Key points from today’s guests:
Dr. Brenton Massey, neurologist, The University of Kansas Health System; treated for obstructive sleep apnea
- About a year ago, Brenton had difficulty with his sleep. His wife let him know about his severe snoring, he had trouble waking up in the morning, and was unable to concentrate at night.
- It also led to elevated blood pressure, so he knew he had to get the issue addressed.
- After conferring with his doctor, he had a simple, at-home sleep test, which diagnosed him with sleep apnea.
- He now uses a CPAP machine and notices a tremendous difference in his health.
- His sleep habits have changed and he feels better in the morning when he wakes up and is more active throughout the day.
Dr. Nancy Stewart, sleep medicine specialist, The University of Kansas Health System
- At-home sleep testing is really a convenient way of finding out breathing disorders in general. We know that a large majority of sleep disorders could be breathing disorders.
- It's a really convenient technology to focus on breathing, oxygen levels, and heart rate fluctuations.
- If you're not able to get on average seven to eight hours of sleep, you need to start with your primary care doctor. Untreated potential sleep disorders could cause more problems in the future.
- An ideal nighttime routine includes consistent times for waking up and going to bed, a dark, quiet environment, one hour away from electronics before bedtime, and avoiding fatty meals and caffeine.
- Too much alcohol may help you get to sleep, but it can also wake you up in the middle of the night.
- You spend a third of your life sleeping, so make it quality time. And if it's not quality, and if you feel like you're not getting what you need, see a doctor to get help.
Dr. Saurav Luthra, sleep medicine specialist, The University of Kansas Health System
- Obstructive sleep apnea is a type of issue where your airway is closing at night, and that airway closure is what we call apnea.
- When you are sleeping, your airway either partially or fully closes, and that can lead to a drop in your oxygen levels in certain patients, it can raise their carbon dioxide levels, and this is what then leads to a lot of downstream symptoms.
- When somebody develops more than mild, moderate to severe apnea, they don't get enough deep sleep. So that starts to impact their memory, their concentration, their mood.
- The heart must work extra hard because every time the oxygen goes down, the blood has to be pumped even further. So the heart rate is going up. Blood pressure is going up and that doesn't allow the heart to rest.
- Melatonin is effective when used in the right way. Too much melatonin can just make you more groggy after you wake up in the morning, but in the right amount in patients whose internal clocks are not working in phase with the bedtimes, it can be extremely effective.
- When you don't sleep well, you will see impact in your mood, your memory, and your cardiovascular health.
Monday, June 17 at 8 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. One man thought he had just torn his rotator cuff, but when pain persisted after surgery, the competitive strongman learned he had a cancer requiring a rare treatment.
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