People with sleep apnea, especially those over 60, could decrease their risk of heart failure by using CPAP masks at night to help with breathing, according to new research, reports Medical Xpress.

The study, published Friday in the Journal of the American Heart Association, explored the connection between heart failure and sleep apnea, a condition that goes beyond plain snoring. It’s when a person pauses in breathing five to 30 times or more per hour while sleeping.

Previous studies have tied sleep apnea to heart attacks and strokes, but researchers of the new study focused on the possible link between sleep apnea and heart failure, when the heart isn’t pumping as well as it should be, causing the body to receive less oxygen.

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With the launch of a new ultraviolet light-based disinfecting device, Sleep Review takes a look at the pros and cons of ozone versus UV light versus plain water and soap, as well as the impact of travel CPAPs on the device cleaners market.

By Dillon Stickle

As CPAP technology continues to advance, so does that of accessories like CPAP cleaners. Cleaners help patients keep their devices free of bacteria and other buildup, and some find the convenience of cleaner devices to be an integral part of their therapy experience. This article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of ozone versus ultraviolet (UV) light versus soap and water to clean CPAPs, as well as the impact of the increase of travel CPAPs on the CPAP cleaners market.

UV Light, Ozone, or Soap and Water?

3B Medical recently launched the Lumin, which uses UV light to disinfect CPAP masks, water chambers, and hoses. Incorporating UV is a new technology in the CPAP cleaners market, though it has been previously utilized for other types of medical disinfection. Alex Lucio, CEO of 3B Medical,

The global lead for behavior change at Philips HealthTech explains why he thinks connected care should be designed to help people reach their health goals.

By Sree Roy

As connected care technologies progress, so too does the amount of readily accessible data. CPAP devices alone can now alert patients to their nightly apnea-hypopnea index, mask seal, hours used, and other parameters via a few clicks on a smartphone.

But it’s not enough to simply connect people with their data—it has has to be done in a meaningful way, said Mark Aloia, PhD, the global lead for behavior change at Philips HealthTech and a psychologist at National Jewish Health, in a conversation with Sleep Review at SLEEP 2018. “There are really two reasons to connect people with their data: to encourage them or with the intention of changing their behavior.” As his position title implies, Aloia has many insights on the subject of behavior change.

“When you connect people with their data, you have to understand how people receive data and how they make change in their lives,” he continued. “I’d

On June 13, 2018, RespireRx Pharmaceuticals Inc entered into a letter of intent with Noramco Inc, a producer of controlled substances bulk APIs for the pharmaceutical industry, pursuant to which the parties have entered into a 90-day period during which they will negotiate a definitive agreement regarding the RespireRx’s development of dronabinol.

Subject to successful completion of due diligence and execution of a definitive agreement, RespireRx and Noramco will cooperate in the co-development of both a first-generation gel capsule of dronabinol in sesame oil and a second-generation modified formulation of dronabinol with enhanced pharmaceutical properties.

Dronabinol is a synthetic cannabinoid, also known as Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol or Δ9-THC and is approved and marketed by other companies both as a branded product and in generic formulations for anorexia associated with AIDS and chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting. It is theRespireRx’s intention to develop its own branded dronabinol for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The letter sets out the principal terms of an intended agreement that would address: the company’s agreement to purchase dronabinol exclusively from Noramco Inc and/or its affiliates at

Alaska salmon fishermen have a significantly higher rate of health problems than the general population. This is according to a new study conducted by the University of Washington School of Public Health in partnership with Alaska Sea Grant. The health issues include noise-induced hearing loss, upper extremity disorders, and fatigue possibly associated with sleep apnea.

The study began in early 2015 when Torie Baker, Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory agent in Cordova, and members of Cordova District Fishermen United invited 600 salmon gillnet permit holders to answer health questions before and during the fishing season. Debra Cherry, MD, MS, a physician and injury prevention and treatment researcher with the University of Washington Department of Epidemiology, led the effort.

The peer-reviewed study was published in April 2018 in the Journal of Agromedicine.

Evidence of noise-induced hearing loss in the study is striking. About 80% of physical exam participants had hearing loss, compared to the 15% norm for Americans. In addition to engine noise while fishing, most fishermen reported exposure to noise during off-season activities, such as snowmachining, hunting, and construction

A new collaboration between pulmonary and infectious disease specialists finds that many of the cases of fatigue and difficulty sleeping that are common in persons with HIV infection could be caused by obstructive sleep apnea, reports MD Magazine.

“First I think that this problem has gone overlooked because for many years HIV docs were focused on getting people on effective therapy to keep them alive, rather than focusing on a quality of life issue like fatigue,” Owens said. “Second, it is hard sometimes to collaborate outside your area of expertise.”

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