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Fixing Heart Disease?
Health May Be Improved
With Therapeutic Measures
Philadelphia
(September 18, 2001) - Could
a simple machine, which works like a vacuum cleaner in reverse, be the thing
that turns back the hands and destruction of time?
Many people diagnosed with heart conditions, memory
loss, sexual dysfunction, among other important health issues are often taken
aback when diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. All in all, it may not be
such a bad thing. The most common treatment for apnea, a simple machine called a
Positive Air Pressure Device, may hold hope of aiding the body to rejuvenate
itself.
Peggy Powers, Regional Clinical Specialist for ResMed, will be the guest speaker at the
Wednesday, October 17, 2001 Awake In Philly Sleep Apnea Education and Support
Group meeting.
Peggy will address the Awake In Philly Support Group
on the topic of "New Technology, New Compliance Data, and Proper Mask
Fitting." During the meeting, Peggy will discuss new technology being
introduced in various types of CPAP or BiPAP machines, new data supporting the importance
of compliance, and how to properly fit a nasal CPAP or BiPAP mask.
The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m., and refreshments
will be available for those attending the meeting. The meeting will be held in
the Conference Room at the Northeast Regional Branch of the Free Library of
Philadelphia, 2228 Cottman Ave.
Sleep apnea can be a serious disorder with grave
consequences. Apnea often goes undetected and undiagnosed for years. Untreated
sleep apnea can lead to heart damage, memory loss, sexual dysfunction, and
feelings of depression, among other problems. Apnea's impact is far-reaching.
In fact, family life, job performance, social life, and driving ability are
among a few of the areas impacted by untreated or undiagnosed sleep apnea.
Research shows that treating sleep apnea normalizes one's risk for motor
vehicle crashes.
With more than 15 years of experience behind her, Peggy
is coming to Philadelphia to address the sleep apnea group from her office in
the Boston area. Peggy is a registered respiratory therapist and worked in home
healthcare for almost 10 years prior to accepting her current position with
ResMed. Before working in home healthcare, Peggy worked for five years in
hospital acute care, which she continues to do on a part-time basis.
Peggy says it's "very important to teach patients
the importance of compliance and to help build compliance." Some of those
reasons will be documented at the meeting, but chief among them is the body's
rejuvenation in some circumstances, once a person becomes compliant with the
xPAP therapy.
ResMed, founded in 1989, is one of the leading respiratory medical
device manufacturers, specializing in products for the diagnosis and treatment
of sleep disordered breathing (SDB). ResMed operates through direct offices in the United
States, Australia, Germany, France, Sweden, the United Kingdom, New Zealand,
Singapore, Malaysia, and through a network of distributors in more than 60 other
countries.
When ResMed was launched, its primary purpose was to commercialize a
device for treating obstructive
sleep apnea (OSA). Developed in 1981 by Professor Colin Sullivan and
colleagues at the University of Sydney, nasal continuous positive airway
pressure (CPAP) provided the first successful noninvasive treatment of OSA.
ResMed has maintained its focus on SDB, which is gaining greater public and
physician awareness. Operations have grown dramatically through the introduction
of a number of highly innovative product lines.
Apnea affects millions of people worldwide, and its prevalence is being
comparable to that of asthma or diabetes; however, awareness is low. It's
estimated that only about five percent of all apnea sufferers have been
diagnosed and treated. Along with an increasing understanding of the morbidity
and mortality caused by apnea, this discrepancy has created one of the fastest
growing segments of the respiratory industry. There is also now a recognized
association between apnea and common diseases such as chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease, stroke, and cardiac disease.
A copy of the book, Desperately Seeking Snoozin' (The Insomnia Cure
from Awake to Zzzz), by John Wiedman, which was donated by TalkAboutSleep.com, will be given away
at the meeting.
See the rules for all details.
Awake In Philly
sponsors, in alphabetical order, include B.F. Ascher & Co.; DeVilbiss, Sunrise Medical; Free Library of Phila. (NE Regional Library); Hans Rudolph, inc.; Maril Products; Respironics, Inc.; and TalkAboutSleep.com.
The Northeast Regional Library is conveniently located
on several SEPTA bus routes, as well as being conveniently located near a SEPTA
train station. For public transportation to the Northeast Regional Library,
please call SEPTA at 215-580-7800 or visit the SEPTA website at http://www.septa.org. The Northeast Regional
Library is about one-half mile northwest of Cottman Avenue and Roosevelt
Boulevard, and may be contacted at 215-685-0500.
Awake In Philly
is designed to offer support to anyone who must deal with the impact of sleep
apnea, including the patient, the spouse, a co-worker or supervisor,
researchers, physicians, attorneys, among others. Everyone is encouraged to
attend the meetings.
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