Why Permanent Daylight Saving Time Is the Wrong Fix

Congress is close to ending the twice-a-year clock change. That part is popular. But the version moving through Congress locks in permanent daylight saving time, not permanent standard time. Sleep medicine has been warning against this exact outcome for years. Here’s the problem in one sentence: daylight saving time pushes clock time an hour ahead… Continue reading →

STOP BANG Score

This calculates the risk you have of Obstructive Sleep Apnea, it does not diagnose it. If you have an elevated risk based on this score, it should be a conversation starter with your physicians STOP-BANG QUESTIONNAIRE 1. SNORING: Do you snore loudly (louder than talking or loud enough to be heard through closed doors)? YES… Continue reading →

Diagnostic Tests in Sleep Medicine

Variety of tests exist to help diagnose sleep disorders, familarize yourself with them 1. Pulse OximetryOvernight pulse oximetry can help screen for potential Sleep breathing disordersOrganizations like Mayo Clinic use them for screening prior to sending for a consultI used them in the hospital prior to discharge on suspected casesIt calculates oxygen desturation index (ODI),… Continue reading →

Epworth Sleepiness Score

The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) is a simple, validated questionnaire used to measure a person’s level of daytime sleepiness. It asks how likely you are to doze off in eight common everyday situations, such as watching TV, sitting and reading, or riding as a passenger in a car. Each situation is scored from 0 to… Continue reading →