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Stop Snoring Injection? Not-so-new news!

21-Nov-09

It always makes me smile when some “new” revelation pops up in the news that is actually very old news, but a journalist just discovered it and now it’s suddenly new.

A good example is the recent “news” about the single injection that stops snoring. This is being reported by Fox News and the Daily Mail, among others. A single injection, dirt cheap, takes a minute, doesn’t hurt, you stop snoring.

The problem is, this news is not exactly new.  The original studies were done and reported by Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC eight years ago, in 20o1.  They developed a method called Injection Snoreplasty which supposedly hardens that palate at the top of the mouth and can stop snoring for several months.

There are pros and cons with the injection method.  On the plus side, it’s fast and cheap, and it promises to be quite effective.  On the downside, it apparently hurts like heck (it’s in the top of the mouth) and the effects can wear off after as little as a month to up to two years.

So, if it gets to the point where you get offered a chance to have such an injection, please be fully aware of these issues.  That having been said, if you’re a snorer, ANYTHING is worth a try, but please remember that snoring is a symptom of sleep apnea, a serious condition for which you should immediately get checked before you do anything else.

Sleep Apnea and the dreaded Sleep Study

06-Nov-09

Most of you know that if you snore, you need to RUN to the doctor to find out if you have sleep apnea.  Sleep Apnea is a lot more common that people think and a lot worse than you think.  You stop breathing several times an hour for several seconds (they clocked 40 in my case), and your blood oxygen level drops to dangerous levels.  If you snore AND you have been feeling groggy and unrested, you should get tested.

However, lots of people are put off by the required sleep study.  It takes all night, it’s expensive (if you don’t have insurance), it’s uncomfortable, and it might result in you being assigned a CPAP machine.  I know all this – I’ve had three sleep studies over the years and I use a CPAP.

However, there is hope.  Several news reports lately have talked about new ways of testing for sleep apnea which do not involve at least part of the traditional sleep study.

The SleepStrip is a one-time-use electronic gizmo that sticks around your nose and measures your breathing while you sleep.  You still have to get the results analyzed by your doctor but it’s good for finding out if you actually have sleep apnea.  They may still need you to do the full sleep study but at least you’ll know what the result is going to be.  The SleepStrip costs about $80 plus whatever the doctor charges, a lot cheaper than the traditional overnight stay for a conventional sleep study..

Shift Work Disorder News reports that Siix Corporation is developing a cigarette packet-sized device that can be used at home to assess a patient for sleep apnea. More details here.

US News and World Report talks about a University of Houston effort to develop some thermal imaging techniques to identify sleep disorders in patients.

Ask your doctor about alternative methods of testing for Sleep Apnea.  You really do need to get tested.

Sleep apnea therapy shaves strokes off golf score – news Stories

06-Nov-09

Telegraph.co.uk

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Siix Corporation to develop sleep apnea device – Shift Work Disorder News

06-Nov-09

Shift Work Disorder News
Siix Corporation to develop sleep apnea device
Shift Work Disorder News
The new device will help evaluate people, who are diagnosed with sleep apnea and other sleep disorders. Typically, this type of procedure requires a room
JAPAN'S SIIX DEVELOPS DEVICE TO TRACK SLEEP DISORDERS AT HOMETrading Markets (press release)

all 2 news articles »

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Researchers linking sleep apnea and teeth grinding – 14WFIE.com

06-Nov-09
Researchers linking sleep apnea and teeth grinding
14WFIE.com
They said almost one in four patients with obstructive sleep apnea also suffers from nighttime teeth grinding. Caucasians had the highest rate of grinding,
Surgery may not be the best option for children with obstructive sleep apneaNews-Medical.net
Thursday Open CommentsLone Star Times (blog)

all 3 news articles »

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Hercules Technology Announces Third Quarter 2009 Financial Results and … – Reuters

05-Nov-09
Hercules Technology Announces Third Quarter 2009 Financial Results and
Reuters
The NDA, submitted by Transcept in September 2008, seeks approval to market Intermezzo(R) for use as-needed for the treatment of insomnia when a middle of

and more »

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World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions: Anthony Kim needs some sleep – Examiner.com

05-Nov-09

Examiner.com
World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions: Anthony Kim needs some sleep
Examiner.com
November 5 — You'll have to pardon American golfer Anthony Kim if he looks a bit like he needs a sleep apnea machine. After only three hours of shut-eye

and more »

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Program Found to Improve Cancer-Related Insomnia However, second study finds … – ModernMedicine

05-Nov-09

ModernMedicine
Program Found to Improve Cancer-Related Insomnia However, second study finds
ModernMedicine
5 (healthday News) — Cancer-related insomnia can be improved by behavioral therapy but not epoetin alfa, according to two studies published online Nov.

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NovaDel Receives Notice of Allowance for New U.S. Patent Covering its Oral … – Reuters

05-Nov-09
NovaDel Receives Notice of Allowance for New U.S. Patent Covering its Oral
Reuters
10/671715, entitled "Buccal, Polar and Non-polar Spray Containing Zolpidem," which covers a method of treating insomnia by administering zolpidem to humans

and more »

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Insomnia puts a sweet spin on late night – Journal and Courier

05-Nov-09
Insomnia puts a sweet spin on late night
Journal and Courier
Insomnia Cookies' new walk-in only location in Chauncey Village has been a hit with the late night

and more »

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