Meditation Mindfulness Master to Offer Sleep Help during Virtual Support Session

Maureen Marasca, one of New Hampshire’s most respected Meditation teachers, will be the featured guest on the next session of ‘CPAP Chat,’ a free virtual support session on Wednesday, June 3 from 7 – 8 pm (ET).

‘CPAP Chat’ (www.CPAPchat.org) is the country’s only town-hall-style forum of its kind. The monthly session attracts sleep apnea patients from a dozen states, health care professionals, and anyone else interested in the subject of sleep. Sessions are hosted by engineer/inventor Eric Cohen, co-founder of National Sleep Therapy (www.nstherapy.com)

Session guest Marasca is a Reiki practitioner and a Shamballa Energies Master Teacher/Healer who has studied the art and practice of Mindfulness and Meditation. With a Master’s degree in Counseling from the University of New Hampshire and a Graduate Certificate in alternative modalities of healing from Plymouth State University, she has helped people to incorporate spirituality and wellness into their everyday lives: “I am passionate about helping others to experience a deeper sense of living, a deeper sense of peace, joy and purpose.”

Eric Cohen says a key focus of CPAP Chat is to help people suffering from sleep apnea to get the best night’s sleep possible. “In addition to using their prescribed CPAP therapy, we provide patients with a wide range of tips that may involve lifestyle changes and meditation.” Also participating in the June 3 session will be one of Marasca’s students, Melissa MacLennan of Concord, NH, Billing Supervisor at National Sleep Therapy.

Of special interest, a study published in the respected JAMA Internal Medicine journal reported results of a study performed on two groups with sleep issues: One group learned behaviors that could help them develop good sleep hygiene, like establishing a regular bedtime routine and avoiding caffeine and alcohol before bed. The other group underwent a six-week program on mindfulness meditation —awareness of the thoughts and feelings drifting through one’s mind — led by a certified teacher. At the end of the yearlong study, the people who learned the mindfulness approach had greater improvements in sleep quality and fewer symptoms of insomnia, depression and fatigue than those who received standard care. Maureen Marasca agrees with the study findings that “mindfulness meditation appears to be a safe and sensible practice to improve sleep quality.”

Other topics that will be addressed during the June 3 ‘CPAP Chat’ session include: a disposable, micro-CPAP that weighs less than an ounce; alternative therapies for sleep apnea; and a new ApneaApp that detects sleep apnea via Smart Phone with 95% accuracy

CPAP Chat is free, anonymous and open to all. To join the chat: Just prior to the session on Wednesday, June 3 at 7 pm (ET),, call 1-800.204.6655, enter access code 342-2187#.)

 By Stanley Hurwitz / stanhurwitz@gmail.com

‘Drowsy Driving’ Can Be A Symptom of Sleep Apnea

Real-life danger: “I must have fallen asleep at 65 mph”

Have you ever done any of these while driving?
  • Yawning or blinking frequently
  • Difficulty remembering the past few miles driven
  • Missing your exit
  • Drifting from your lane
  • Hitting a rumble strip
These can be symptoms of ‘drowsy driving.’ Just ask Sylvie Hebert who is lucky to be alive after her car hit two guardrails and spun into a ditch in the median strip on a busy highway. After the mishap two years ago, she told State Troopers, “I must have fallen asleep at 65 miles per hour. They said I would have died if I wasn’t wearing my seat belt!” She was diagnosed with sleep apnea and her doctor prescribed CPAP therapy for a better night’s sleep. Some 20 million Americans have sleep apnea. It’s been called an epidemic, yet most sufferers have yet to be diagnosed! Like Sylvie, age 52, many think chronic fatigue is” a normal part of aging.”

Sylvie shared her adventure during a recent edition of ‘CPAP Chat,’ a free virtual support session, (www.CPAPchat.org) -- formerly ‘CPAP Talk –Live! – held on the first Wednesday of each month from 7-8 pm (ET). The town-hall-style forums attract sleep apnea patients, health care professionals and anyone else from across the country interested in the subject of sleep. Sessions are hosted by engineer/inventor Eric Cohen, co-founder of National Sleep Therapy. (www.nstherapy.com)

Among likely drowsy drivers are young males, night shift workers, commercial drivers and truckers, and people over 45, often overweight males. Untreated, sleep apnea can lead to hypertension, heart disease, diabetes and other illnesses, and can result in workplace and highway accidents. Experts say if you're a driver or passenger and see any of the ‘drowsy driving,’ symptoms in the driver, you should take action. Cohen says, “Many lives could be at risk – including yours.”

The next CPAP Chat session is set for Wednesday, June 3 from 7 – 8 pm (ET). It’s free, anonymous and open to all. To join the chat: Just prior to the session, call 1-800.204.6655, enter access code 342-2187#.)

It's Spring! Treat Your Body Right with a Clean CPAP System! 



Recommended CPAP Cleaning Schedule: 
(from our CPAP Chat call on 4/1/15)
  
Daily
  1. Wipe foam mask cushion with damp cloth.
  2. Clean nasal pillows with warm soapy water (Ivory liquid). Rinse with clean water. Air dry on a towel.
  3. Empty water chamber daily and refill with clean distilled water each night. If using the SoClean sanitizer daily, it's OK to leave the water in the chamber and add to it each night.
Weekly
  1. Wash mask with warm soapy water. Rinse and air dry on towel or hang.
  2. Chamber- Wash weekly with Ivory and rinse well with warm water.
  3. Wash hose with warm soapy water or 4-parts water/1-part white distilled vinegar. Rinse and hang to dry. (some folks do this in the shower)
  4. Gray foam filter is washed with warm soapy water, rinsed and dried.
  5. Never use harsh chemicals.
Monthly: Inspect Filters
The white machine filter is for ultra-fine particles such as pollen. Please inspect monthly and replace it when brownish in color. This filter is NOT reusable. Gray foam filters can be washed and reused.  

Please remember that none of your CPAP parts are dishwasher safe
(as tempting as it may be!) 

 
Replacing key parts is the best way to get the most from CPAP. Your insurance often pays for most of the costs for these critical replacement parts. How often should you replace them? Questions? Call us! 888.867.8840

Treating Sleep Apnea May Ward Off Memory Decline

Breathing problems during sleep may be linked to early mental decline and Alzheimer’s disease, a new study suggests. But treating apnea with a continuous positive airway pressure machine can significantly delay the onset of cognitive problems.
In a group of 2,470 people, average age 73, researchers gathered information on the incidence of sleep apnea, a breathing disorder marked by interrupted breathing and snoring, and the incidence of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.
Click here to read the full article from the New York Times>

Patient Profile: Sylvie Hebert

Sylvie Hebert is lucky to be alive.

That’s what other drivers and Vermont State Troopers told her minutes after her car hit two guard rails and spun into a ditch in the median strip on a busy highway.

“I must have fallen asleep at 65 miles per hour,” says Sylvie, recalling the accident two years ago. “They said I would have died if I wasn’t wearing my seat belt!”

Sylvie, of Williamstown, VT, thinks her chronic fatigue started 20 years ago. “For years I snored and was always tired. Even if I was in bed for 8 hours, I’d fall asleep during the day, no matter where I was.”

After the accident, Sylvie, age 52, wasn’t allowed to drive until she had a sleep test. Her doctor prescribed an overnight study at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH, where she was diagnosed with sleep apnea. CPAP therapy was prescribed (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) -- a face mask and device that sends a gentle airflow to keep air passages open during sleep and prevents apneas or temporary suspension of breathing. These breathing stoppages prevent the deep REM sleep people need for a truly restful night. After one year on CPAP, her doctor prescribed BiPap -- Bilevel is used when the addition of pressure support is needed.

“I was fitted and got my equipment from National Sleep Therapy,” she says. “Their staff and service are excellent and they let me try a few different masks until I found the right fit.”

“My quality of life is so much better now,” says Sylvie. “I’m getting about 9 hours of sleep most nights. I’m more alert and energetic. I can watch an entire movie without falling asleep. And this episode was a wake-up call with side benefits: I’m working to control my weight and I’m getting more exercise.”

“Before the accident, I had never heard of sleep apnea. I had no idea it was an actual disorder which caused my fatigue,” Sylvie says. “Now that I’ve done some research and talk about it, I’m amazed at how many people are afflicted. My advice: More patients and doctors need to be educated about signs and symptoms of sleep apnea and how CPAP therapy works.”

Some 18 million Americans have sleep apnea, though most have yet to be diagnosed. Untreated, sleep apnea can lead to hypertension, heart disease, diabetes and other illnesses, and can result in workplace and highway accidents. For more information: 888.867.8840, support@nstherapy.com or cpapchat.org Company website: www.nstherapy.com

Also see: https://www.facebook.com/nstherapy. A free ‘CPAP Chat’ virtual support session on the first Wednesday of each month from 7 – 8 pm (ET). It is open to all, including CPAP users, people who have sleep issues, health care professionals, and anyone else interested in the topic. Session host is Eric Cohen, President of National Sleep Therapy.

By Stanley Hurwitz / stanhurwitz@gmail.com





‘CPAP Chat’ – A Free Virtual Support Session For People With Sleep Apnea Set For Wednesday, May 6 From 7 – 8 PM (ET)

Participants Share Stories, Seek Answers, Learn About New Products

Some 20 million Americans have sleep apnea. Most have yet to be diagnosed! Untreated sleep apnea can have serious consequences. Just ask Vermont resident Sylvie Hebert who will be sharing her terrifying story about falling asleep at 65 mph and how this dramatic wake-up call may have saved her life. After the accident – in which her car slammed into a guardrail and ended up in a median strip ditch -- Sylvie’s doctor prescribed a test for sleep apnea and it was discovered that she had sleep apnea. “I had been chronically tired for about 20 years,” she says, “but I just thought that was part of aging. I never knew sleep apnea was a real disorder.” Since starting CPAP therapy, Sylvie has more energy, she’s more alert, and boasts, “I don’t fall asleep watching movies anymore.”

Chronic fatigue can exacerbate high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and/or weight gain, as well as increase chances of highway or workplace accidents. Untreated, lack of deep sleep can lead to a lower quality of life -- even a shorter life expectancy.


Anyone who has (or thinks they have) sleep apnea can share stories and seek advice during ‘CPAP Chat,’ a free monthly group virtual support session, (www.CPAPchat.org) -- formerly ‘CPAP Talk –Live!, The next session is set for Wednesday, May 6, from 7-8 pm (ET). The town-hall-style forums are held at the same time on the first Wednesday of each month, Each month, people from across the country join the conversation. (To join the chat: Just prior to the session, call 1-800.204.6655, enter access code 342-2187#.)

CPAP Chat host is Eric Cohen, sleep therapy founder and inventor, who says, “Snoring may indicate that an individual has sleep apnea, but chronic fatigue can be a more subtle red flag. A sleep test will tell, and, if confirmed, a physician may prescribe CPAP therapy (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure), a device that uses gentle air-flow to keep airways open to allow deep sleep. Interested individuals may also send questions in advance either via Facebook or using the cpapchat.org form. During each session, CPAP Chat gives away a $25 gift card to one participant. For more information go to www.cpapchat.org or send us an email to: info@cpapchat.org