A 'tidal wave' of sleep disorders

[Tigers Fan]

IN the BBC News this morning - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-15184632 .

TF

[James @ Intus]

And a related video here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15195208

A lot of people this morning filling out our online Epworth test etc. Many people seem to relate to the BBC stories.

[Barely Awake]

As awareness grows through television and word of mouth it is understandable that the NHS will come under increasing pressure, but "a collar size of more than about 17.5in (44cm)" describes anyone that plays rugby union with a number less than 9 on their shirt, so have all rugby forwards got OSA?

I'm grumpy this morning, this is weighing day and I put on a pound!

[symmit]

Looked like a good feature on the telly this morning but I left half way through it.

Anything that raises awareness is good, and the cost of treatment privately is relatively low - best of luck to Intus with this one!

Shame the NHS won't plough money into home testing / APAP treatment as a first line, and then spend on the full PSG / overnight in-clinic studies if that's not tolerated or effective, as that would get more people treated more quickly for less money

[andysnorer]

As awareness grows through television and word of mouth it is understandable that the NHS will come under increasing pressure, but "a collar size of more than about 17.5in (44cm)" describes anyone that plays rugby union with a number less than 9 on their shirt, so have all rugby forwards got OSA?

I'm grumpy this morning, this is weighing day and I put on a pound!

It is a bit sad to hear that they are trotting out the old cliches. I have never had a collar size of more than 16.5". It would also seem that they have a "chicken and egg" situation, where they assume that being overweight/obese is a cause of OSA.

[Richard]

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea is in the same bracket as Type-2 Diabetes: there are many more people that have it and don't realise it than there are that have been diagnosed and receiving treatment.

Both can be put down as 'life-style disorders': we eat too many of the wrong foods, we don't take enough exercise and we drink too much alcohol.

If you get breathless moving around, you become a 'couch-potato' and fill your time eating and drinking. A self-perpetuating dilemma.

And this is where a quick diagnosis of OSA is hampered by dealing with the larger issues (sorry!) as a priority. There is the issue of the local PCT's approach to funding for CPAP Therapy. Do our GPs feel they need to 'protect' the local PCT's budget in some way? Putting an over-weight person on a diet costs the PCT nothing

We all know their budgets are under severe constraint, at least that is what we are told, and funding for one area of treatment means none for another.

CPAP Therapy could treat over 100 people for life for less than the cost of one fatal motorway prang.

Every PCT in England and Wales has authority to prescribe CPAP Therapy, yet many are failing to do so. Is this because of budget constraints or poor diagnosis?

Richard

[andysnorer]

Both can be put down as 'life-style disorders': we eat too many of the wrong foods, we don't take enough exercise and we drink too much alcohol.

If you get breathless moving around, you become a 'couch-potato' and fill your time eating and drinking. A self-perpetuating dilemma.
Richard

This seems to be a very simplistic way of looking at OSA, because although obesity is often linked to OSA, it is not always the cause, and it is by no means present in all sufferers.
I was astounded to hear the BBC say that symptoms include a neck measurement of over 17.5" - this is simply "quack" diagnosis, and may be one of the reasons why so many people are not diagnosed quickly enough.
In my own case, I was athletic and very fit, yet my weight increased steadily (despite no changes to diet or exercise) and the doctors simply dismissed me, ridiculing my claims that I exercised every day, saying that it was not possible!
So, I am really sorry if there are people who have "pigged out" and impersonated Jabba in front of the goggle box, but there are others such as myself who find ourselves in this state through no fault of our own, and this of course is what you never hear about through the media.

[James @ Intus]

As awareness grows through television and word of mouth it is understandable that the NHS will come under increasing pressure, but "a collar size of more than about 17.5in (44cm)" describes anyone that plays rugby union with a number less than 9 on their shirt, so have all rugby forwards got OSA?

Not all, but their muscle mass there does contribute to the problem, we have a few rugby player customers.

The whole intensive care story was slightly OTT or at least, not representative for most cases, but other than that, they do squeeze in some good bits of info. The non-obese people will always feel extra frustrated when their plight is ignored once more, but it's understandable that busy journalists pick the easy stats. And yes, great bit of awareness!

[Barely Awake]

Not all, but their muscle mass there does contribute to the problem, we have a few rugby player customers.

England were certainly asleep in the first half against France!

[dravidio]

There is little doubt from research that there is a very strong link between obesity and sleep apnea - but it is a complicated one. And it is not a necessary one for the condition - I had a BMI of 24 when diagnosed as having moderate OSA. However the health risks of obesity are obvious ones. People are queuing for bariatric surgery and yet when I go to the supermarket I see trolleys full of sugar, saturated fat, processed foods, chocolates and general junk. Don't tell me that people are not aware of what a healthy diet is - so it comes to a matter of personal choice and responsibility. Diet and exercise.

[James @ Intus]

What do you think then of the Danish 'fat tax' they now levy on exactly that shopping trolley full of food dravisio?

[Richard]

For the world's largest producer of bacon, a 'fat tax' seems somewhat ironic.

Richard

[ElleCee]

It wasn't that long ago there was a huge media outcry about the number of anorexics in the country.

Years ago smoking was good for you, now it is a killer.

I also remember when they had bonny baby competitions at holiday camps. now big babies are frowned upon.

I wonder what will come next?

[Tigers Fan]

Not at all ironic, Richard - considering their bacon is so full of water!