Archive for October, 2008

Do you have difficulty falling asleep? Do you wake up in the middle of the night and have difficulty falling back to sleep? Do you wake up earlier than your alarm and have difficulty falling back to sleep? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then you might have Insomnia.

Insomnia is defined as difficulty falling asleep. There are two main categories of insomnia: sleep onset and sleep maintenance insomnia.

Sleep onset insomnia is a difficulty falling asleep at the beginning of the night. It is usually triggered by a stressful event, like a death in the family or before a hard test at school. Normally it should resolve when the trigger is no longer present (after you have taken the test), but in some people the insomnia becomes a chronic problem. With sleep onset insomnia, it is always important make sure that other sleeping disorders, like restless legs syndrome and sleep apnea are adequately treated, as they can exacerbate it.

Sleep maintenance insomnia occurs when a person has difficulty falling asleep after waking up in the middle of the night. The most important point about sleep maintenance insomnia is that there is often an underlying physiologic problem of sleep (like Sleep Apnea) that is leading to the awakenings in the first place. If this problem is not adequately addressed, then it can be very difficult to treat sleep maintenance insomnia.

Who Gets Insomnia?

Anyone can get insomnia. Most people experience at least once in their lives. It is estimated that approximately 10% of the general population have chronic insomnia. Insomnia is considered a problem when it has not resolved in a reasonable period of time.

I Think I Might Have Insomnia, How Do I Find Out If I Have It?

Make an appointment with your primary care physician, or if your insurance allows it, go straight to a sleep specialist. If your physician thinks you might have insomnia, then he/she will either treat you with a medication or refer you to a sleep specialist for further evaluation.

How Is Insomnia Treated?

The treatment of insomnia with medications has become a multibillion-dollar industry, but the best treatment methods are actually behavioral methods. Behavioral treatments range from developing good sleep habits to group cognitive behavioral therapy. For the short-term, most of the newer sleeping pills, including Ambien™, Sonata™, Lunesta™, and Rozerem™ can provide immediate relief. Ask your doctor about what option is right for you.

Habitual snoring and sleep apnea are two of the most common sleeping problems encountered by Americans today. People with sleep apnea often snore but not all snorers are suffering from apnea. Either way, they have one thing in common. The CPAP.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the most common mode of treatment for snoring and sleep apnea. This is also used to help neonates and critically ill patients who are suffering from respiratory failure. This is a more convenient alternative to tracheostomy, a surgical procedure done to apnea patients before the advent of CPAP.

A CPAP machine delivers air with a predetermined amount of pressure to your airway through a nasal mask keeping the airway open and free of obstructions while you sleep which allows sufficient amount of air to enter the lungs and preventing apnea episodes and constant wakefulness. A hose connects the mask to the blower or the machine that delivers the pressurized air.

Common features found in today’s CPAP machines, which are purchased separately and may not be covered by insurance, are: air humidifier, ramp (pressure adjuster), exhalation pressure relief (makes it easier for the user to breathe), and data logging (records pertinent data for later evaluation). These additional features help increase treatment compliance among patients. You can either rent or purchase a CPAP machine from a durable medical equipment (DME) company.

Other positive air pressure devices are the BiPAP and autoPAP. A bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) provides two air pressure levels, one for inhalation and a lower pressure level for exhalation. That way, breathing out would be more comfortable than when using a CPAP without an exhalation pressure relief. An automatic positive airway pressure (AutoPAP) automatically regulates the amount of pressure on a breath-by-breath basis.

Choosing the right machine for you comes after you have been evaluated. Your medical history, current medications and your lifestyle will be thoroughly evaluated by your doctor. He will also have you go though an EENT examination and a polysomnography or sleep study to evaluate your apnea and to determine the appropriate CPAP pressure for you. If it is apparent that you need to be on CPAP treatment, choosing a mask with the right fit, the right machine and the optional features follows.

Since the main consequence of sleep apnea is sleep disruption, a CPAP machine is used mainly at home to help with the breathing problems at night. It is also important that you know the proper maintenance your machine requires. The company where you got it from always gives out a detailed instruction manual for a specific unit. It is important that you keep the machine and its parts clean, and always have them checked for wear and tear to ensure optimal functioning.

A CPAP machine is undoubtedly an effective treatment for snoring and sleep apnea, but we cannot always rely on machines to do the job for us. CPAP is not as effective as when coupled with significant lifestyle changes like regular exercise, weight loss, and alcohol and smoking cessation. A positive attitude and a responsible mind will help us achieve wellness in no time

What is Sleeve Gastrectomy?

Sleeve gastrectomy is a new procedure that induces weight loss by restricting food intake. With this procedure, the surgeon removes approximately 60 percent of the stomach laparoscopically so that the stomach takes the shape of a tube or “sleeve.” This procedure is usually performed on superobese or high-risk patients with the intention of performing another surgery at a later time. The second procedure can either be a gastric bypass or duodenal switch.

Who is a candidate for Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery?

Patients who are morbidly or severely obese are at increased risk for health problems and tend to have a shortened life span. There is also added potential risk from continued weight increase. The risk of severe obesity is greater than that of its surgical treatments. Persons eligible for sleeve gastrectomy surgery include the following:

·Persons at least 100 pounds above ideal body weight.

·Persons who are at least 80 pounds over weight and have life-threatening obesity related problems such as diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, etc.

·Above persons who have failed non-surgical attempts at weight loss, specifically a combined regimen of diet and exercise.

Procedure for Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery:

This procedure generates weight loss solely through gastric restriction (reduced stomach volume). The stomach is restricted by dividing it vertically and removing more than 85% of it. This part of the procedure is not reversible. The stomach that remains is shaped like a banana and measures from 2-5 ounces (60-150cc). The nerves to the stomach and the outlet valve (pylorus) remain intact with the idea of preserving the functions of the stomach while reducing the volume. By comparison, in a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, the stomach is divided, not removed, and the pylorus is excluded. The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass stomach can be reconnected (reversed) if necessary.

Advantages of the Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery:

·The stomach is reduced in volume but tends to function normally so most food items can be consumed, albeit in small amounts.

·Eliminates the portion of the stomach that produces the hormones that stimulates hunger.

·No dumping syndrome because the pylorus is preserved.

·Minimizes the chance of an ulcer occurring.

·By avoiding the intestinal bypass, the chance of intestinal obstruction (blockage), anemia, osteoporosis, protein deficiency and vitamin deficiency are almost eliminated.

·Very effective as a first stage procedure for high BMI patients (BMI>55 kg/m2).

·Limited results appear promising as a single stage procedure for low BMI patients (BMI 35-45 kg/m2).

·Appealing option for people with existing anemia, Crohn’s disease and numerous other conditions that make them too high risk for intestinal bypass procedures.

·Can be done laparoscopically in patients weighing over 500 pounds.

Risks of the Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery:

·Potential for inadequate weight loss or weight regain. While this is true for all procedures, it is theoretically more possible with procedures that do not have an intestinal bypass.

·Higher BMI patients will most likely need to have a second stage procedure later to help lose the rest of the weight. Two stages may ultimately be safer and more effective than one operation for high BMI patients. This is an active point of discussion for bariatric surgeons.

·Soft calories such as ice cream, milk shakes, etc can be absorbed and may slow weight loss.

·Because the stomach is removed, it is not reversible. It can be converted to almost any other weight loss procedure.

Cost of Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery:

Recently in India the rise in has seen sleeve gastrectomy surgery because the costs have dropped drastically, making world class treatments affordable for everyone. If a person has always wanted a sleeve gastrectomy surgery or any other procedure you can now easily afford it, as obesity surgery costs have tumbled. In India low cost of obesity surgery is combined with surgery success rates on par with anywhere in the world and this is one of the fastest areas of growth in medical tourism in India.

Long-Term Weight-Loss Results of Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery:

On average, patients who undergo sleeve gastrectomy surgery experience a 60-80% loss of excess weight.

Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery in India:

Obesity surgeries in India have seen a phenomenal growth during recent past. Most patients from countries like USA and UK travel to developing countries such as India for treatment, few main reasons while choosing India at first choice are as follows:-India offers wide range of cheapest pricing options of treatment. While planning a treatment in India, one does not require waiting in patient queues or registering for a waiting list. Moreover the doctors and the medical facilities are comparable to anyone in the world. Another main reason for choosing India is comfort of language; one does not pose a problem as most people speak English. Above all; India always offers a good holiday, which can help in fast recoveries. These are the few reasons why most of the people prefer to get their surgery in India.

To know more about affordable and low cost sleeve gastrectomy surgery in India-please visit the Website => http://www.forerunnershealthcare.com

Important Details:

Medical Tourism to India – http://www.forerunnershealthcare.com

International Patient Experiences – http://www.forerunnershealthcare.com/international.php

Email- enquiry@forerunnershealthcare.com

Contact Number- 0091-98607-55000.

Obstructive sleep apnea is also called sleep apnea. Obstructive means there is something that is blocking your airway when you lie down to sleep. If you find it difficult to sleep, that you are gasping for breath, and you are always snoring, a sleep machine could give you results that you need to get the rest you need without interrupting your breathing patterns. The airway passages that are sealed or partially sealed as you sleep cause you to stop breathing. As you stop breathing you are adding stress on your heart, on your body and you will not feel rested in the morning.

A breathing machine can help you get the air you need, the oxygen that you need, and the rest you need to keep you going. The signs of sleep apnea include those of always being tired, that you are irritable because you are not sleeping good, and you have difficultly focusing your eyes, or your mind when concentrating during the day.

As you are unable to get the air you need, the oxygen you need to replenish your body you are putting your self at risk for additional medical conditions and problems. If you don’t treat your sleep apnea, or your obstructed airways you could have a heart attack, you could have a stroke, you could have high blood pressure and these conditions can also lead to diabetes. Associated with all of these symptoms are being overweight, and stressful work or family life.

Therapy can aid your situation. You can use a breathing machine or a dental item to open your airways. Using a breathing machine is going to give you additional higher oxygen levels. The dental item is going to open your jaw so you don’t have an obstruction. There are also over the counter medications, such as the breath right strips and similar items, that can open your passages so you can breath all night long, and get the rest you need. If over the counter medications and items don’t work, you could seek the help of your family doctor, take a sleep test, and consider a surgical procedure that will correct the obstruction and then open the airways while you are sleeping.

To get a good nights sleep please visit:

www.disorders-sleep.info

Author Darren Mallory

C/O www.akashop.com

In one study, Stanford University researchers looked at 159 truck drivers. They found that 79 percent had sleep apnea, and many were unable to control when they fell asleep driving. In another study looking at accidents in which drivers fell asleep at the wheel, 87 percent of the drivers died, taking with them one or two other people.

Men suffer from the condition almost three times more often than women, , in part because of anatomical differences in the upper airways. But because many women who suffer from it are post-menopausal, there is some speculation it also may be hormone-related, he said.

The most common and severe form of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea. In many cases, it’s caused by sagging muscles at the base of the throat, enlarged tonsils, a small airway opening or a large tongue, according to the American Medical Association Encyclopedia of Medicine. In about 20 percent of cases, being overweight is a major cause of the problem.

Obstructing the airway makes breathing labored and causes loud snoring. If there is complete blockage, the breathing stops altogether and the sleeper is briefly silent. This makes the diaphragm and chest muscles work harder; the sleeper gasps and briefly awakes as breathing is started again.

In central sleep apnea, the airway is opened but the diaphragm and chest muscles don’t work, perhaps because of a disturbance in the brain’s regulation of breathing during sleep, according to the AMA encyclopedia.

If you suspect you’re suffering from sleep apnea, talk to your doctor, who may refer you to a lab where your sleep can be monitored. Losing weight and avoiding alcohol before bedtime may help. Wearing a mask attached to an air compressor that forces oxygen into the airway is an effective treatment for severe cases. And surgery that removes excess tissue from the throat is another possibility.

First think through what you want from the doctor and make it clear to him or her. For instance, if you go to the doctor with lower back pain and your blood pressure is high, your doctor may concentrate on treating the blood pressure because it’s potentially life-threatening. However you should make it clear the back pain is still something you want treated.

Second, ask questions. Studies show patients who ask questions do better, he said.

Third, be honest about what you can and can’t do. If you can’t take your medicine four times a day, tell the doctor. Maybe he can give it to you in another form. If you can’t diet or exercise, it’s important the doctor knows this, too.