Do you have questions about Obstructive Sleep Apnea or CPAP treatment?  Is your equipment or mask not working or fitting properly? Or, perhaps you have questions about sleep studies or medical care for yourself or a loved one?

Join us for a free educational and social support group for people affected by sleep apnea. No matter who your doctor or DME supplier is, we’re here to help!

DeVilbiss Healthcare, Lincare and our medical specialists will be at the meetings to troubleshoot any problems and address your concerns.

Schedule

November 9, 2-5 pm, at the Starlight Medical Group office in Lutz.

December 3, 10 AM to noon, at the Starlight Medical Group office in Wesley Chapel.

For more information or to RSVP, please contact Christy at 813-994-2729 or cmccluskey@starlightmedicalgroup.com

Light refreshments will be served.

For sleep labs like Starlight Medical Group, when discussing sleep apnea, it is typically from the point of view of a health care provider trying to explain the disorder, or how to treat it.

But what about the point of view of someone with sleep apnea? How does it affect their lives? What do they do differently? And most importantly, do they sleep better, and ultimately feel better, because they received treatment?

Check out the case of William Holloway of Abilene, Texas, and decide for yourself.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sleep disorder characterized by an uncontrollable urge to move the legs in response to unpleasant "creepy-crawly" sensations. RLS occurs in about 15% of the population. However, new findings suggest that middle-aged women with RLS may experience something even more unpleasant - heart failure or stroke resulting from elevated blood pressure.

A study, published in the journal Hypertension, asked 65,000 nurses if they experienced any common symptoms of RLS, as well as inquiring about their blood pressure. The researchers found that 33 percent of women who experienced frequent (more than 15 times per month) RLS episodes had high blood pressure, compared to only 21 percent of women who had no RLS symptoms.

"We cannot say from this study that restless legs syndrome causes blood pressure to rise," study co-author Dr. Salma Batool-Anwar, a sleep researcher at Harvard Medical School. "But we did see a significant relationship between the severity of RLS symptoms and prevalence of hypertension."

"What this study suggests is that if you have RLS, make sure your healthcare provider pays extra attention to your blood pressure,"says Robin Trupp, RN, PhD, ARNP at Starlight Medical Group. "Sleep is a natural way for the body to lower blood pressure, but if you can't fully fall asleep because your legs are twitching all night long, then the blood pressure lowering effects are reduced." Blood pressure levels typically drop 20-25% during the sleep.

That also suggests that reducing hypertension can reduce the symptoms of RLS. Hypertension can be treated with a healthy diet, weight loss, dietary salt reduction and exercise as well as medications.

Many of us have experienced the trouble of trying to doze on an airplane. With so many things happening, such as people walking down aisles, smells of food, drink services, and crying children, it's a wonder that anyone can fall asleep on a plane.

And don't forget the emotions felt when leaving. Before a trip begins, there is planning, preparation and other stresses that must be faced; at the airport, it's parking, security checkpoints and flight delays; and finally, the anticipation and excitement about arriving at the destination, all of which can heighten our energy levels, making it harder to sleep.

What can you do to improve your odds of falling asleep on an airplane? Here are 10 suggestions to consider.

1. Wear ear plugs or noise-cancelling headphones.
2. Use a neck pillow for support.
3. Wear cotton or wool clothes, such as a light sweater. These fabrics breathe to allow heat to escape from the body.
4. Bring your own blanket. If you are"lucky" enough to get one, the polyester ones supplied by the airlines can trap heat the body and - let's face it - are not too sanitary.
5. Recline your seat back as much as possible. Studies have shown that inclines of 40 degrees or more can help us fall asleep, although seats of this capability may only be found in business or first class.
6. Eat meals at regular times, to avoid changing your internal body clocks, which can disrupt normal sleep patterns.
7. Eat lighter meals, to avoid feeling too full.
8. Finish your planning before leaving for the airport. This allows your mind to relax once stressful planning activities are forgotten.
9. Stay adequately hydrated. As a rule, drink 8 ounces of water for every hour of flight time.
10. On longer flights of 2 or more hours, be sure to get up and walk for a few minutes every 2 hours. This activity, in combination with staying hydrated, can help prevent blood clots from forming in your legs.

If you normally have trouble trying to sleep during flights, see your health care provider about prescription remedies. A sleeping pill may help, but don't get frustrated if it doesn't work as expected. The fact remains that a crowded airplane is simply a hard place to relax and catch some zzzzs.

Do you have any helpful tips to add to this list? Share your suggestions here.