Sleep Better, Live Better Blog

Use it or Lose it! Your Health Benefits May Expire at the End of the Year

Jrodriguez@sleepdr.com (Julia Steele Rodriguez) — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Did you know that if you don't use all of your health insurance benefits this year, you lose them forever?

You may have met your deductible for 2016 already. If so, you can take advantage of lower (or no) out-of-pocket expenses for medical services such as sleep studies, PAP or supplies (learn about insurance coverage for these services here).

Waiting until next year means that not only will you lose any unused benefits for this year, but also that you'll have to first satisfy a new year's deductible before any benefits will be paid.

We understand that patients and their physicians are concerned about rising out-of-pocket expenses for health care; unfortunately, this often affects decisions about how healthcare is administered.

Now, more than ever, it's important to understand your insurance benefits and take advantage of your benefits. Here are some key terms that you should understand.

Pot: An Alternative Treatment for Sleep Apnea?

Jrodriguez@sleepdr.com (Julia Steele Rodriguez) — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 16:25:00 GMT

Sleep apnea affects approximately 20 million Americans—nearly one out of every 16 people—and estimates show that sleep disorders affect over 40 million people in the United States alone. Sufferers are unable to achieve restful sleep, no matter how long they spend in bed. As a result, people with sleep apnea suffer from many negative health effects and conditions as a result of the strain on their body and mind. When left untreated, sleep apnea can significantly reduce a person’s health and quality of life.

There are effective treatments for sleep apnea that are FDA approved and easily available; however, these therapies are challenging to use or prohibitively expensive. As a result, there are many alternative therapies that are gaining popularity as new research and technology are making them more effective. One such potential therapy is derived from a controversial substance: marijuana.

Does Pre-Bed Video Gaming Ruin Your Sleep?

Jrodriguez@sleepdr.com (Julia Steele Rodriguez) — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 15:00:00 GMT

Video gaming is something of a national pastime among teenagers in the United States. One survey found that nearly 75% of teenage boys participate in some form of gaming^1.

With so many of our kids playing video games as a principle form of recreation, and so many of the video games being highly action-oriented and even violent, it's natural to wonder how this stimulation can impact sleep.

Veterans with PTSD are at Higher Risk for Sleep Disorders

Jrodriguez@sleepdr.com (Julia Steele Rodriguez) — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 15:00:00 GMT

PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) manifests itself in many ways.

The symptoms of PTSD aren't limited to distressing memories and emotional trauma.

In fact, a large body of research has shown that veterans suffering from PTSD are at increased risk for a host of sleep disorders.

The complex relationship between anxiety, breathing problems, hyperarousal, and intrusive memories makes it difficult to isolate the factors causing these sleep disorders and can complicate treatment. But a couple things are clear; veterans experience sleep disorders at a very high rate, and it is very important for these disorders be treated in addition to targeting the PTSD itself.

Understanding Your Sleep Study Results

jonathan@sleepdr.com (Jonathan Sherrill) — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 15:00:00 GMT

If you recently had or ordered a sleep study to test for sleep apnea, the question foremost in your mind is probably what your results have to say about your sleep health or the health of your patient.

However, unless you know what to look for, your sleep study report may seem more perplexing than informational.

Here are six things you need to know in order to be able to read and understand a sleep study report.

Note: You should review your results with your physician and discuss your diagnosis, next steps and treatment options.

How Long Does a Sleep Study Last?

Jrodriguez@sleepdr.com (Julia Steele Rodriguez) — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 15:00:00 GMT

Sleep studies are performed to rule out or diagnose sleep disorders such as sleep apnea and narcolepsy.

A sleep study can take place in a sleep center or in a patient's home (learn about the difference between in-center and in-home testing here).

If you have just scheduled or are planning to schedule your first sleep study, you may wonder how long the entire procedure will take. In this post, we'll cover the typical length of different types of sleep studies.

Insurance Coverage for Bi-Level PAP

Jrodriguez@sleepdr.com (Julia Steele Rodriguez) — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 16:00:00 GMT

PAP (positive airway pressure) therapy treats obstructive sleep apnea by delivering pressurized air into the airways to keep it open during the night while sleeping. PAP can reduce or completely eliminate sleep apnea (learn more about how PAP therapy works here).

There is significant evidence that treating sleep apnea with PAP therapy improves quality of life, reduces daytime sleepiness, reduces motor-vehicle accidents, improves hypertension and may reduce death due to cardiovascular events.

The most common device is called CPAP; however, there is another device called bi-level PAP or BiPAP that can be more comfortable for some patients. Learn more about how that device works and what's required to get approval from your insurance company.

Would a Child with Sleep Apnea Need CPAP?

Jrodriguez@sleepdr.com (Julia Steele Rodriguez) — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 14:00:00 GMT

CPAP is the gold-standard therapy for adult patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

It is the most effective therapy, when used properly, at reducing or eliminating apnea events. CPAP therapy has been shown to prevent and even reduce the negative effects that sleep apnea can have on the body, including increased risk of death from heart problems.

We talk a lot about the use of CPAP for adults, but what about children?

It is estimated that 2-3% of children suffer from sleep apnea. Can they benefit from CPAP therapy too?

At What Severity Will Insurance Cover CPAP for Sleep Apnea?

Jrodriguez@sleepdr.com (Julia Steele Rodriguez) — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 15:00:00 GMT

The patient clearly has sleep apnea, but it's not severe enough for the insurance company to cover therapy. Why?

Unfortunately, there are varying opinions about how sleep apnea is diagnosed and when CPAP is the appropriate therapy.

Primarily, the difference is between how Medicare (CMS) and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) define a diagnosis of sleep apnea. And many commercial insurances are starting to follow Medicare's guidelines for CPAP coverage.

In this post we'll explain what insurance companies, including Medicare, are looking for in a sleep study to determine coverage for CPAP. We'll offer suggestions of what to do if insurance won't cover CPAP.

The Real Reason They Call it the Graveyard Shift...

Jrodriguez@sleepdr.com (Julia Steele Rodriguez) — Mon, 10 Oct 2016 13:00:00 GMT

I wanted to start this week with a real warm and fuzzy post about how grateful we are for our sleep technologists. We call them night techs. Each October, the American Association of Sleep Technologists celebrates Sleep Tech Week to recognize the technologists who play a vital role in sleep centers across the country.

Who performs overnight sleep studies?

That's right... our Registered Polysomnographic Technologists... our sleep techs (or RPSGTs for short). These are the ladies and gents that perform sleep studies, for the young and old, sick and tired, seven nights a week almost 365 days a year. The tech who attaches all of the electrodes and tucks you in for a good night's sleep at the sleep center.

Our sleep techs work tirelessly making sure that our patients are comfortable, informed, and properly cared for during their overnight sleep studies. It's a tough job. Many patients undergoing sleep studies are nervous, anxious, tired and not interested in spending the night in an unfamiliar place with an unfamiliar technician. But it's an important job! After completing a sleep study and receiving treatment for a sleep disorder, many patients report that their lives are greatly improved.

So that got me thinking: who's taking care of the sleep techs? I have several questions:

What are the effects of working the Graveyard Shift (ie: working overnight)? Does it cause sleep disorders?
Can anyone work overnight, or are some people more suited to night work than others?
Do gravediggers really dig graves at night? (this question seems appropriate as we approach Halloween)

Here's what I found:

The Health Hazards of Sleep Apnea in Women

marissa.fessenden@gmail.com (Marissa Fessenden) — Thu, 06 Oct 2016 14:00:00 GMT

This is the second post in a two-part series about women and sleep apnea.

Our first post, Why Women with Sleep Apnea are Overlooked, investigates the differences in how women experience and report sleep issues and directly addresses the stereotype that sleep apnea is a man's disease.

In this post, we look at the causes and effects of sleep apnea in women.

As it does in men, sleep apnea in women can cause serious health problems. The sleep disorder increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and early death. Also, the disorder may increase the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes, obesity and other chronic health problems. Untreated sleep apnea can also lead to cognitive impairments, mood imbalances and metabolic problems.

Why Women with Sleep Apnea are Overlooked

marissa.fessenden@gmail.com (Marissa Fessenden) — Tue, 04 Oct 2016 17:00:00 GMT

This is the first post in a two-part series about women and sleep apnea.

The second post, The Health Hazards of Sleep Apnea in Women, looks at the causes and effects of sleep apnea in women.

In this post, we investigate the differences in how women experience and report sleep issues and directly addresses the stereotype that sleep apnea is a man's disease.

Ask the average physician to describe someone with sleep apnea and they will likely tell you that sufferers of this serious disorder tend to be middle-aged men who are also obese.

However, a large number of patients simply don't fit that profile. Thanks in part to this stereotype, women with sleep apnea are underdiagnosed and under-treated.

“There is the mistaken notion — not among sleep specialists, but among general practitioners who are the first line of defense — that sleep apnea is a disease of men,” says Said Mostafavi, M.D., the Chief Medical Officer for Advanced Sleep Medicine Services, Inc. and a sleep specialist. “When they see a patient who is a women, they don’t consider it. That is where the diagnosis gets missed.”

How the California Sleep Society Raises Awareness About Sleep

knewman@sleepdr.com (Kermit Newman) — Thu, 29 Sep 2016 14:00:00 GMT

The California Sleep Society will hold its 9th annual educational symposium September 30 to October 1, 2016 in Anaheim, CA.

As corporate members of this organization, we will be attending the symposium next week to learn about the latest advances in patient care and technology related to sleep medicine.

We will meet with key opinion leaders in the field of sleep medicine, sleep specialists from across the state of California, polysomnography technicians, CPAP equipment manufacturers like ResMed and Respironics and companies developing novel solutions to treat sleep disorders, like the Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation Device.

Here's more information about the history of sleep medicine in California and the vision and mission of the California Sleep Society.

Can I Smoke During My Sleep Study?

jonathan@sleepdr.com (Jonathan Sherrill) — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 14:00:00 GMT

In 2013, 17.8% of American adults reported smoking cigarettes, down from 20.9% in 2005 and 42.4% in 1956 (when the U.S. government first started keeping such records).

That's great news! But it's really important for people who already have sleep issues to stop or reduce their smoking as smoking affects the quality of your sleep in many different ways:

Smoking increases your risk of sleep apnea (learn more about sleep apnea here)
Smokers wake up more frequently during the night.
Smokers have trouble falling asleep and feel restless in the morning.
Smokers are more likely to suffer insomnia (read more about insomnia here).

If you're a smoker and have scheduled or are considering scheduling a sleep study, you're probably worried about how you'll make it through the night. Our technical director, Jonathan Sherrill addresses your concerns in this post.

How Will Acrylic Nails or Nail Polish Affect My Sleep Study?

jonathan@sleepdr.com (Jonathan Sherrill) — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 14:00:00 GMT

The nail industry grew to $7.47 billion in 2012. In California alone, there were almost 8,000 nail salons.

Many of the patients we schedule for in-center and in-home sleep studies wear nail polish, gels or acrylics.

Our customer service department is frequently asked whether nail polish, gels or acrylics will interfere with testing.

Jonathan Sherrill, RPSGT, is the technical director of Advanced Sleep Medicine Services, Inc. In this post, he answer this question and offers and some background.

When Should You Drink Your Morning Coffee?

Jrodriguez@sleepdr.com (Julia Steele Rodriguez) — Tue, 20 Sep 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Why does coffee help us start the day?

Caffeine is a tricky substance. To our brains, caffeine looks like adenosine, a compound consisting of adenine (one of the four building blocks of DNA) and ribose. As it is created in the brain, adenosine binds to the adenosine receptors, causing drowsiness by slowing down nerve cell activity.

Hospital Sleep Lab vs IDTF vs Physician-Run Sleep Center

Jrodriguez@sleepdr.com (Julia Steele Rodriguez) — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 14:00:00 GMT

What are the different types of sleep centers that offer diagnostic testing for sleep disorders and what are the benefits of each?

What is an IDTF?

An IDTF is a diagnostic testing facility (entity) that is independent of a physician office or hospital; ie, it is not owned by a hospital, individual physician or group practice of physicians and its purpose is to furnish diagnostic tests and not to directly use test results to treat a patient.

The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Work Performance

Vicki Cuplin — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Busy professionals experience many pressures that impede their ability to obtain optimal amounts of sleep. Working according to shift patterns, working across different time zones simultaneously and international travel¹ are all common causes of sleep loss. In addition, the use of artificial lighting and hand-held technologies at night², ever increasing pressure to perform (and to be ‘seen’ to perform) and the lengthening of the working day all make the challenge of getting optimal sleep more difficult for employees.

In this guest post, Professor Vicki Culpin, a professor at Hult International Business School shares her recent research findings on the influence of sleep quality on work life.

Does CPAP Save Lives?

Jrodriguez@sleepdr.com (Julia Steele Rodriguez) — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 14:00:00 GMT

A study published this month in the New England Journal of Medicine tested the effects of CPAP therapy on heart disease.

Positive Airway Pressure devices, called PAP, deliver pressurized ambient air through a delivery system (tubing and mask), to eliminate apnea events during sleep. PAP, including CPAP, BIPAP, Auto-PAP, and ASV-PAP, is the most effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea and can potentially improve the patient’s sleep overnight, dramatically improving the quality of life for individuals afflicted with sleep apnea (learn more about PAP here).

The Sleep Apnea Cardiovascular Endpoints (SAVE) trial looked at patients with a history of coronary artery disease or cerebrovascular disease AND moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea. Participants were randomly assigned to received CPAP plus usual care or usual care alone.

The results of the study showed that use of CPAP did not result in a lower rate of cardiovascular issues (for this study, they looked for deaths from cardiovascular causes, myocardial infarction, stroke, or hospitalization for unstable angina, heart failure, or transient ischemic attack).

Does this mean that CPAP is not an effective treatment?

Where Can I Sell or Donate My Used CPAP Equipment (machine & supplies)?

Jrodriguez@sleepdr.com (Julia Steele Rodriguez) — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 01:00:00 GMT

Do you have a new PAP machine and no longer need your old machine?

Do you have an extra mask or tubing for your old machine that you never used?

Would you like to donate your unused or gently used equipment?

Chances are, if you've been using PAP therapy for more than a couple of years, you've got an old device hanging around. We're keeping an updated list of local and national organizations that can help you sell or donate your new or gently used equipment to those in need.