Johns Hopkins Health - Spring 2009 - (Page 9)

INTERESTED IN A SLEEP TRIAL? John Hopkins is currently recruiting for several sleep-related clinical trials. You or someone you know may be eligible. Call 800-547-5182 to learn more. sleep apnea increases the likelihood for developing hypertension, the reverse is also true. “If you already have hypertension and are obese, you should be checked for sleep apnea,” Neubauer says. Sleepy Meals What Tomorrow Brings stress? How long has it been happening? ese are some of the things to consider.” en there’s sleep apnea. Neubauer calls it insidious because most people are unaware that they have it. e condition, most often associated with loud snoring and halted breathing while sleeping, may affect up to 18 million people in the United States. About 5 million of those are undiagnosed. Like insomnia, its symptoms could include daytime sleepiness and fatigue. “Obstructive sleep apnea evolves over a long period of time,” Philip Smith says. “Unfortunately, you don’t really become symptomatic until you’re having 15 to 20 episodes of [apnea] an hour.” e downside is that the longer sleep apnea is untreated, the more likely the chance for developing hypertension and cardiovascular disease. e upside is that risk factors for sleep apnea are a lot clearer than they were just a decade ago. If a bed partner complains that you’re consistently a loud snorer, you’re about 5 percent likely to have some degree of sleep apnea, Philip Smith says. If he or she has to leave the room because of the noise, that likelihood jumps to 90 percent. Obesity is a major risk factor for sleep apnea, and if you have diabetes, that increases your risk, too. And in one of those chicken-or-egg twists, while hopkinsmedicine.org | 800-547-5182 Although sleep problems and disorders seem rampant, the ability to diagnose and treat them successfully is better than it’s ever been. Systematic testing and evaluation can identify root causes, making it easier to target and individualize treatment. CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) devices—still the primary treatment for sleep apnea—are now more comfortable so patients are more likely to use them. Most important, mild to moderate weight loss can cure sleep apnea. And other treatments, including lifestyle changes, behavioral therapy, a new generation of prescription sleep medications, and minimally invasive surgeries, all are helping millions to sleep easier and better. is is all good, Neubauer says. “Sleep should be automatic,” he adds. “It’s a wonderful thing.” tips for Sleeplessness Sleep specialist Michael Smith, Ph.D., says insomnia is part of life. About 30 percent of us at any one time will have some experience with not being able to sleep. If you’re having episodes more than three nights a week for longer than a month, you should see a doctor. If the occasional sleepless night is your problem, Smith recommends these tips: • Back off the caffeine. Especially watch for the hidden caffeine in so-called energy drinks. • Avoid alcohol before bedtime. Even though it’s a sedative, alcohol may make it dif cult to stay asleep. • Stay away from over-the-counter sleep aids. They’re counterproductive and can lead to a habit. • Stick to an exercise routine. But not within an hour or two before bedtime. Need another reason to avoid fat-laden burgers and fries? Consider that the more high-fat foods you consume during the day, the less likely you are to get a good night’s sleep. Besides contributing to becoming overweight because of too many calories, diets high in fat can send your biological clock— or circadian rhythm—into a tailspin. Disrupting that rhythm may have as much impact on obesity—a signi cant risk factor for sleep apnea—as excessive calories. And the same phenomenon may have an impact on the body’s sleepwake cycle. For more information about sleep disorders, visit our online health library at hopkinsmedicine.org/ health_information_library. spring 2009 johns hopkins health | 9 | http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Johns Hopkins Health - Spring 2009

Johns Hopkins Health - Spring 2009
Contents
Protect Your Prostate
On the Right Tract
Losing Sleep
All Encompassing
Vanity Aside

Johns Hopkins Health - Spring 2009

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