Sleep has been a hot topic in the media during the past week. HealthDay highlighted a study in the April 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, which found that automobile crash rates may be higher for teens who start school earlier. The New York Times noted that getting sufficient sleep is especially important for teens, who are notoriously bad drivers. Read the AASM press release about the study.
The New York Times Magazine examined the topic of individual sleep needs, pointing out that the body does not adapt to less sleep. Sleep and fatigue were discussed throughout the week as the FAA responded to recent reports of air-traffic controllers falling asleep on the job. The AASM’s Sleep Education Blog followed the story.
The Wall Street Journal also examined whether or not a novel nasal expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) device is an effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). A new study of EPAP appeared in the April 1 issue of SLEEP. “It’s going to have some efficacy for some patients who can’t tolerate CPAP, but it’s not going to be as good as CPAP,” AASM President-Elect Nancy Collop, MD, tnew the reporter.
