Philadelphia Sleep Blog

Sleep problems plague many Americans today; however, sleep can be interrupted for a variety of problems. Stress, bad sleeping positions, and underlying sleep disorders, such as insomnia and sleep apnea, can all cause sleep to be less than ideal.

Poor sleep can sometimes be easily fixed; while others will require more complex methods of treatment, especially those with sleep disorders. One of the newest alternative remedies for sleep problems is tart cherry juice, which has proved to be a potential cure for insomnia. Researchers are Northumbria University School of Life Sciences have determined that drinking tart cherry juice causes an increase of melatonin, a hormone commonly related to sleep. According to the study, the juice also increases sleep efficiency.

Not a Solution for Everyone

This new research may be promising for people suffering from sleep problems; however, tart cherry juice is not an acceptable treatment for all patients who continue to have problems sleeping or staying asleep. Since poor sleep can be caused by serious conditions, such as sleep apnea, more reliable sleep apnea treatment options are often required.

Don’t let the ease and convenience of at-home treatments let you ignore a potentially serious condition. If poor sleep is still a regular part of your life, now is the time to undergo a sleep study. A sleep study will be able to determine if any underlying sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, are causing your problems.

To find a sleep apnea treatment that will keep you sleeping safely and soundly at night, call or email Dr. Weiser’s office today. We will schedule a consultation to give you the information and advice you require.

Police officers and other public servants are expected to protect communities and society as a whole; however, a recent survey has shed light on just how physically prepared police officers are – and the findings are a bit scary.

Posted in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), the study offers an in-depth look at a problem plaguing today’s police force. The study, which surveyed police officers working in the U.S. as well as in Canada, found that 40 percent reported symptoms that coincide with a sleep disorder, the large majority of them suffering from either insomnia or sleep apnea. Out of the two sleep disorders, sleep apnea was the most prominent, which was diagnosed in one-third of the subjects.

Sleep Apnea – Physical and Societal Threats

According to the study, out of the 40 percent of police officers diagnosed with a sleep disorder, all were at a higher risk of suffering from fatigue, a lack of energy, depression, and even anxiety. Unsurprisingly, the police officers suffering from a sleep disorder were more likely to commit safety violations along with administrative errors, and were also more likely to fall asleep behind the wheel.

In the end, while a police officer’s job may be much more risky, anyone is at risk if they suffer from undiagnosed and untreated sleep disorder. A fatigued policeman driving a car is just as dangerous as a drowsy businessman rushing to his next meeting. Whatever your profession, sleep apnea treatment is crucial.

To learn more about sleep apnea treatment, contact Dr. Siegel’s office to learn about the various treatment options that are available to you. Schedule a consultation by calling or emailing us today.

CPAP is generally considered to be an effective treatment for sleep apnea. Unfortunately, it only works for patients who are able to consistently wear their masks every single night. Too often, sleep apneics refuse to wear their masks because they are troubled by pressure sores, claustrophobia, and disturbing noises that keep them awake almost as much as sleep apnea did in the first place.

A new company offers help

Recently, a CPAP company began promoting its masks on television commercials. According to its advertisements, the company offers to send clients new, flexible CPAP masks every 30 days. The commercial claims that these mail-order products have the ability to silence the typical noises associated with CPAP-use; however, because they can’t be tailored to conform to each person’s individual face, this claim is probably too good to be true.

Get personalized attention

Even if this company’s claims are true, it doesn’t offer any answers to patients who can’t tolerate CPAP due to pressure sores and the anxiety and discomfort associated with feeling trapped.

Although some people sleep fine while wearing CPAP masks; many do not. For a comfortable, effective sleep apnea treatment, contact Dr. Siegel’s office today. Unlike some remote mail-order company, Dr. Siegel provides his patients with personal, one-on-one attention. If you’re looking for a successful way to treat your sleep apnea, forget mail-order offers and meet with a caring, local professional, such as Dr. Siegel.

While most link sleep apnea to drowsiness, fatigue, and possibly diminishing cardiovascular health, one would rarely think that the condition could be linked to sexual health problems; however, studies have shown that sleep apnea can also cause sexual dysfunction in both men and women.

Erectile dysfunction and impotence are said to affect nearly 30 million American men. Though the root cause of such problems is not the same in each patient, sleep apnea has been found to be a catalyst of sexual dysfunction. Many women who suffer from sexual problems also report having sleep disorders, as well.

Sleep and Hormone Levels

It’s obvious that the fatigue and lack of energy caused by sleep apnea could negatively impact a person’s sex life; however, the condition also impacts a patient’s sexual health directly. Sleep apnea can cause low testosterone levels; as sleep apneics rarely get enough sleep each night. Not getting enough hours of sleep at night decreases the amount of time the body has to create and regulate testosterone, a hormone which is usually produced at night, with levels peaking in the morning.

With less sleep, the body isn’t given ample time to produce testosterone, which can cause levels to drop – severely in some cases. Another common problem with sleep apnea is that the body and brain are not able to enter REM sleep, which is the deep restorative sleep needed for hormone regulations.

At the same time, sleep apnea also causes low oxygen levels within the blood which can negatively impact the vasculature of the body’s organs, including the heart, lungs, brain, and the reproductive organs in both men and women. Obviously, having a good night’s sleep really does matter. Continuous nights of poor sleep can lead to serious health problems and a troubled sex life.

Sleep apnea negatively impacts all portions of life. From the bedroom to work, there is no area that sleep apnea can’t touch. To learn more about sleep apnea treatment, contact Dr. Siegel’s office by phone or email to schedule an appointment. Although Dr. Siegel does not diagnose sleep apnea, he will work with patients to schedule a sleep physician-administered sleep study to determine if you are in fact suffering from this sleep disorder.

We all know that growing children are bound to get sick, thanks to germs around the playground and exposure to classmates; however, illnesses, such as the flu or chicken pox, are rarely life threatening or highly consequential. Unfortunately, even at a young age, children can suffer from serious sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea. Though it doesn’t seem likely, studies have shown that adolescents can also suffer from sleep apnea the associated sleep disturbances could cause future consequences in all areas of life.

During adolescence, the body is continuously growing and changing physically, socially, and physiologically. This means a child’s sleep cycle will already begin to naturally change during this time; as adolescent children tend to have later bedtimes, which means they tend to wake up later in the morning. A changing sleep schedule combined with other bodily changes is a lot of new cycles for the body to adapt to at once. Continuously interrupted sleep can cause plenty of consequences – not to mention the fact that a lack of quality sleep often leads to tired days.

A continuously changing sleep cycle often leads to poor emotional response in both adults and children. People who are able to sleep more at night usually respond well to certain situations, both physically and emotionally. With this said, it’s clear that sleep plays a part in our daily emotional and mood functions, which means that it is possible for sleep apnea and mood disorders to be linked. It isn’t too far-fetched to say that sleep apnea could cause a patient to suffer from anxiety and depression.

At the same time, a lack of quality and quantity of sleep has been connected to poor performance, especially at school; after all, lack of sleep is known to make a person tired and unable to concentrate, which can lead to poor grades.

Undergoing a sleep study is the only way a patient can be diagnosed with sleep apnea. Sleep studies are administered by sleep physicians who examine the results and determine a diagnosis. If you are given a positive diagnosis of sleep apnea, treatment is important. Work with Dr. Siegel to learn about the many different types of sleep apnea treatment that are available today. Schedule an appointment by phone or through email.

To say that today’s society is advanced is a huge understatement. Who’d have ever imagined that we’d have all of the technological advances that we have today, in all areas of life? From the medical field to the automotive industry, technology continues to grow and advance on a yearly basis. There have been plenty of breakthroughs in the medical field that make diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of certain health conditions much easier. From smaller-sized CPAP machines, highly intricate dental tools, and PSG technology, advances in the dental world continue.

If you have ever had to undergo a sleep study or know someone who has, you probably know or have heard all about the many wires required to successfully measure and gather the needed data, such as heart rate, breathing rate, etc. In an effort to do away with these cumbersome wires, Neal Patwari and other researchers at the University of Utah have designed a network that can monitor a patient’s sleeping patterns through walls.

Wireless Monitoring – Convenient and Easy

The system is made up of 20 wireless transceivers that could be placed around a patient. The network is able to measure respiration within 0.4-0.2 breaths per minute. Such a network could be used to monitor and record a patient’s breathing patterns. This means a patient can be closely observed and monitored by doctors to ensure that sleeping patterns remain constant and at healthy levels.

Though such a technology won’t be easily implemented today or a year from now, it’s obvious that such advances are sure to lead to lower cost, less invasive alternatives to diagnosing sleep apnea. But, until such technologies are readily available for use, patients need to undergo traditional PSG sleep studies for proper diagnosis.

Dr. Siegel urges all patients who suffer from common symptoms of sleep apnea to undergo a sleep study ASAP. Sleep studies are offered by sleep physicians who are well-equipped to offer a sound diagnosis. Dr. Siegel can help patients find the sleep apnea treatment that is most suitable for their lifestyle and specific needs. Want to learn more about sleep apnea treatment? If so, call or email us to get the information you need. It could change your life!

We usually relate a lack of a good night’s sleep to daytime sleepiness, fatigue, low energy and concentration, as well as possible headaches and other side effects. However, in most cases, losing sleep a few night’s out of the month is nothing to worry or fret over, as it’s usually a temporary problem that resolves on its own. That said, when poor sleep quality or quantity becomes a routine occurrence, it could lead to an increased risk of developing certain types of cancers. After thorough research, studies have found that poor sleep – commonly due to sleep apnea – can cause stroke, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and now, colon cancer.

Researchers at the Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have determined that people who average no more than six hours of sleep each night are at a 50 percent higher risk of suffering from colorectal adenomas when compared to others who slept for at least seven hours nightly. Though being diagnosed with colorectal adenomas doesn’t automatically mean a patient will also be diagnosed with colon cancer, adenomas are a known precursor to cancerous tumors and growths.

The study, which was conducted on 1,240 patients, determined that 338 of the original subjects were diagnosed with colorectal adenomas. All those diagnosed with adenomas reported sleeping for less than six hours a night. Though a lack of sleep can be caused by all sorts of factors, sleep apnea is a known cause of sleep cycle disturbances.

Sleep apnea is a treatable condition, and with the right course of treatment, your risk of certain health problems will decrease. To learn more about sleep apnea and the treatments that are available to you, call or email Dr. Siegel’s office to schedule a sleep apnea consultation.

Many studies have already shown that sleep apnea may be the underlying cause of various problems including diabetes, dementia, stroke, low testosterone levels, and many other health conditions. Now recent studies are also showing that sleep apnea may be a reliable indicator of certain health risks, especially coronary heart disease.

A study conducted at a Brazilian university determined that a patient’s apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) may play a large role in the likelihood of him or her suffering from coronary artery disease. Until this study, it wasn’t common for patients’ AHI to be used when determining their risk of coronary artery disease.

The study, conducted on non-diabetic, non-smoking, and non-obese subjects, found that a patient’s AHI is and should be the main predictor in deciding his or her likelihood of suffering from coronary artery disease. Sleep apneics that have undiagnosed and therefore untreated sleep apnea are at an extremely high risk of suffering from coronary heart disease due to their AHI measurements. Patients with more severe levels of sleep apnea are at the highest risk of coronary heart disease; but even patients with mild sleep apnea are at some risk.

Sleep Apnea Treatment Is Heart Healthy

In the end, such studies further prove the importance of being aware of common sleep apnea symptoms and seeking medical advice from a sleep physician to get a proper diagnosis. If you suffer from morning headaches, daytime sleepiness, fatigue, a lack of energy, or trouble sleeping at night; you may be suffering from sleep apnea.

With the growing amount of studies pointing out the true danger of sleep apnea, treatment becomes a must for those hoping to avoid health problems. To find a sleep apnea treatment that will work for you, come to Dr. Siegel’s office today. Call or email us to schedule a sleep apnea consultation to learn about your treatment options.

Poor sleep can be caused by many different things. That said, a lack of quality and quantity of sleep has been linked to a variety of health problems, including fatigue, daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, depression, mood swings and even serious physical health problems, such as hypertension.

Poor sleep that is caused by sleep apnea is known to greatly increase one’s chance of suffering from high blood pressure. For some, the risk increases by 80 percent. In fact, a study conducted by the American Heart Association determined that bad sleep, which usually lacks cycles of deep restorative sleep, can be especially detrimental to the health of men who are 65 and older.

Posted in the Association’s Hypertension journa, the study followed 784 men over the age of 65, using at-home sleep monitors. The study lasted for about 3.4 years and the results were shocking: out of the 784 men, 243 were diagnosed with high blood pressure. The men who spent less than 4 percent of their sleep in the deep sleep cycles were at the highest risk of developing hypertension. A lack of overall sleep along with a lack of slow-wave sleep are two symptoms commonly associated with sleep apnea. In the study, men suffering from such problems were more likely to wake up during the night.

Hypertension – A Rising Problem

In the U.S. alone, one-third of all adults suffers from high blood pressure. Of those, 65 percent is made up of adults 60 years and older. The AHA’s study also determined that, along with high blood pressure, poor sleep may also increase one’s risk of obesity, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.

Have you been experiencing sleep that is often interrupted by random awakenings? Do you suffer from high blood pressure? If so, you may have undiagnosed sleep apnea. Dr. Siegel is able to work with patients to educate them about sleep apnea and how to go about being tested for the condition through a sleep physician. To learn more about sleep apnea today, call or email Dr. Siegel’s office.

When patients undergo any type of surgery, they usually expect results to be permanent and noticeable. There are thousands of surgeries meant to treat all different types of problems within the body. For instance, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is a surgery that removes the tonsils, adenoids, uvula, and a part of the soft palate to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). While this surgery is beneficial for some sleep apneics suffering from OSA; for others, the procedure ends up being a painful waste of time and money.

The fact is: UPPP has a very low long-term success rate, with some studies showing that the surgery is only 25 percent successful. The low success rate for this surgery is mostly due to two main factors: the occurrence of scar tissue and the fact that OSA isn’t only caused by a problem within the soft palate.

These days, hundreds of thousands may suffer from OSA; however, not every case is caused by the same problem. Though surgery to treat OSA may be beneficial and useful to people suffering from the condition due to problems with the soft tissues within their mouths and throats; this isn’t the case for everyone. For example, some patients suffer from OSA because of the way the jaw hangs when the mouth is closed. Sometimes the jaw can fall into a position that allows the tongue to roll back into the throat which then causes airway obstruction. Surgery, such as UPPP, isn’t able to correct or address such problems.

Scar Tissue Can Render Surgery Useless

Another problem commonly seen after UPPP surgery is the growth of scar tissue. When tissues within the throat are cut and wounded, scar tissue can form. The amount of scar tissue that forms after surgery varies patient by patient; however, in some patients, the growth of scar tissue can be just as problematic as the original soft tissues that were removed. In fact, in some patients, the growth of scar tissue can cause an even more severe level of sleep apnea.

In the end, since surgery is expensive, invasive, irreversible, and in some patients, not entirely successful; using surgery as the first means of treating sleep apnea should be avoided. Instead, patients should consider all of their options before resorting to surgery to fix the problem. To learn more about the various sleep apnea treatments – such as oral appliance therapy – that are available, call or email Dr. Siegel’s office today to schedule a consultation.