes computers, tv's, cellphones and tablets - so they shouldn't be in the bedroom.
Routine is key for maintaining a consistent drive to sleep each evening. In the winter, with fewer hours of daylight overall, it’s important to seek out exposure to morning light if you can. Light is a strong cue for your internal clock, and daylight ensures it remains synchronized to a 24-hour day even when your schedule changes slightly. Lack of light exposure during the day can result in a drift of the internal body clock to a longer than 24-hour rhythm, making it harder to get up in the morning in the winter. Here are some tips on how to make a smooth transition to the winter months:
- Start getting in sync early; try to eat, sleep, wake to the new time so that your circadian rhythm has a chance to adjust.
- Exercise earlier in the day to keep your energy levels high and to ensure you’re tired enough to get to sleep ‘earlier’, but be sure to avoid the over-stimulation effect of evening exercise.
- Get as much natural sunlight as possible: this will help adjust the body’s circadian rhythm. Dim lights in evening can help to induce sleepiness.
- Avoid alcohol and caffeine in the evenings and go for sleep-inducing foods and drinks.
- Nap wisely: avoid taking naps after 4pm and try to keep naps to no more than 10 - 20 minutes.
For more information on healthy sleep habits or to get help for a sleep related problem, visit our website at www.HoustonSleep.net.
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