Stanford Sleep Disorders Clinic  A.W.A.K.E.  Group               since 9-03            rev. 12-5-08

The A.W.A.K.E. Group is for sleep apnea patients and their families, with the purpose of providing information and support. About 50 people attend the monthly general meetings.
The word A.W.A.K.E. is a nationally used acronym (Alert, Well, And Keeping Energetic) for sleep apnea patient groups.

Meetings are the  first Wednesday  of each month.     No July meeting.  
TIME:        6:15 p.m., Newcomers Meeting.  Room 2213
                   7:00 p.m., General Meeting.  Room 2209
LOCATION:  Stanford Sleep Disorders Clinic, 401 Quarry Road (corner Arboretum).  Free parking.
 
On February 17, 2009 the Clinic will move to Redwood City.  More on that later.
Click here for twelve pictures that Robert Tognoli, RPSGT took of the new Stanford Medical site in Redwood City.

A.W.A.K.E. Calendar  2008 - 200
9:
                                                            

    Speaker

Topic Click underlined topic for PowerPoint file

   Sponsor
August 6, 2008 Shirine Allam, MD Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Covidian
September 3 Sarah Richey, MD Sleep Pharmacology Fisher & Paykel
October 1 Mali Einen, Robert Tognoli, RPSGT

Narcolepsy & other Hypersomnnias, & Understanding the Sleep Test Report

SleepQuest
November 5 Eric Frenette, MD Sleep and Neurology Respironics
December 3 Jeffrey Lin, MD Insomnia ResMed
January 7,  2009 Jon-Erik Holty, MD

Sleep Changes with Age

Pacific Pulmonary Services
February 4 Anstella Robinson, MD Sleep and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease CHME
March 4 Aman Savani, MD Sleep Hygiene & Good Sleep Habits Pulmonary Solutions
April 1 Nishidh Barot, MD Melatonin and Sleep SomniHealth
May 6 Deepti Sinha, MD

TBA

Brannon's
June 3 
 

Equipment Fair

 
Click for:  Previous years' speakers and topics.

Stanford A.W.A.K.E. e-mail list:
To subscribe either:
1. Send an blank email toawake-meeting@lists.stanford.edu
Or
2. Click on this link: 
           https://mailman.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/awake-meeting
           In the section entitled: “Subscribing to awake-meeting”  enter your email address, then click Subscribe.

Sleep Apnea information:
Symptoms:
   Excessive Daytime Sleepiness,  Snoring--especially if loud snoring is repeatedly interrupted by brief periods of silence, or by choking sounds or gasps, Apnea (cessation of breathing) witnessed by another
Risk factors:  Obesity, Large neck (men with collar size ≥ 17), Small or recessed jaw, Overbite, Family history of snoring.   Thin people can have apnea!
Possible consequences if untreated:   Heart attack, Stroke, High blood pressure, Fatigue, Motor vehicle accident when driving sleepy, GERD (reflux), Insomnia, Depression.  Also cardiac arythmia, recurrence of atrial fibrillation, diastolic heart failure.
Prevalence:   7% or more of population (A 1993 U. of Wisconsin study found 24% of middle-aged men had apnea). Men afflicted twice as frequently as women, up to age 50.  Most people who have sleep apnea do not know that they have it.
Most common treatment:  PAP (Positive Air Pressure).  This treatment involves sleeping with a nasal mask through which air is gently blown by a PAP machine;  this air acts as a splint to keep the airway from collapsing and blocking air passage (an apnea).  Such blockages seriously disrupt sleep (unbeknownst to the sleeper) and severely stress the heart and lungs. 
PAP machines come in three varieties:
     CPAP.  C is for Continuous, meaning the same air pressure on inhalation and exhalation.
     Bi-level PAP.  The machine gives a higher pressure for inhalation and a lower one for exhalation.
     Auto PAP.  The machine senses how much pressure you need, and adjusts the pressure throughout the night.

References to more Sleep Apnea information:
http://www.sleepquest.com/s_osa.html    < Several page overview.
The Promise of Sleep, a book on all topics of sleep medicine, by William C. Dement, 1999, 521 pp
Doctor's comments on:    Nocturia   Hypothyroidism   Allergies
Self-tests:    Daytime Sleepiness Test (Epworth Sleepiness Scale)  Grade yourself
Battery Backup for CPAP  (during power outage, camping trip, etc.)
          A car battery is not appropriate except in emergency; rather use a deep-cycle battery.
          Battery Q & A

Tips for PAP users:
Common problems with PAP, and possible solutions  <
click

Submit suggestions and comments to David Vick at the meetings.

Magic has graciously provided this web space since 2002.