Apnea & CPAP - IN THE NEWS!

[Ryckman]

As a new "hoser" I was shocked to learn how serious and dangerous sleep apnea can be. Considering how disruptive it is to someones everyday life, I am ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED at how little attention sleep apnea gets and how UNDERDIAGNOSED it is by doctors. Maybe that explains why so many of you have taken control of your own treatment.

As coincidence may have it, the Wall Street Journal has a big story on sleep apnea in the Personal Journal section. I applaud them for giving our condition this attention. You all should visit the site. It's not that theres a lot of new information there that most of the members of this site don't already know, but all of the hits to the story may help bring attention to the issue of sleep apnea.

here's the link: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... 02576.html

[Ryckman]

Oh,

I'm a big fan of the show Biggest Loser. On the show, although no one talks about it, there are System One machines in most of the contestants rooms. After noticing this, and digging a little deeper, I found that Phillips Respironics provides apnea screening tests and equipment to most of the contestants of the show.

Here's another link. This one is to Phillips' website. They talk about their contributions to the show
http://www.respironics.com/News/bigloser.asp

[Patrick A]

The TNT show Men of a Certain Age have had a couple of shows where they have had a Respironics machine and comfort Gel mask on the night stand in the bed room.

[DreamOn]

I just read the Wall Street Journal article. I wonder if my health insurance would pay for a didgeridoo (and lessons) since it could help my sleep apnea?

"If all else fails, there is always the didgeridoo, an indigenous Australian musical instrument. In a study published in the British Medical Journal, 25 patients with sleep apnea who practiced playing it for about 30 minutes a day, six days a week for four months, significantly reduced the number of apneas they had during sleep; daytime sleepiness also decreased. Scientist believe the breathing technique required to play the didgeridoo strengthens the upper airway and makes it less likely to collapse."

I have an appointment with my sleep doctor next week. I'll ask if he'll prescribe one. He already thinks I'm a little nutty since I like to keep track of my AHI, leak rate, etc. Can't wait to see the look on his face!

~ DreamOn

[Muse-Inc]

...didgeridoo...

My first questions when I landed here. I could never master the circular breathing, ya gotta do and Lord knows I tried! My sleep doc was quite amused when I told him what I'd been trying to learn to do and where I got stuck. Good luck with that!

[fidelfs]

Oh,

I'm a big fan of the show Biggest Loser. On the show, although no one talks about it, there are System One machines in most of the contestants rooms. After noticing this, and digging a little deeper, I found that Phillips Respironics provides apnea screening tests and equipment to most of the contestants of the show.

Here's another link. This one is to Phillips' website. They talk about their contributions to the show
http://www.respironics.com/News/bigloser.asp

I could see it on today's show, sneaking behind the brown team guy. It was a Respironic System One and the "un"-comfortgel mask.