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There’s been a wave of interest in oral appliance therapy for obstructive sleep apnea after the big recall of CPAP machines last summer. One group particularly interested in appliances are long-distance truckers.  Truckers with moderate to severe OSA are required to comply with their treatment plan to drive. If they are not meeting thresholds for […]

Several recent studies have shown that, when it comes to OSA, diabetics are at a higher risk for complications, especially in their eyes. Untreated sleep apnea increases the risks for several kinds of diabetic eye disease, including macular edema and diabetic retinopathy. In October 2021, a presentation at the American Society of Retina Specialists Annual […]

A recent study published in the journal Sleep Medicine examined how tonsillectomy and adenectomy surgeries affect children with extreme sleep apnea. This surgery is often the first line of treatment for children with obstructive sleep apnea. However, because it’s performed under general anesthesia, it can be especially dangerous for children who already have breathing problems. […]

We’re fast approaching back-to-school time. Over the summer, kids tend to get more rest even though the days are longer. Mornings move more slowly, there is space for a nap, and there’s no homework to keep kids up late. But as we shift to the school year, sleep can be a big problem again. So […]

A new study from Italian researchers suggests that dry eye disease (DED) may be an overlooked complication of CPAP machine use. According to the American Optometric Association, dry eye disease occurs when a person is either not making enough tears to moisten the eye or when the tears they make have the wrong chemical composition […]

A team of Australian researchers has discovered that a two-drug cocktail can improve obstructive sleep apnea symptoms. The researchers used two already-approved drugs together and found a 30% improvement in patients’ AHI and oxygen saturation. One of the drugs, reboxetine, was a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. The other drug, hyoscine butyl bromide, is an antispasmodic drug. […]

If you practice pediatric sleep dentistry, you’ve probably wondered: does T&A surgery help children have better outcomes, or do we refer too many children to surgery? And how much does the timing matter for outcomes? A new Australian study looked at whether the surgery was helpful and whether sooner was always better. The study, published […]

When you have obstructive sleep apnea, you get used to everyone telling you to exercise.  Reducing body fat can improve OSA. OSA causes cardiovascular problems, so you need to exercise. Are you prediabetic because OSA is messing with your hormones and causing insulin resistance? Well, the answer is to exercise more. The problem is that […]

Yet another study has shown a clear link between getting screened and treated for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and better mental health. Scientists at the University of Turku in Finland studied patients diagnosed with sleep apnea and followed them for three years after diagnosis.  All patients were screened for depression and anxiety at the start […]

As more Americans get screened, diagnosed, and treated for OSA, more alternatives to CPAP therapy are coming on the market. This is a huge benefit since many people find the CPAP difficult to use. A less effective treatment with better compliance can give more relief than a CPAP that sits unused on the bedside table. […]