Blog List – Classic
APSS Poster: Switch Study High to Low-Sodium Oxybate Impact on Blood Pressure in Narcolepsy (XYLO)
A recent poster presentation at the 38th annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies June 1-5 2024, Houston, TX, titled “Design Elements for a Switch Study from High to Low-Sodium Oxybate Evaluating Blood Pressure in Narcolepsy (XYLO)”, showcased the effects of switching from high-sodium to low-sodium oxybate on blood pressure in narcolepsy patients, addressing the cardiovascular risks associated with high sodium intake while maintaining treatment efficacy Narcolepsy is a disor...Read More
Allan K Bernstein in Memoriam
The world of sleep and breathing is mourning the loss of Allan K Bernstein DDS; a pioneer in the field of dental sleep medicine since its early days. He, along with seven other members, was one of the founders of the AADSM knowing it would take a formal organization to get the practice of dental sleep medicine to the next level. Allan, also being a TMJ specialist, recognized very early on that sleep breathing disorders and TMJ are closely related and that a multidisciplinary systems based approa...Read More
How Effective Is The Approval Process For HSAT Devices?
Sleep labs are not going out of style, but consumers clearly want more home sleep apnea testing (HSAT) devices. As demand goes up, so too has the problem of consistent standardized development and verification procedures. Researchers analyzed the approval process for HSAT devices as performed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from September 1, 2003, to September 1, 2023—with a primary focus on ensuring safety and clinical effectiveness. The research recently appeared in the prestigi...Read More
Idiopathic Hypsersomnia: Beyond Low-Sodium Oxybate
Low-sodium oxybate is still indicated for idiopathic hypersomnia, but researchers are looking at many factors when prescribing treatment. Low-sodium oxybate was the first idiopathic hypersomnia treatment to receive approval by the FDA. However, many off-label treatments continue to be used. Researchers concluded that adjunct nonpharmacologic therapies, including good sleep hygiene, patient education and counseling, and use of support groups—should be recognized and recommended when appropriate. ...Read More
CLINICAL BREAKTHROUGHS From Seeing Imparied Mouth Syndrome: Oral Contributions to Mouth-Airway-Sleep Axis
By Dr. Felix Liao, DDS, MAGD, ABGD, D’ASBA “You see only what you know, hence you can’t diagnose what you don’t know.” -Dr. Richard Beistle, DDS- Obstructive Sleep Apnea “OSA” affects 1/7 of adults ages 30-69 worldwide1. The US ranks 2nd behind China in OSA prevalence with AHI > 5, and 4th with AHI >15 behind China, India, and Brazil. “Untreated OSA is associated with significant comorbidities and mortality. These represent a tremendous threat to the individual and global healt...Read More
Tracing the Journey of a Pioneer: Dental Sleep Medicine from Its 1980s Oral Appliance Beginnings to Present Milestones
“TRACING THE JOURNEY OF A PIONEER – by Andy Knight” I was 13 years old when my dad started training me as an orthodontic lab technician in Provo, Utah. In the early 1980s, Dad took me to a dental convention in Las Vegas and one of the presentations was by a Dr. Robert Ricketts about the treatment of TMJ using orthodontic appliances. One day in ’84 or ’85, Dad took me to a dental convention in Las Vegas. One of the presentations we attended was by a Dr. Robert Ricket...Read More
Former NFL Players Health Screening Program “HOPE” Discussion with Rudi Ferrate and Andre Collins
Dr. Rudi Ferrate, Sleep Specialist (ASBA) interviews Andre Collins Executive Director of the Professional Athletes’ Foundation (PAF) at the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) about the Living Heart Foundations (LHF) health screenings for former players through their National Wellness health program. HOPE Program The Hope program is wellness screening program designed to improve the early identification of health risks in former elite athletes and utilize the information to als...Read More
Mouth Taping During Sleep? It Hasn’t Been Widely Studied
Released in May 2020 as the world pondered an air-borne virus, the book Breath turned into an improbable NY Times bestseller. Advocating nose-breathing above all, Breath looked at the growing phenomenon of mouth taping to encourage (more like forcing) nose breathing during sleep. Many more books have come along each trying to take nasal breathing to the next level. Forbes Magazine recently covered the phenomenon in a May 16 article, suggesting a modicum of caution. “Advocates of mouth taping sug...Read More