Here’s a radically new approach to treating obstructive sleep apnea: hypoglossal nerve stimulation. I read about initial successful pilot studies many years ago out of Johns Hopkins, but though the concept never took off since I didn’t hear anything more. I was wrong. ImThera recently announced their aura6000 Targeted Hypoglossal Neurostimulation (THN) device for obstructive sleep apnea at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery in San Diego last month. There are two other companies rushing to come out with similar products. Apnex is one company and Inspire is another. Read the rest of this entry »

Do you have nocturnal panic attacks? Many of us do and most of those that do have them do not know what they are. If you find yourself doing things like this, then you may be experiencing this condition.

You go to sleep knowing that you need to sleep to have a good day tomorrow. But, then trouble happens. As you unconsciously transition from one level of sleep to another, something frightening happens. You bolt upright to find yourself short of breath and suffering from chest pains. You feel dizzy and have a sense of impending doom and suffocation. You’re sweating and feel as if you’re going crazy. You have just experienced a nocturnal panic attack. Read the rest of this entry »

Are you one of the eighteen million people in this country suffering from a sleep disorder? Even more disturbing is the fact that up to 4% of persons suffering from sleep disorders are undiagnosed. How can you tell if you have a sleep disorder? Here are some signs you may be experiencing significant sleep problems that require professional evaluation. Read the rest of this entry »

By definition, a sleep disorder is a a disturbance that interferes with or interrupts the normal sleep pattern. It may also be something that occurs due to the individual’s inability to sleep well. Some common types of sleep disorder are bruxism, insomnia, narcolepsy, sleep apnea, and sleep deprivation. Read the rest of this entry »