Stanford Sleep Disorders Clinic A.W.A.K.E. Group since
9-03 rev. 8-19-08
The A.W.A.K.E. Group is for sleep apnea patients and their families, with the purpose of providing information and support. About 50 people attend the monthly general meetings.
The word A.W.A.K.E. is a nationally used acronym (Alert, Well, And Keeping Energetic) for sleep apnea patient groups.
| Speaker | Topic Click underlined topic for PowerPoint file |
Sponsor | |
| August 6, 2008 | Dr. J. Shirine Allam | Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors | Covidian |
| September 3 | Dr. Sarah Richey | Sleep Pharmacology | Fisher & Paykel |
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| November 5 | |||
| December 3 | |||
| January 7, 2009 |
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| February 4 | |||
| March 4 | |||
| April 1 | |||
| May 6 |
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| June 3 |
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Stanford A.W.A.K.E.
e-mail list:
To subscribe either:
1. Send an blank email to: awake-meeting@lists.stanford.edu
Or
2. Click on this link:
https://mailman.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/awake-meeting
In the section
entitled: “Subscribing
to awake-meeting” enter your email address, then click Subscribe.
Sleep Apnea
information:
Symptoms: Excessive
Daytime Sleepiness, Snoring--especially
if loud snoring is repeatedly interrupted by brief periods of silence, or by
choking sounds or gasps, Apnea (cessation of breathing)
witnessed by another
Risk factors: Obesity, Large
neck (men with collar size ≥ 17), Small or recessed
jaw, Overbite, Family history of snoring. Thin people can have apnea!
Possible consequences if untreated: Heart attack, Stroke, High blood
pressure, Fatigue, Motor vehicle accident when driving sleepy, GERD (reflux),
Insomnia, Depression. Also cardiac arythmia, recurrence
of atrial fibrillation, diastolic heart failure.
Prevalence: 7% or
more of population (A 1993 U. of Wisconsin study found 24%
of middle-aged men had apnea). Men afflicted twice as frequently as
women, up to age 50. Most people who have sleep apnea
do not know that they have it.
Most common treatment: PAP
(Positive Air Pressure). This treatment involves
sleeping with a nasal mask through which air is gently blown by a PAP machine;
this air acts as a splint to keep the airway from collapsing and blocking
air passage (an apnea). Such blockages seriously disrupt sleep (unbeknownst
to the sleeper) and severely stress the heart and lungs.
PAP machines come in three varieties:
CPAP. C is for Continuous, meaning the same air pressure
on inhalation and exhalation.
Bi-level PAP. The machine gives a higher pressure
for inhalation and a lower one for exhalation.
Auto PAP. The machine senses how much pressure
you need, and adjusts the pressure throughout the night.
References to more Sleep Apnea information:
http://www.sleepquest.com/s_osa.html
< Several page overview.
The Promise of Sleep, a book on all topics of sleep
medicine, by William C. Dement, 1999, 521 pp
Doctor's comments on: Nocturia
Hypothyroidism Allergies
Self-tests: Daytime
Sleepiness Test (Epworth Sleepiness Scale)
Grade yourself
Battery
Backup for CPAP (during power outage, camping trip, etc.)
A car battery is
not appropriate except in emergency; rather use a deep-cycle battery.
Battery Q & A
Tips for PAP users:
Common problems with
PAP, and possible solutions < click
Submit suggestions and comments to David Vick at the meetings.
Magic has graciously provided this web space since 2002.