Let's Recommend Sleep!

Why can't you sleep?  Understanding Sleep Problems
Getting a good night's sleep is critical to feeling refreshed during the day, but unfortunately not everyone is able to get the sleep they need.  

Different factors can contribute to lack of sleep:

• Stress or illness
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
• Diabetes
• Night Sweats
• Uncomfortable neck/spine alignment

What can McLaren Home Medical do to help people over-come their sleep problems? 
What products/services are available?

• CPAP Machines and Accessories
• Registered Respiratory Therapist on staff
• Pillow Support and education
• Wildbleu Sleepwear and accessories and how it works

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

Each of us expects a good night's sleep, but for many people sleep is a problem. Approximately 18 million Americans suffer from a common, but often undiagnosed, sleep disorder known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Obstructive sleep apnea is a life-threatening and life-altering condition that causes a person to stop breathing repeatedly during sleep. This interrupted breathing pattern interferes with restful sleep and places a strain on the cardiovascular system. The lack of sleep affects daytime alertness and one's ability to function well throughout the day. Ultimately, OSA takes its toll on a person's quality of life.
The good news is that OSA is easily diagnosed, and effective treatment is available.

What Is the Classic Sign of OSA?
The classic sign of OSA is snoring interrupted by pauses in breathing.
A significant other or family members may often know that there is a problem before the person with OSA does. They witness the snoring, pauses in breathing or gasping for breath while the sufferer is sleeping.
With OSA, a sufferer falls asleep and begins snoring. The snoring is typically loud and occurs on most nights. Periodically there will be pauses in breathing -- apnea -- during sleep. The pauses in breathing can last 10 seconds or longer.
If you observe the OSA sufferer's chest area at this time, you can see that he or she is trying to breathe. However, the effort to breathe doesn't generate airflow because the airway is obstructed (obstructive apnea). At the end of the apnea, you can hear one of three sounds: a loud snore, gasping or choking. This is the sound of the airway opening and letting air into the lungs. The pauses in breathing can occur more than 20 times an hour.

There are some easy-to-identify signs and symptoms associated with OSA. Do you have any of them?

• Do you snore?
• Do you choke or gasp for breath while you sleep?
• Do you stop breathing during sleep?
• Do you feel tired after a usual night of sleep?
• Has your weight increased by 10 percent or greater in the last five years?
• Have you ever nodded off or fallen asleep while driving?

If you answered yes to two or more of these questions, you may suffer from OSA.

Additional symptoms include morning headaches, difficulty concentrating, depression, irritability, memory loss and sexual dysfunction.

The cycle of obstructive sleep apnea starts with snoring. The airway collapses, or closes off. The person tries to breathe but is unable to get air into his or her lungs through the collapsed airway, and an apnea episode (cessation of breathing) occurs. The brain realizes that it is not getting enough oxygen and fresh air and wakes the person from a deep level of sleep to a lighter level. The airway opens and normal breathing occurs. The person falls back into a deeper sleep, begins snoring again and the cycle repeats.

Sleep is disrupted each time an apnea and change in the level of sleep occur. This may happen many times during the night; often more than 20 times an hour. People with OSA never feel rested because they don' t have normal sleep. The low oxygen levels, and the effort required to breathe during the night, put a strain on the cardiovascular system.

During normal sleep, the muscles that control the tongue, soft palate, and throat hold your airway open. With OSA the upper airway becomes partially or fully obstructed during sleep.

Normal Airway	Abnormal Airway

• High blood pressure
• heart disease
• Heart attack
• stroke
• Fatigue-related vehicular and work accidents
• Decreased quality of life

How Is OSA Treated?

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the most common and effective treatment for OSA. CPAP provides airflow to the patient via a nasal mask.

The airflow holds, or "splints," the airway open so air flows freely to the lungs.

With CPAP therapy:

• Breathing becomes regular and snoring stops.
• Oxygen level in the blood becomes normal.
• Restful sleep is restored.
• Quality of life is improved.
• Risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and vehicular or work-related accidents is reduced.

If you suspect you have obstructive sleep apnea, seek medical advice. Tell your primary care physician about your symptoms and why you are concerned. If your doctor suspects OSA, he or she may perform a physical exam, and ask you questions about your sleep patterns and daytime activities. Your doctor may also order a sleep study.

The sleep study may be done as an outpatient test in the hospital (the person stays in the hospital sleep lab for only as long as the study takes), in an outpatient setting such as a clinic or under certain circumstances in the home. The results of the study will give your physician the information needed to determine whether you have OSA.

You may be asked to fill out a lengthy questionnaire before your sleep study. The doctor who evaluates your sleep study needs to know what medications you are taking, your medical history, regular sleep habits and details about what kinds of medical and sleep-related problems you may be experiencing. Tell the doctor about any medications, tobacco products, alcohol and caffeine products you use because they may affect your sleep.

To answer some of the questions about your sleep habits, you may need help from a spouse or family member, because some incidents occur while you are asleep. Examples of typical questions are: "Do you snore?" "Do you kick your legs while sleeping?"

Various sensors and monitoring devices are applied to you to evaluate your sleep and breathing during the night. There may be a set of electrodes (wires with small metal cups) attached to your head. They are similar to the patches used for EKGs and show the brain-wave patterns that tell the doctor what stage of sleep you are in during the night. These electrodes record only small electrical signals. They cannot read dreams or thoughts and do not deliver shocks.

Additional electrodes may be taped to a muscle group right below your knees to detect any leg movements and twitches. Belts or electrodes will be placed on or around your chest and abdomen to measure your breathing. A soft wire will be taped between your nose and upper lip to measure airflow as you breathe. A sensor will be taped to one of your fingertips to monitor the oxygen level in your blood. The sleep lab conducting your study may use all of the sensors described or just a few. These sensors do not use needles and are painless.

If this process sounds uncomfortable, in reality it is not. The purpose of a sleep study is to get you to sleep as normally as possible so that accurate results can be obtained. In most cases, people fall asleep in the same amount of time they normally do, and usually sleep for the entire night.

You may be asked to wear a mask, which delivers air pressure to your airway to hold it open, over your nose for part of the sleep study or to return and try the mask on another night. Information that is recorded while you wear the mask will help the physician determine the best therapy for you and whether you will benefit from therapy.

The next morning, the sensors and electrodes are removed. The study is analyzed and a report is generated. A doctor will review your report to determine if you have OSA, and if you need to be evaluated to determine if you would benefit from therapy (if this has not already been done). Before leaving the sleep lab, you will be informed of the follow-up process and of who will discuss your test results with you.

If You Are Already Receiving Therapy

Thousands of people with OSA are using CPAP. They are experiencing relief of signs and symptoms and are leading more active and productive lives.

To receive the maximum benefit from your prescribed CPAP therapy, you should carefully follow your physician's instructions. Typically he or she will tell you to use your CPAP equipment every time you go to sleep for as long as you sleep.

You will frequently be asked by healthcare professionals how many hours per night you use your CPAP and if you are experiencing any side effects or any of the signs and symptoms you had before you were diagnosed with OSA. This information is used to determine your overall compliance with therapy. If your compliance does not meet your physician's expectations, he or she will want to know if that is caused by difficulties tolerating the therapy or whether you do not feel any difference in your overall health by using CPAP. Your physician and your McLaren Home Medical healthcare professional can work with you to address either circumstance and help you improve your compliance.

Intolerance of the mask is often the reason people underutilize or abandon therapy. Therefore, it is vitally important to find a mask that fits properly and is comfortable to wear. You must maintain the mask and replace it when clinically necessary to ensure fit, comfort, and optimal compliance with therapy.

• Proper support for neck and head
• Accommodates both left or right side sleeping
• Comfortable, hypoallergenic synthetic down fill
• Quilted side panel prevents edge collapse
• Machine washable, cool dryer safe
• Sturdy construction, interlock-knit fitted case
• Fitted pillow case included.

Morning Neck Pain

Benign Cervical Pain syndrome, affect a large proportion of the population. The incidence of cervical neck pain increases with age and is often accompanied by headaches and pain radiating into the upper extremities.

In a recent study of three types of pillows – were evaluated in a diverse neck pain population.

The Water-based pillow had the highest satisfaction score, followed by the roll and standard pillows

The Mediflow Waterbase pillow has a soft, hypoallergenic fiber filling supported by an easy-to-fill water pouch, providing you with the most luxurious, rejuvenating sleep of your life.

You can adjust the support level that is perfect for you simply by adding water. Whether you prefer soft, medium or firm comfort, the Mediflow Waterbase can be customized to fit your needs.

• Restore your energy: Improved quality of sleep reverses the negative effects of fatigue.
• Soothe daily stresses: Uninterrupted sleep is associated with improved coping skills

How long can the water be left in the Waterbase® pillow before it needs to be changed?
The water can be left in the pillow for up to one year, and then it should be changed. Many people like to wash their pillows, so that is a good time to change the water, because you should empty the water from the pillow before washing it.

Is normal tap water OK to use in my pillow?
Yes

Can the Mediflow Waterbase® pillow be washed?
Yes, the Waterbase® pillow can be washed according to the instructions on the care label. You must first empty the water and air from the pillow before washing it. Make sure the cap is replaced before washing. Water temperature should not exceed 105 degrees. Let the pillow air dry. Do not put the pillow in the dryer.

Is the Mediflow Waterbase® pillow available in different sizes, i.e. standard, queen or king size?
The Mediflow pillow is a "Jumbo" size, it is 20" x 28" to fit a standard or queen pillow case.

Is the Mediflow Waterbase® pillow guaranteed against manufacturing defects?
Yes, Mediflow Inc. provides a 3-year warranty covering manufacturing defects.

What type of polyester filling is used in the Mediflow Waterbase ® pillow?
Our pillow is filled with a high-quality, machine-washable pillow with a special finish to insure that it does not "lump up" or flatten out. It will respond quite well to periodic washing to rejuvenate the polyester.

Is the Mediflow pillow hypoallergenic?
Yes

Knee-Ease Pillow

The Knee-Ease Pillow helps relieve pain, discomfort and stiffness in back, leg, hip and knee areas. Unique foam design provides proper alignment and enhances circulation. Adjustable hook and loop style closure keeps pillow in place.

Other Pillows Available from McLaren Home Medical

Those Dreaded night Sweats!

Cool Comfort After Childbirth

Most women go into motherhood with their eyes wide open –well aware that a solid night’s sleep will soon be a thing of the past. But many are surprised to fin out it’s not just baby waking them up. Hot flashes and night sweats – the ones they thought were reserved for their own menopausal mothers – can compound sleep deprivation during this time of hormonal fluctuation.

Wildbleu performance sleepwear owes its cooling comfort to the innovative use of the patented heat Release Technology, a blend of natural and synthetic fibers that not only draws moisture away from the skin but forces it to the surface of the garment where it quickly evaporates. In drying time tests, the fabric was shown to remove moisture from the skin faster than cotton and faster than any other performance fabric. The fabric’s wicking properties are embedded in the fiber so they never wash out. Wildbleu garments have a soft feel, making them extra comfortable for sleeping.

Wildbleu performance sleepwear owes its cooling comfort to the innovative use of the patented heat Release Technology, a blend of natural and synthetic fibers that not only draws moisture away from the skin but forces it to the surface of the garment where it quickly evaporates. In drying time tests, the fabric was shown to remove moisture from the skin faster than cotton and faster than any other performance fabric. The fabric’s wicking properties are embedded in the fiber so they never wash out. Wildbleu garments have a soft feel, making them extra comfortable for sleeping.

• A baby boomer turns 50 every 7 minutes; by the year 2013,
• there will be 50 million women of menopause in the U.S.
• One hundred years ago, menopause occurred near the end of life for most women, now, at least 37 million American women will live over 1/3 of their lives beyond menopause.
• 4000 women in the U.S. enter menopause each day.
• The median age of perimenopause is 47, and this phase leading up to the total cessation of menstrual periods lasts an average of 4 years; the average age for the onset of menopause is 51.
• Hot flashes, or brief periodic increases in body temperature due to a drop in estrogen levels, are often the first clear cut sign of perimenopause, and also its most common symptom.
• Hot flashes are also sometimes referred to as "hot flushes," "vasomotor symptoms," "night sweats," and even "power surges."
• Women who responded to a survey conducted on www.menopauserx.com reported that hot flashes concerned them more than other symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, including anxiety and depression, decreased libido, overactive bladder and irregular bleeding
• It is estimated that 75% if all women will have hot flashes (also referred to as "hot flushes" due to the redness that spreads on the upper body and face) sometime in their lives.
• The hot flash "experience" is highly variable. Hot flashes can last anywhere from 20 seconds to one hour; the average duration is 3.5 minutes. Some women will never get them, some will get a few here and there, some will experience them for as many as eight years.
• Hot flashes that occur at night are commonly referred to as night sweats, and may cause a woman to discard her bed covers and change her sleepwear.
• Compounding insomnia that may already plague perimenopausal and menopausal women, night sweats can cause major sleep disturbances, which in turn affect mood and ability to cope with daily activities.
• Experts say that some women may even wake up hundreds of times per night due to hot flashes and night sweats.
• In a National Sleep Foundation poll, women reported having hot flashes during sleep an average of three nights a week.
• September is Menopause Awareness Month.

Let McLaren Home Medical Recommend Sleep

McLaren Home Medical can recommend Sleep by educating you on the products that we offer to assist you at night while trying to get a good night’s sleep.

• CPAP and Accessories along with patient education
• Mediflow Waterbase Pillow and others
• Wildbleu Sleepwear to ward off those dreaded night sweats