WE'RE MOVING!

In order to avoid any confusion with a company in Georgia called "Sleep Sciences," I'm moving this blog to a new address called SLEEPNEWS! (I know, it's silly, but they sent me a cease & desist letter and I just don't have the resources or inclination for a legal battle, even though both parties involved know I'd win!) I told you sleep was big business. I'm just a sleep tech in Tennessee trying to make it easy for people to find information about sleep disorders, and this big company jumps on me thinking I'm costing them business! Would you have confused "SLEEPSCIENCE" with "Sleep Sciences?" Sheesh, lawyers! I'd say more except, (ahem) I'm married to one! (yuk, yuk) Anyway, please visit SLEEPNEWS (www.sleepnewsx.blogspot.com) for the latest information about the science of sleep. -Shawn

Hurricane Katrina Relief - Sleep Professionals

With occasional competitive exceptions, the sleep science community is pretty tight. So it isn't surprising that sleep professionals have pulled together to support our colleagues and patients who are in need due to the devastation wrought by Katrina. The American Sleep Foundation has established a Hurricane Disaster Relief Fund that will offer assistance to members of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine as well as their affected patients. More information is available on the AASM web site. I strongly encourage anyone interested in promoting sleep science to contribute to this fund. There is sure to be an influx of patients whose overall physical and emotional well-being is severely affected by this traumatic event. Many state and regional sleep societies have also been quick to react. The Tennessee Sleep Society is one of the leaders in this effort. Find out how you can help by visiting the TSS web site. -Shawn

The Science of Sleep

Someone asked me recently why I call this blog SleepScience. Today's news illustrates exactly why: The Wilson County news has a story today entitled "The Science of Sleep - It's Biology That Makes Teens Groggy in the Morning." The story quotes well-respected sleep scientist Mary Carskadon of Brown Medical School. BBC news has an informative article up on their web site called "The Science of Sleep." Cephalon has announced a new endowment for the "Sleep Science Award," which will be sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology. The deadline for nominations is Nov 1.



There's a new website up called "The Science of Sleep" which contains comprehensive information about the sleep sciences. Check it out at: www.scienceofsleep.net. DrKoop.com has a informative new video available for online viewing entitled "Sleep Science." Check it out here. The University of Western Australia has announced a new graduate certificate in pediatric sleep science. View details here. WYFF TV in North Carolina has a feature today called "The Mystery of Sleep Science." So, now you know! Stay tuned to SleepScience for the latest information about the science of sleep! -Shawn

Clapton, Eminem, & the Cincinnati Bengals

Whew - It's been quite a week. My sincere apologies for not blogging more last week. It was a rough one! First of all, my job always comes first, and it was a busy week here at the sleep center. On Monday of last week Google announced they'd no longer allow SleepScience to participate in their AdSense program. They weren't specific in their reason, but I think it has something to do with my monitoring the ads that appear here for content. If that wasn't enough of a hit, I got a cease and desist letter from a sleep center in Georgia who apparently thinks I'm infringing on their "sleepsciences" trademark. Of course, that letter went straight to my attorney for a response. Just to make things clear, the reason this blog is called sleepscience is it deals with sleep science. It's a personal public service project by a sleep technologist in Tennessee. See, I told you this was a big money business! Jeeze!

In sleep news, Eric Clapton has a new album of all original songs due out in a few days. He credits much of the inspiration behind the songwriting to his lethargy brought on by sleepless nights caring for his young children. One of the songs called "So Tired" contains the line: My mood is getting snappy/Daddy won't change no nappy/And I'm so tired. In other news, the Cincinnati Bengals have begun testing all their players for sleep disorders. This comes after the sudden death last week of San Francisco's Thomas Herrion from unknown causes. Finally, rap star Eminem announced last week that he's addicted to sleep medicine. My guess is that there's more to that story because he's cancelled his European tour to "recover." While sleep meds can be addictive, withdrawel usually only consists of a couple of sleepless nights. That's all for Monday. Thanks for reading my blog about sleep science. Let's hope this week is better than last! -Shawn

Sleepy Travel

Virgin Atlantic Airlines is introducing a new "meditainment" video on longer flights hoping to program passengers for better sleep. The guided meditation video features relaxing music and scenes from either a desert island or summer meadow. Many of the major airlines are noting the current state of sleep deprived travelers and putting new emphasis on in-flight sleep. Speaking of travel, there's a new hotel being built in Dubai in which guests sleep beneath the ocean. Each bubble-shaped suite features underwater views and a variety of upscale amenities. Visit their web site to learn more!



Sleep researchers in Austrailia have embarked on a study evaluating the effects of East-West flights on sleepy airline pilots. They'll use activity monitors and evaluate reaction times to see how difficult it is to turn back the clock on international flights. Finally, following up on yesterday's story, the Lansing State Journal has a feature today about the effects of school-age sleep deprivation on grades and health. Interviewing Dr. David Young from Sparrow Hospital, the story lists consequences of sleep deprivation including depression, reduced immunity to disease, and memory reduction. Thanks for reading. Please help introduce others to SleepScience. Have a nice Wednesday. -Shawn

Back to school sleep

I suppose one of the reasons why I've been so actively blogging about back-to-school sleep schedules is because I had so much trouble when I was a kid. I was a night owl and could never go to sleep before midnight. I grew up in a rural area and I was almost always the first morning stop on the bus route. My routine was to lay out my school clothes and books beside my bed before I crashed for the night. I had trained my ear to hear the 6:30 AM bus lumbering down the road when it was still about a mile away. I'd jump up and rush into my clothes, running outside just as the bus turned around in my driveway. The bus driver knew me well. Sometimes I'd oversleep and he'd lay on the horn until I rushed out. Settling into a straight-backed seat, I'd make a pillow out of my backpack and sleep through the 90 minute ride to school.

In my sophomore year I had library for the last hour of the school day. There was a little periodical room in the back. I'd go there, dim the lights, and lay my head down on a stack of magazines. Sleeping through the 60 minute study hall was no problem. Twice I slept through the last bell, awakening to find the school locked and dark. My parents never quite understood when I called to ask them to pick me up. I thought my problem was unusual. Now, this kind of sleepiness is commonplace.



Dr. Michael Breus, who is well known in the sleep community for his work helping start sleep centers, was interviewed on the CBS News Early Show yesterday about how to help kids prepare for the school-season changes to their sleep schedule. He suggests waking them up earlier, in 15 minute increments in the weeks before school begins. He also advocates adjusting meal times and eliminating late night sugar snacks. Research proves that sleep-deprived kids make worse grades and have more behavior problems than those who get 9-10 hours per night. Are your kids sleeping to and from school or falling asleep at their desk? Why not give them the help they need! -Shawn

Shelby & the Sandman

It's Monday, and there's lots to blog about today. Many news agencies have picked up on a study detailed in Medical News Today about how nighttime dying is linked to sleep apnea. The research, conducted by Jack Feldman at UCLA's med school, found that loss of certain brain cells results in central sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea is different from obstructive sleep apnea in that the brain does not signal the body to breathe. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) happens when soft tissue in the airway causes impediments to breathing. When people have OSA, they try to breathe but can't get enough air. It's unclear what connection there might be with Dr. Feldman's research on central apnea and the treatment of OSA. In other news, the San Antonio Express features a story about what it's like to be a sleep technologist. For an in-depth look at sleep and sleep research, check out Craig Lambert's article in the latest issue of Harvard Magazine. Although I've never really blogged about myself in print media, I can't resist referencing a letter I wrote to the Knoxville News Sentinel regarding some inappropriate advertising which poked fun at snorers. Sleep apnea is no laughing matter and it's unfortunate when it's trvialized by people who should know better.

Finally, as a musician, I look for and appreciate songs that include lyrics about sleep. Country artist Shelby Lynne has a new song about insomnia called "SLEEP" on her latest CD, Suit Yourself. Shelby says she wrote the song while fighting a period of chronic insomnia. Lyrics are available on her web site and include some great lines that anyone who's ever suffered from insomnia can identify with, like:

Sleep - Please appear
Show to me your face and tell me it's ok to rest
Sleep - Help me try
To put my body down on pillows made out of my Mama's womb
Satisfy my eagerness for comfort in this time of worry, let me let it go
When I'm sure the lights are out and sandman throws himself about
I'll trust you again. -S. Lynne

Hope your work week is off to a great start! -Shawn

Getting off the early bus

If there's been a theme for this week's blogs it's been the challenges facing our sleepy kids. As this school year begins with earlier start times than ever before, it's time for parents to step up and stop this trend! This might sound a bit harsh, but it's obvious that the many school boards, principals, teachers, and coaches who insist on earlier and earlier school bells are either unaware, or don't care about our kid's health! Today, the Orlando Sentinel starts an article on school start times with: "One by one, eight sleepy-eyed teenage boys wander out of the darkness and gather at a lighted school-bus stop on Montgomery Road. It's 5:45 a.m. Thursday..." In this Florida situation, it's the rearrangement of school zones that results in the pre-dawn bus rides, but the problem persists all around the country. As someone who watches the news closely about such subjects, I know it's just a matter of time before I'll be blogging about a child getting hit by a car while waiting on some dark road for an early bus. Adding morning hours to the school day is counter productive to learning. Take a look at this study out of Israel which finds that even a minimal amount of sleep loss can drastically impact a childs learning abilities. It's time for school boards to wake up to the importance of a good night's sleep and take better care of the kids under their charge. They won't unless we, as parents, make our concerns known. -Shawn

Monsters Under the bed

In Thursday news, there's a story at newszap.com about challenges to kid's sleep including some suggestions about how to spray for under-bed monsters. Speaking of monsters, Texas A&M's student newspaper, The Battalion has a story today about "Sleep Demons." That's their term for sleep difficulties such as insomnia and sleepwalking.


As many schools begin to gear up for Fall semester, there are some sleep experts expressing concern about how student's can cope with earlier and earlier start times. Now that Congress has passed an extension to Daylight Saving Time, it looks like our kids are going to face even more obstacles to a good night's sleep. Finally, we've been following the story of Australian judge Ian Dodd, who has been nicknamed "judge nod" because of his frequent naps on the bench. Judge Dodd has avoided a judicial conduct inquiry into his sleepiness by accepting a medical retirement based on sleep apnea. I can't help but wonder why the unfortunate judge didn't look for medical help to eliminate his daytime sleepiness. When people are treated properly for sleep apnea they can live normal lives and maintain wakefulness as easily as anyone. Sleep apnea is one monster that can be tamed! -Shawn

Eat, Sleep, FISH

Sorry to have missed a few days blogging. I got in a couple of days of much-needed vacation which included lots of music and fishing! When I'm not working or sleeping, my next thought is almost always about fishing. Special thanks to Andy & Jake Faist for taking me to some great bass fishing waters in central Michigan. In sleep news today, KOCO TV Channel 5 in Oklahoma City has a good story today about sleep myths. You can catch a summary on their web page. Even better, KHOU TV in Houston features a video download of a woman's visit to a sleep disorders center in a La Quinta hotel. Locating sleep centers in hotels is becoming a national trend. Vanderbilt University Medical Center pioneered the idea when it located a first class center in a downtown Nashville hotel. In other news, some preliminary research into the children's asthma medication Singulair has revealed improvement in sleep disordered breathing in 16 kids. While more research is needed, this might be the first time any medicine has shown an efficacy potential for treating apnea. Expect to hear much more about this in the future. Finally, Medicare is conducting hearings about the accuracy of a sleep apnea detection device worn on the wrist called the "Watch-PAT." I've heard very little about the device since 2001 when it was introduced at the APSS conference in Chicago. The Watch-PAT senses arterial pressure along with heart rate and oxygen saturation to detect sleep apnea. I'll keep you posted on how the hearings turn out. -Shawn