Inside Sleep with The Snoring Doctor Issue #6

Hello,

Valentine’s Day is just a day away; I hope you’ve made your plans. At this point, dinner reservations will be impossible to find, and you don’t want to just give your partner whatever’s left in your local CVS. If you’re out of options, pick up the phone for your local ENT to finally treat your snoring. Trust me, your partner will love that much more than some drugstore chocolates (not that there’s anything wrong with a little chocolate). 

In the meantime, let me catch you up on the latest in sleep apnea. First, I’ll cover the recent news about Philips suspending the sales of their breathing devices in the U.S. and what that might mean for you. Then, I’ll talk about an interesting relationship between sleep apnea and gout. After those bits of news, I’ll give you my thoughts on Sinusonic’s supposed breathing device. 

Let’s get into it. 

Catching Up On Sleep: A Current Events Roundup

Philips Suspends U.S. Sales of Its CPAP Machines

Philips Respironics, a leading provider of breathing machines, will be halting sales of all its ventilators and CPAP machines in the United States. The decision comes in the wake of an agreement with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), addressing persistent concerns about these devices.

You may have heard of a wave of recalls of the Philips CPAP starting back in June 2021, which resulted from reports of foam particles and potentially harmful gases being released into the airways of users. Millions of devices were affected, and the recall created a lot of confusion and concerns among doctors and patients alike.

Well, this settlement reached by Philips Respironics with the U.S. Justice Department and the FDA outlines a "multi-year" plan, setting standards that must be met before the company can resume sales in the United States. However, Philips has also committed to repairing existing devices and providing ongoing service to users, so if you have a Philips device, it can still be serviced.

Despite initial concerns over potentially cancer-causing chemicals emitted from the devices, Philips has released additional testing results, suggesting that the devices are "not expected to result in appreciable harm to health in patients." However, the FDA has raised questions about some of the company's updated claims, describing them as "unpersuasive."

While the halt in sales may cause short-term disruptions, it underscores the importance of prioritizing patient safety and device efficacy. These devices are critical to the health and, in many cases, survival of sleep apnea patients. It’s distressing that so many have had to choose between risking their health with continued use of Philips’ product or by discontinuing their CPAP use entirely.

But I want to stress that just because there are issues with Philips CPAP machines, doesn’t mean those issues apply to all CPAP machines. Talk to your doctor if you’re concerned about your machine. You may be able to find a different treatment option with your healthcare provider, such as the Inspire Implant or a mandibular advancement device.

A New Study Finds Relationship Between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Gout

Researchers recently found a compelling connection between sleep apnea and gout. The study, conducted using data from TrinetX, a global research network using electronic medical records, looked at over 3.5 million individuals with a BMI exceeding 30. Now, this may read a bit technical, but bear with me.

The results revealed that a noteworthy 23.09% of these individuals had obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), with 7.19% of OSA patients also grappling with gout. The rate of gout dropped down to 2.84% in patients without OSA. Propensity score matching was used to account for variables such as age, sex, race, chronic kidney disease, heart failure, and diuretic use, ensuring a comprehensive analysis.

The study demonstrated that individuals with OSA had 2.65 times higher odds of experiencing gout, and even after propensity score matching, the odds ratio remained significant at 1.533. They believe it’s possible that chronic hypoxia-induced hyperuricemia is a potential explanatory factor for this connection. Basically, OSA patients are likely to have higher levels of uric acid in their blood, which can also lead to gout.

Now, what does this mean for you? In short, add this to the list of reasons to seek a sleep apnea diagnosis if you’re showing symptoms like chronic fatigue, brain fog, etc. Sleep apnea affects your body in numerous ways, so treating it early is key.

Breathing Product Review

I recently shared my review of the Sinusonic on Instagram; you can watch that here. I personally found no benefit to my breathing from this device. The Sinusonic claims to be able to treat your sinusitis or nasal congestion using harmonic vibrational energy. However, a recent meta-analysis showed inconsistent results across 2902 studies, and in my personal experience with the Sinusonic, I’d say you’ll find better luck working with your doctor on a different treatment option for your sinusitis. 

Now, if you use the Sinusonic, and you’ve noticed a positive difference in your nasal breathing, by all means, keep using it! I see no downside to using the device if it’s working for you. But if you’re anything like me, you might be able to skip this one.

Sleep Fact

A recent study found that sleep apnea patients are more likely to drive tired. No surprise there, but they also found that OSA patients were significantly more likely to report or have been involved in an accident. Tired driving is dangerous, even if you roll down the window, drink coffee, or blast loud music. If you notice yourself dozing behind the wheel, pull over, and consider scheduling a sleep study. 

Sleep Clip of the Month

CPAP machines can be great for your health, but they’re not known for their romantic prowess. So, in the spirit of Valentine’s Day and the recent Philips news, take a look at this video to learn what kind of options you have as a sleep apnea patient of any age. Best of luck on the dating scene to all you snorers out there!

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Sweet dreams and happy breathing,

Dr. Ben Cilento, “The Snoring Doctor”

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