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Cold Weather Arrives Heated
Humidification and CPAP or BiPAP Philadelphia
(Oct. 20, 2000) - Now that cold weather has arrived in the Delaware Valley,
it's time to really think about adding some heated humidity to your xPAP
therapy. Have
you started waking up in the morning with a dry, stuffy, or congested nose after
wearing your CPAP or BiPAP mask all night? Does the discomfort make it difficult to
breathe through your nose during the night? Carl
Miller, a registered respiratory therapist with more than 20 years of experience
in the respiratory field, will address the issue at the next Awake In Philly meeting on Wednesday, November 8, 2000 at 7 p.m. Refreshments will
be available at 6:30 p.m. The
meeting will be held in the Hospital
of the University of Pennsylvania's Surgical Seminar Room, located in the White
Building. Entering through the main entrance, turn right immediately once
inside the lobby and proceed down the hallway, through the double doors. The
meeting room is on the right side of the hallway, just before the dead-end. For
detailed directions, anyone at the Information
Desk, located in the main lobby, can assist. Miller
will talk about heated humidification and how if may help alleviate these nasal
symptoms so you can be more comfortable and get a better quality sleep with your
xPAP unit. Heated
humidification is designed to help eliminate the many symptoms caused by the
effects of cool, dry air on the nasal passages. The symptoms typically include,
though not always, at least one of the following: dry mouth, dry throat,
excessive dried mucus, nasal tissue bleeding, nasal congestion, sinus
congestion, and possibly awakenings caused by those symptoms. Miller
received his Associate Degree in Respiratory Therapy from the Washington
Technical Institute, Washington, D.C., in 1973, and completed his registry
requirements in 1975. For
almost eight years, Miller was employed in hospital and acute care settings.
Since 1980, Miller has worked with CPAP and Bi-Level patients and their
equipment in the home health care environment. He now works in sales and
marketing for Fisher and Paykel, one of
the larger manufacturers of humidified CPAP units and humidification systems for
any xPAP device. As
an auxiliary CPAP or BiPAP device, a heated humidifier is a vapor-producing, pass-over
humidifier. An
air hose leading from the CPAP or BiPAP unit connects to the humidifying device. The air
is then passed over a chamber of distilled water, where it picks up humidity
from the water. It is then delivered to the patient through another hose
connected to the nasal mask or full-face mask. Some
studies that have been conducted on CPAP or BiPAP use and humidity suggest that anyone
using an CPAP or BiPAP with pressures greater than 8cm/H2O should have a humidification
unit. Other studies indicate anyone with pressures greater than 10cm/H2O should
have a heated humidifier. In many cases, individual preference may dictate. Sleep
disorders, which contribute to the national sleep debt, are more prevalent than
most people believe. In fact, it's estimated that approximately one in every
five people suffers from at least one sleep disorder. Sleep apnea, narcolepsy,
periodic leg movements, and insomnia are just a few of the many sleep disorders
that can, and do, rob us of the sleep we need. Sleep
disorders, especially apnea, can impact a person's life in many ways,
including excessive daytime sleepiness, heart and lung damage, greater risk of
stroke and high blood pressure, memory loss, the potential for greater
involvement in traffic accidents because of tiredness, sexual dysfunction, mood
swings, a decrease in productivity, weight gain, among others. Dave Jackson, a native Philadelphian,
spearheaded the efforts to start the sleep disorders support group in the
metropolitan Philadelphia area in May 2000, with the group's first meeting
being held in October 2000. Dr.
Sigrid Veasey
at the Hospital of the University of
Pennsylvania (HUP) diagnosed
Jackson, the father of three, with sleep apnea in January 2000. He had worked as
a journalist for more than 15 years at the time of his diagnosis. "Ensuring
that accurate information is available to people -- in plain English -- is very
important to me, especially when it deals with legal and medical issues,"
Jackson said. "I've found that a lot of the information available, primarily
on the Internet, is either inaccurate or written for medical professionals.
I'm hoping to change some of that -- both locally, as well as on the
Internet." Jackson
said he sought out a local support group after being diagnosed in January (2000)
with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). His primary reason was so his fiancée,
Michele, would be able to talk with others about her concerns, get answers to
questions, and just talk with someone who understood what she was facing. Sponsors
for Awake In Philly, in alphabetical order, include Alpine
Medical, Bensalem, PA.; Fisher and
Paykel Healthcare, Inc.; Penn
Center for Sleep Disorders; Respironics,
Inc.; SleepNet Corp.; and TalkAboutSleep.com. The
University of Pennsylvania is conveniently located on several SEPTA bus and
trolley routes, as well as being conveniently located near SEPTA train stations,
as well. For public transportation to Penn, please contact SEPTA at 215-580-7800
or visit the SEPTA website. Awake In Philly meetings are designed to offer support to anyone who must deal with the impact of
sleep apnea or other disorders, including the patient, the spouse, a co-worker
or supervisor, researchers, physicians, attorneys, among others. Everyone is
encouraged to attend the meetings.
Contact Dave Jackson
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As of October
1, 2002 at
11:27:08 AM EDT (-0500), the U.S. population was obstructive sleep apnea, that means there are potentially 14,409,072 apneics in the U.S.
As of October
1, 2002 at
11:27:08 AM EDT (-0500), the world
population was 312,680,829 apneics in the world.
If you have questions about any of the medical conditions mentioned on this website, especially if you suspect that you (or someone you know) has sleep apnea, please contact a qualified medical professional immediately. The information is intended to provide support, guidance, and encouragement to others contending with the many challenges of sleep disorders. The goals of Awake In Philly are to support, educate, and inform those who feel the impact of sleep disorders, as well as the general public. Medical advice should only come from qualified, licensed, and trained health-care professionals.
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