“There are a number of potential causes for a disturbed night’s sleep,” explained Diederik Zeven, general manager of Philips Healthcare in the Middle East. “These include sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which affects approximately four per cent of the adult population.”

Zeven added: “It’s a disorder characterized by airway collapse behind the tongue during sleep, which obstructs breathing. If untreated, it can contribute to the development of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attacks, and strokes.”

The company has developed an innovative collection of sleep products, including diagnostic tools and therapy devices.

During the conference, Philips will also be conducting sleep therapy solutions and demonstrating how its tools and products work.

Drivers complain of both physical and mental exhaustion adding that it’s very easy to fall into a sedentary style of living. There are few food choices, thus forcing truck drivers to settle for fast food, explains Abingdon, Virginia driver Hank Dobbs.

Meanwhile, fellow driver Joe Berg shares that “any truck stop you have has a hot dog rack on morning, noon or night. (you) can’t always have time to sit down and eat.” Virginia Tech Transportation Institute research associate Justin Morgan explains that “if you have sleep apnea for instance it’s possible for you to enter what’s called a micro sleep where fall asleep very briefly behind the wheel,” adding that “what we’re doing is providing guidance for drivers.”

Source: wdbj7

Thomas gives melatonin as an example of a substance which is very effective in treating jet lag and insomnia if given at the right doses—anywhere in between 0.3 mg to 3.0mg. He further explains that 5-HTP and GABA are both neuro-transmitting substances which can help patients sleep. GABA calms down anxiety while 5-HTP is capable of treating depression and apnea.

However, Thomas believes that combining the two substances may not necessarily be effective, saying “as far as we know no science that has looked at these three ingredients together.”

Source: MiamiHerald.com

Apart from the dangers that sleep apnea brings to everyday living, there is also heightened risk of developing cardiovascular disorders from losing sleep. Apnea has also been linked to obesity, depression and diabetes apart from other medical issues such as attention and hyper activity disorder found in children.

Back in 2008, almost 28 percent of adults who participated in a survey in the U.S. say that they don’t nearly get enough sleep at night. They also associate their sleeping disorder with pain, anxiety, depression, mental stress and poor health in general. The National Sleep Foundation advises adults to catch as least 7-9 hours of sleep each day, while 10-11 hours for children that are already going to school.

The study also found that the reaction time that both sleepy and drunk drivers have are almost similar to a person who is too drunk to drive. The researchers studied 113 people suffering from sleep apnea and compared data with those from 80 participants who volunteered to be intoxicated with alcohol.

Each of the participants from both groups was asked to push on a button continuously for ten minutes in order to test their reaction speed. Results show that patients that had apnea scored much worse on the test as compared to participants whose blood alcohol levels were 0.05 below the legal toxicity limit.

Source: Daily Titan

However, despite becoming aware of her disorders, Dunn says that it “didn’t fix everything,” and that she “was still having trouble sleeping.” Dunn went back to her sleep therapist to ask for further advice regarding her sleeping problems. Soon, she found a pattern saying “If I’d be on the computer late I’d be wide awake. I mean it kind of gave me a second wind,” adding that her realization didn’t help especially since she has to wake up as early as 6 am.

Eastern Iowa Sleep Center Dr. Scott Geisler says that Dunn is now one of a growing population of insomniacs who unwittingly worsen their sleeping disorders by using gadgets. Geisler explains that “even that little bit of light you get from a portable device an IPAD or I-phone, smartphone is enough to send messages to your brain that it’s time to wake up.”

Source: KCRG.org

Clinical Neurology Professor Poul Jennum at the University of Copenhagen Center for Health Aging explains hyperinsomnia as a type of symptom exhibited by patients who are suffering from sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, narcolepsy, loud snoring, restless leg syndrome as well as obesity-related breathing troubles. These patients were also found to be heavily dependent on medicine, health services and generally unemployed.

Researchers thus conclude that socio-economic consequences grow as sleep disorders get more severe. They were able to demonstrate how patients exhibiting hyperinsomnia were relying on state subsidized medication as compared to their healthy counterparts. Higher intake of medication and more frequent rate of hospitalization also coincided with increased rates of unemployment for patients who were left undiagnosed and not getting treatment.

Source: Times of India

Misericordia Health Centre’s Sleep Disorder Centre currently averages 300 patients and 100 out-patients per month. However, the current number can’t sustain the growing demand for diagnostic testing and treatment.

The clinic will be increasing its home service with another 100 patients.

Based on recent studies, more than 36 percent of Canadians aren’t getting enough sleep. This makes sleep health a serious concern in the region.

Adding to the state of the sleep industry, proposed federal regulations by the transportation industry would require safety sensitive employees be tested for a sleep disorder, more specifically sleep apnea. According to Dr. Gerson, the proposed regulations would require millions of transportation workers be tested for sleep apnea, placed on treatment, and follow treatment guidelines within three months. This increase in patient demand could be considered extremely difficult based on the number of sleep centers across the country combined with the existing backlog of clinical patients.

So what is a sleep center to do? Dr. Gerson says to accept the use of at-home sleep apnea testing. Sleep centers should begin researching devices that can fit into their practice model, market these capabilities to referring physicians, and view this new technology as a way to decrease patient backlog and increase report turnaround time. This approach may be applied in clinical sleep medicine as an alternative to the fixed site sleep center, weight management/wellness programs, or to meet the demands of transportation company workers.

ABOUT UNIVERSITY SERVICES
University Services, a multi-specialty medical services organization, provides sleep diagnostic and treatment to patients through American Academy of Sleep Medicine accredited sleep centers as well as convenient at-home sleep testing. Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (RPSGTs) score the study data and Board Certified Sleep Physicians provide diagnosis and recommendations, providing the highest standard of patient care night after night.

The transaction allows Graymark to focus on its core business of providing comprehensive care for sleep disorders, primarily obstructive sleep apnea, including diagnosis, therapy, and ongoing clinical and product support.

“Millions of Americans suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, and many aren’t aware they have a problem or that treatment is available in their communities,” said Stanton Nelson, chairman and CEO of Graymark Healthcare. “As a pure-play sleep disorders company focused primarily on obstructive sleep apnea, we believe Graymark is better able to help people sleep better.”

Graymark launched the nation’s first comprehensive care model for patients with obstructive sleep apnea in 2009 and has grown into one of the nation’s largest aggregators of sleep therapy providers.

“Given our substantially improved balance sheet as a result of this sale, we are ideally positioned to execute on our plans to grow through the acquisition of treatment centers, as well as through developing alliances with hospitals and other health care providers,” added Nelson. “The rapidly growing sleep apnea marketplace offers us an opportunity for significant growth and margin expansion.”

The sale to Walgreens was comprised of substantially all of the assets of ApothecaryRx for $25.5 million, plus approximately $3.8 million for inventory. Graymark expects to realize net proceeds of approximately $33 million from the completed divestiture, including collection of retained accounts receivable, and proceeds from the liquidation of remaining ApothecaryRx assets.

The Healthcare Investment Banking Group of Morgan Joseph LLC served as the financial advisor to Graymark in this transaction, with Greenberg Traurig LLP and Commercial Law Group, P.C. serving as Graymark’s legal advisors.

About Graymark Healthcare

Graymark Healthcare, Inc. is the nation’s second largest provider of sleep medicine diagnosis and treatment. Graymark owns and operates diagnostic sleep centers that treat a wide range of sleep disorders, and operates a medical equipment supply company that provides disposable and durable medical equipment. For more information, please visit www.graymarkhealthcare.com.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are based on the company’s current expectations, forecasts and assumptions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the company’s expectations, forecasts and assumptions. These risks and uncertainties include risks and uncertainties not in the control of the company, including, without limitation, the current economic climate and other risks and uncertainties, including those enumerated and described in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available on the SEC’s Web site (www.sec.gov). Unless otherwise required by law, the company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.