Yale Study: Sleep Apnea Causes Strokes
Yale University recently published the alarming results of a recent study in
the The New England Journal of Medicine. In a study of 1,022 patients over age 50:
- Obstructive sleep apnea was associated with an increased risk of stroke or death
- The risk was independent of other cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension
- Increased severity of sleep apnea was associated with a higher risk of stroke or death
- The elevated risk existed despite treatment for sleep apnea in many patients
This study set off a lengthy cpaptalk.com discussion topic
which you may be interested in reading or participating in.
While these findings are no suprise to those of us who deal with sleep apnea daily, they may act
as a positive catalyst for that friend or relative who has been reluctant to go get checked out. If
you know someone who has put off their sleep study, we'd love to send you a FREE cpaptalk.com
DVD, "Introduction To The Sleep Lab" to show them.
Article: Strong Evidence That Sleep Apnea Causes Strokes
Respironics C-Flex vs. Resmed EPR: There Is A Difference
Many similarities exist between Respironics C-Flex and Resmed EPR but they are NOT the same thing! Both are easy
breathing, expiratory pressure reduction systems. Both decrease the pressure to the patient at the beginning of each exhalation
and both have three comfort settings. However, major differences exist in the availability and effectiveness of these features.
Here are a list of the major differences:
- Auto Mode Pressure Adjustments. C-Flex works when the machine is in the "Automatic Pressure Adjust", or "Auto" mode. EPR only
works in "Constant Pressure", or "CPAP" mode. EPR will not work when an S8 Vantage machine is in the "Auto" mode.
- Length Of Pressure Drop. C-Flex decreases pressure at the beginning of each breath. The decrease lasts for less than
a second and then returns to the base pressure. EPR decreases the pressure at the beginning of each breath also but keeps the
pressure low throughout the exhalation.
- Relative vs. Exact Pressure Drop. C-Flex settings reduce the pressure relative to the patient’s exhalation strength and the machine pressure setting. EPR
reduces the pressure by one, two or three centimeters of water pressure.
- Sleep Disordered Breathing Event Handling. EPR has an Event Detection Circuit. When a sleep disordered breathing event is expected or has occurred, EPR
stops until the event concludes and normal breathing resumes. C-Flex is of such short duration it is thought that is has no negative effect on sleep disordered
breathing events and does not need to stop.
- Ramp Mode Pressure Relief. EPR can be limited to work in the ramp mode only. C-Flex can not be limited in this way.
So, if EPR reduces the expiratory pressure by a controlled 1, 2, or 3 centimeters, what is the difference between EPR and BiPAP (tm) or Bilevel?
Bilevel machines are categorized as "ventilatory devices". They use rapid pressure changes to expand and contract lung volume.
EPR uses slower pressure changes, so there is little ventilatory effect. However, EPR does feel very much like a Bilevel to the patient.
High End C-Flex: Respironics Auto, Heated Humidifier
High End EPR: Resmed S8 Vantage, Heated Humidifier
Mid Range C-Flex: Respironics Pro 2, Heated Humidifier
Mid Range EPR: Resmed S8 Elite, Heated Humidifier
Respironics Releases Worlds First BiPAP Auto
Respironics has released the world's first BiPAP Auto. Wow, this new machine is a high end, feature rich joyride which
functions in four modes: BiPAP, BiPAP with Bi-Flex, BiPAP Auto and BiPAP Auto with Bi-Flex. It uses the existing BiPAP
Pro 2 platform but its technology and feel suggest that the BiPAP Auto engineers have spent a lot of time with and
borrowed a lot from the market leading Respironics Auto with C-Flex.
But enough of our sales pitch, here is what members of our online sleep community, cpaptalk.com, are saying about it:
BiPAP Auto, Pre-Release Discussion
BiPAP Auto, First Night Impression
Please be aware that a BiPAP Prescription
is required before we can legally dispense this machine.
BiPAP Auto With Bi-Flex
Battery Powered CPAP Interview on cpaptalk.com
The AEIOMed Everest Aura is the world's first CPAP with its own integrated battery power pack. It is light weight and
compact, which makes it very travel friendly. You can take it camping or any place where power is limited without
worrying about size or power issues. The battery charges during normal operation and kicks in automatically if plug
in power fails. It also comes with an optional, integrated heated humidifier.
We collected community questions about the Everest Aura, added some of our own and interviewed Holly Larkin who is AEIOmed's Senior Director of
Marketing and Clinical Affairs.
cpaptalk Interview: Everest Aura Battery Powered CPAP
Don't Snore and Drive!
The European Respiratory Journal recently published
"Driving Simulator and Neuropsychological Testing in
OSAS (Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome) Before and
Under CPAP Therapy". The results comfirm positive
airway pressure's effectiveness.
The study shows that the usual treatment for sleep
apnea, namely continuous positive airway pressure
(CPAP), can significantly improve safety behind the
wheel.
The study measured apnoeic subjects' driving
performance before treatment, two days after
the start of treatment, and finally, 42 days after
the start of treatment.
The result was clear: not only were attention and
alertness improved after 42 days treatment, as were
sleepiness scores and polysomnographic traces, but a
safer driving performance could be seen even before
the other improvements. The comparative accident rate
fell sharply as soon as treatment began (2.7 before
the start of CPAP, 1.5 after two days and 0.9 at 42
days).
Sleep Apnea - A Driving Simulator To Assess The Risk Of Falling Asleep At The Wheel
Puritan Bennett To Release GoodKnight 425 ST in January
Puritan Bennett expects to release its GoodKnight 425 ST in January. It is built into the super small 425 platform and
will work with their existing heated humidifier.
Resmed Completes Launch Of S8 Line
With the release of the S8 Compact, which is the value machine in the S8 line, Resmed now offers a complete line of S8 CPAPs.
Each CPAP is small and lightweight. A new optional integrated humidifier that provides a seamless, all in one device.
Each S8 is able to perform as both a specialty travel machine and a reliable, every night machine. Here is how the S8
product line breaks down:
|
