Category: General

Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulator

Winston Yes, I am aware of the national TV ads for the hypoglossal nerve stimulator for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Earlier this year I prepared an information sheet on the subject. I will add it to this letter. It is a second line therapy and works for a limited sub group of patients with Obstructive Sleep… Read more »

What is the AHI (Apnea Hypopnea Index)

Dear Winston It is inspiring to learn of your interest in sleep apnea.  I will be happy to do my best to simplify, clarify and muddy your understanding of the AHI.  AHI stands for Apnea Hypopnea Index. It is the standard for defining the presence of significant sleep disordered breathing and the condition of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.  … Read more »

Wuhan Virus

Winston July 3, 2020 Thank you for sharing your friend’s newspaper opinion piece on the current epidemic with me.  Congratulations to her on her writing success. She is very emotional in her response, which is not unexpected for a non-medical person.  Unfortunately she mixes politics with the natural history of infectious disease. Her thinking is complicated by… Read more »

A Right to Healthcare – Its not that Simple

Winston  Oct 29, 2022 Yes, I will try to answer your question. I understand your training has led you to believe that healthcare is a right. Why, you ask, did I pause before saying,  “It’s not that simple. But if it were, the answer would have to be no.” Consider first what is meant by the term,… Read more »

The Causes of Obstructive Sleep Apnea – The How and Why

There are complex airway dynamics resulting in blockage of the upper airway producing Obstructive Sleep Apnea.  Although complex, the process can be viewed in a general non-technical manner to help one understand the causes of obstructive sleep apnea. In such an overview, we find two components to the events producing blockage of the airway during sleep: airway… Read more »

Causes of Obstructive Sleep Apnea – The Who (Prevalence)

When we have medical problems, we all want to understand the ‘who’, ‘how’ and ‘why’ of the condition.  Knowing may lead to changes or corrections that might fix and potentially remove the problem.  Many professionals have invested their careers studying obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), trying to understand the ‘hows’ and ‘whys’ of OSA.  It remains a subject that… Read more »

Apnea – A Word with Many Uses

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a very common malady. It is familiar to many and is frequently a subject of both social and medical conversations. Individuals not engaged in frequent work with Apnea conditions may be confused by its usage and rightly so. Discussions and writings about the subject can use the term with different meanings.  When… Read more »

The Goals of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment

“Why am I using that this thing?” they asked me.  This ‘thing’ they were referring to is also known as CPAP. Many people find themselves having had a sleep test and they are not sure why. They have a CPAP machine (Constant Positive Airway Pressure machine). Yet, they tell me, “I don’t know why.” Yes, they’ve been… Read more »

Science’s Ugly Face and Coronavirus, Spring 2020

I am reminded of a cartoon from the 1960’s.  People can be seen bowing before an altar, an empty altar, with the name ”Nothing” on it.  On the top of the altar, there is nothing.  It is empty. In the rear looking towards the altar, one person whispers a question to a second person,  “Is nothing sacred?” Science is not… Read more »

Coronavirus Risk and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Are you at increased risk of a serious coronavirus infection if you have obstructive sleep apnea? No one knows, although one day that information will be available. What do you do when placed in a situation with an unknown that can affect you drastically? What we always do; look for information and compare it with… Read more »