The Sleep Review Podcast

3 Solutions That Make It Easier to Power CPAPs in Commercial Trucks

Adhering to CPAP or continuous positive airway pressure for sleep apnea is a challenge for some patients. But perhaps none moreso than commercial truck drivers, who sometimes face impossible scenarios in which using the device means that the truck won’t start in the morning—due to the truck batteries being dead after running the CPAP all night. Luckily technology now provides several solutions and fleet managers have become more accommodating in recent years. We spoke to truck drivers, truck makers, and fleet managers, who all gave us reasons to be optimistic about why it’s easier to power a CPAP in a Big Rig than ever before.

3 Issues to Be Aware of When Considering Over-the-Counter Sleep Aids

Clinicians typically ask patients for a prescription drug history but may not always delve into patients’ nonprescription or over-the-counter drug history. But when it comes to sleep aids, it’s crucial for professionals to be aware of what herbal remedies, hormones, and other compounds your patients are ingesting in their quest for better sleep. Unbeknownst to patients, many OTC sleep aids can cause side effects on their own and/or pharmacodynamic interactions when taken with other over-the-counter or prescription drugs. Wallace B. Mendelson, MD, the author of the new book Understanding Sleeping Pills, shares 3 broad issues to be aware of with regard to nonprescription products.

4 Precautions to Take When Prescribing Opioids for Refractory Restless Legs Syndrome

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) that is unresponsive to traditional therapies or in which the patients can’t tolerate traditional therapies—can be frustrating for clinicians and patients alike. Opioids can be a viable therapy for these patients—and a paper published in the January 2018 issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings aims to illuminate this treatment pathway.

5 Steps to Oral Appliance Therapy

Oral appliance therapy (OAT) provides an alternative treatment option for those with upper airway resistance syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The patient’s treatment journey begins with the referring physician, who will have administered a sleep test, and, either due to the patient’s noncompliance with CPAP or the patient’s preference, sends the patient to a dental sleep medicine practitioner for an oral appliance. The dentist’s job in properly treating a sleep apnea patient with an oral appliance involves a set of processes that are undertaken with the goal of identifying the patient’s specific needs, the condition of their mouth and throat, and their systemic health. Once the patient has been thoroughly evaluated, the appropriate device can be selected and fitted, allowing the patient to begin their treatment and follow-up. Outlined in today’s episode is the standard process used in the office of Jeff Rodgers, DMD, DABDSM, to guide the patient from initial consultation to successful treatment.

5 Tips for People with Narcolepsy to Succeed in College

The opportunity to pursue post-secondary education is fraught with challenges for some people with sleep disorders. From concerns about inadvertently keeping roomies awake with loud snoring, to being unable to wake for early morning classes, colleges and other places of higher education can feel a little intimidating for your patients. Luckily, there are people with sleep disorders who have walked the hallowed halls of college—and graduated. Today, we are specifically sharing strategies for people with narcolepsy to do well in college.