Dr Maurits Kruger writes:
Health Renewal has recently paid a lot of attention to the important subject of sleep breathing disorders. Two of our newsletters in 2015 were dedicated to describing Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS) in detail.
There is overwhelming evidence that both OSA and UARS are huge contributing factors in disorders such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease. However, researchers have found yet another reason why people with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) should get tested and treated for the disease. According to a recent study published in the journal SLEEP, patients with OSA syndrome demonstrated reduced brain gray matter concentration. "Gray matter" refers to the cerebral cortex, where most information processing in the brain takes place.
Poor sleep quality and progressive brain damage induced by OSA could be responsible for poor memory, emotional problems and decreased cognitive functioning.
Unfortunately the lack of awareness in the medical community (about sleep disorders such as OSA and UARS), mean that the diagnosis is often missed and as a result the root cause of symptoms such as poor memory, cognitive decline and damage to the brain and heart fester on!
Health Renewal is excited to launch our home-based testing for sleep breathing disorders. We have streamlined the process in order to make the experience as convenient as possible. New technology allows one to collect all the necessary data, to make an accurate diagnosis while you sleep in your own bed. This Home Sleep Study will confirm whether you do indeed have OSA and/or UARS, allowing you to treat potentially harmful sleep disorders.
To determine if you are at risk, take our Sleep Questionnaire in this month’s newsletter which will be evaluated by a Health Renewal doctor. If we suspect that you have OSA and/or UARS, we will recommend that you do an overnight Home Sleep Study.
If you snore, are sleep deprived and have memory problems, please make an appointment with one of our Health/ Brain Renewal doctors so that OSA and UARS can be excluded.
Yours in great brain health!
Dr Maurits Kruger
Read the Sleep Study - Health Renewal Newsletter here!