What are the different types of sleep centers that offer diagnostic testing for sleep disorders and what are the benefits of each?

What is an IDTF?

An IDTF is a diagnostic testing facility (entity) that is independent of a physician office or hospital; ie, it is not owned by a hospital, individual physician or group practice of physicians and its purpose is to furnish diagnostic tests and not to directly use test results to treat a patient.

A study published this month in the New England Journal of Medicine tested the effects of CPAP therapy on heart disease. 

Positive Airway Pressure devices, called PAP, deliver pressurized ambient air through a delivery system (tubing and mask), to eliminate apnea events during sleep. PAP, including CPAP, BIPAP, Auto-PAP, and ASV-PAP, is the most effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea and can potentially improve the patient’s sleep overnight, dramatically improving the quality of life for individuals afflicted with sleep apnea (learn more about PAP here).

The Sleep Apnea Cardiovascular Endpoints (SAVE) trial looked at patients with a history of coronary artery disease or cerebrovascular disease AND moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea. Participants were randomly assigned to received CPAP plus usual care or usual care alone.

The results of the study showed that use of CPAP did not result in a lower rate of cardiovascular issues (for this study, they looked for deaths from cardiovascular causes, myocardial infarction, stroke, or hospitalization for unstable angina, heart failure, or transient ischemic attack). 

Does this mean that CPAP is not an effective treatment?

Do you have a new PAP machine and no longer need your old machine?

Do you have an extra mask or tubing for your old machine that you never used?

Would you like to donate your unused or gently used equipment?

Chances are, if you've been using PAP therapy for more than a couple of years, you've got an old device hanging around. We're keeping an updated list of local and national organizations that can help you sell or donate your new or gently used equipment to those in need.

Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have identified a circuit in the brains of mice that regulates their sleep-wake cycle. 

As many as 25-30% of Americans suffer from chronic insomnia, the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep through the night (learn more about insomnia here).

Louis de Lecea, PhD., professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences: "This has potential huge clinical relevance. Insomnia, a multibillion-dollar market for pharmaceutical companies, has traditionally been treated with drugs such as benzodiazepines that nonspecifically shut down the entire brain. Now we see the possibility of developing therapies that, by narrowly targeting this newly identified circuit, could induce much higher-quality sleep."

We've covered the effects of using electronics before bed in several blog posts (check out the most recent one here).

According to some doctors, drinking alcohol before bed may be even more disruptive to your sleep.

Learn about the effects of alcohol on sleep.

According to research, exposure to artificial light at night can disrupt our sleep. Blue wavelength light, the kind that comes from TVs, iPads, and smartphones, is especially harmful to circadian rhythm function. 

So, what are we do to about this? In this blog post, we explain the top reasons why you should consider wearing a pair of these dashing glasses tonight.

A study published this month in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) examined the unauthorized sales by private individuals of secondhand CPAP devices. While most health insurance plans cover CPAP (learn more here about coverage for these devices), the average cost of a device for those without insurance or with a high deductible can be prohibitive .

The study examined person-to-person sales of CPAP devices at a range of geographic locations, median incomes, population densities and number of sleep clinics. They sorted through online ads for CPAP sales and even placed anonymous postings on Craigslist to solicit information from potential sellers and buyers.

What did they find?

How Much Sleep Does My Child Need?

The National Sleep Foundation updated their recommended sleep duration guidelines for all age groups in 2015 based on an expert panel's comprehensive review of published scientific studies on sleep and health. Ranges are given instead of a hard number for each age group. The experts acknowledge that there is individual variability and the range is intended to be a starting point for individuals to discuss sleep with their healthcare providers.

Can weight loss cure sleep apnea?  

There are clear connections between sleep apnea and other diseases such as diabetes and heart disease that are improved with weight loss. 

How does weight loss affect sleep apnea?

While studies have shown that losing weight decreases the severity of this sleep disorder, its may not completely eliminate the need for CPAP.

Sleep apnea affects more than 20 million Americans, yet most are undiagnosed and untreated.

A sleep study, whether performed at-home or in a sleep center, is the most effective way to diagnose many sleep disorders, like sleep apnea.

Learn about the typical requirements for ordering sleep studies.