Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Post # 12: Being Overweight & Your Health


You may be carrying around a few extra pounds or a lot of extra pounds or know a loved one who is. Maybe you find yourself physically exhausted or uncomfortable or embarrassed about your weight. But if you’re overweight, how big a problem is it really? What are the short-term and long-term effects? How unhealthy are those extra pounds after all?
In some cases, being slightly overweight is not an issue as it may actually increase your life span. However, being overweight and more so obese can put you at an increased risk for up to thirty medical conditions, some deadly. So don’t you think you should know what the future might hold for you if you continue to pack on those pounds? And also, what do those extra pounds mean for you today?
The International Journal of Obesity, the American Obesity Association, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention all agree: being overweight has its consequences, and obesity in particular is very dangerous.
Being overweight or obese puts an individual at an increased risk of developing many health conditions. They include gallbladder disease, heart disease, hypertension (high blood pressure), dyslipidemia (high cholesterol), osteoarthritis, type 2 diabetes, stroke, sleep apnea, and even cancer.
Arthritis, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, is especially common among the overweight and obese. But cardiovascular disease is even more commonly caused by overweight and obesity. The American Heart Association recently dubbed obesity as a leading cause of heart attacks.
There are more surprising effects of being overweight, too; some are more minor than others. For instance, did you know that you are more likely to develop carpal tunnel syndrome if you have a severe weight problem? In fact, AOA (American Obesity Association) found that 70% of carpal tunnel syndrome sufferers were overweight! Daytime sleepiness is also something that those who are overweight tend to endure which can put many lives at risk when they drive.
Other effects on health include gout, an impaired immune system, respiratory problems, difficulty healing from wounds, reproductive disorders that cause infertility, liver disease, back pain, gynecological complications, pancreatitis, and incontinence. Studies have even found that an obese mother is at an increased risk of her newborn having birth defects like NTD (neural tube defects). Research here is undeveloped however.
Perhaps the most alarming health effect is cancer. Obese and even overweight persons are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer of the breast, esophagus, colon, uterus, and kidney.
And what’s most frustrating about all of this is it doesn’t even encompass all the risks of being overweight or obese! There are many other medical conditions that can result from carrying around one too many pounds and not to mention, there is a social stigma about the overweight and obese population. In the Stone Age and even as late as the 1600’s, heavy women were idealized as their weight resembled fertility and good health. But heavy women are not considered beautiful in today’s society – in fact, most models that grace the magazine pages are actually underweight and/or airbrushed to be unrealistically thin. Thus, overweight individuals must battle an unfair, negative self-image and often fall victim to self-hatred and depression.
But there’s good news. While genetic factors predispose one to obesity and the like, they don’t mean much if a person consumes fewer calories than they burn off. That means that even if you have a naturally slow or even dysfunctional metabolism, etc, you can still take control over your weight. Just by eating less and being physically active more, you can shed those pounds and not find these statistics so fearful.
In fact, as little as a 10% decrease in body fat can completely remove a good chunk of these health risks from your radar!
Research into obesity is currently trying to catch up with the new, wide prevalence of it in the United States. As those in the scientific and medical community begin to take the problem more seriously, prevention and treatment options well become all the more clear and the public will gradually become more informed and thus more equipped to battle weight problems effectively. However, research may also bring to light even more health risks associated with overweight and obesity.
Fortunately, obesity is entirely treatable. Some individuals may benefit from medications and surgeries while others may just need to make a few small lifestyle changes to enjoy a healthier weight.
Dr. Michael Smith, in a 2005 WebMD article, discussed the obesity epidemic as startling and one that implies a slew of dangerous health problems for American citizens – not to mention, economic consequences for both individuals and the national economy. As well, almost half of U.S. states have been found guilty of not confronting the problem of overweight and obesity rates among their populations.
But while the obesity epidemic is expected to rise, information is becoming more accessible to the public and more and more attention is being given to the issue as it threatens the quality and longevity of more and more lives.
The plain truth is that overweight and obesity health issues are relatively new to the United States. In the 1980’s, it was hardly a topic of discussion. So medical research and treatment are just a few steps behind, as overweight and obesity rates have doubled in just the past 20 years – it’s thrown the government off guard.
But as these health risks have increased over just two decades, they certainly can be managed in the same amount of time! It’s simply a matter of government and individual responsibility, which can be promoted through public policy and educational programs. And as the word gets out about the direct and indirect health consequences from being obese, people will certainly start to take action.
If you know how your body is affected by your food intake, it is a lot easier to take control over your diet and lose weight as a result. Maybe that extra slice of cake is tempting today, but if you are aware that drinking a glass of water instead means that you will be at a lower risk of cancer and heart disease and a bunch of other serious medical conditions, then you will likely be a lot more motivated to change your eating habits!

The following link is to the original article listed above:



8 Health Issues You May Be More Likely To Have To Deal With, If You're Overweight


  1.  Type 2 Diabetes
  2. Certain types of Cancer
  3. Heart Disease
  4. Stroke
  5. Sleep Apnea
  6. Osteoarthritis
  7. Gout
  8. Gallbladder Disease

The Good News!


You do not have to remain overweight!  Pick up the phone and call your Primary Care Physician's office and make an appointment.  Talk with your doctor about a plan to help you to drop the weight. 


Your doctor will be able to tell you what exercise you are healthy enough to try.  In addition, many doctors will be able to give you a referral to a quality local gym, trainer, and or dietitian that can help you meet you weight-loss goals. 




Give yourself time and make realistic goals.  Chances are you did not become overweight in a week or two.  The fact is; you are not going to loss the weight in a week or two!  Remember, if you are overweight and want to drop those extra pounds, start with a visit to your primary doctor.  You and your doctor can come up with a safe and healthy plan to get you on tract to a healthier life style.


By: Dean C. Eggert

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Post # 11, CPAP mask selection

Since the development of the first CPAP device in 1981, both the devices themselves and the masks available have undergone numerous changes. The importance of a well-fitting, comfortable mask can't be overstated; mask problems are far and away the most frequent issues I have to deal with in my line of work.


There are many manufacturers of  masks, and in turn each have a numbers of selections that change from year to year. All users want a mask that is comfortable above all, and does a good or at least adequate job of sealing against air leaks.

The therapist helping you with the initial instruction during your set-up appointment can be a valuable resource. I always review the results of the sleep study; most, but not all, reports will mention the mask used during the test. I ask the patient whether this particular mask was comfortable or not and if there are no complaints of discomfort, this type of mask will usually be the one that is issued. Some sleep reports will specify the exact brand, model, and size used during the test, others, just the basic style, still others omit any mention of the mask used. A few referring  physicians prefer to specify the exact brand, model, and size they wish to be dispensed to the user.


Most companies supplying PAP equipment use masks from several different manufacturers. There are so many models on the market at present that no companies carry every possibly one. If you have a particular preference based on Internet research or advice from a family member of friend, there is no harm in asking the therapist about it. We can make suggestions based on our experience with many past customers and what has or has not worked for them.


If there is no stated preference and no specific mask is prescribed, most therapists tend to rely on models that have tended to be successful most often for their past customers. One advantage offered by the manufacturers used by our company is a 30-day mask exchange program. Through this program, if a customer uses a new mask and decides within the first 30 days that it is not the one they want to use long term (due to discomfort, air leaks, confinement, etc), the mask can be returned to the DME company that issued it and a different one selected with the therapist's help. This is offered at no cost to the customer, and a replacement mask is supplied to the DME company by  the manufacturer.  More thoughts tomorrow!

" Contact your DME company or doctor with any mask questions you may have, they can help"


By: Martha J. Powell, RRT, CEO
Strategic Medical Sales, LLC


Monday, April 9, 2012

Post #10, CPAP masks from a therapist's point of view

I have worked in the field of respiratory care for the past thirty-one years, and for the last six have been employed by two different DME (durable medical equipment) companies. A good part of my job duties involve assisting customers with the set-up and continued use of their PAP (CPAP, BiPAP, ASV, etc.)equipment, so it might interest the reader to hear a few comments concerning masks.


Although some of our new customers have educated themselves about the different types of interfaces available, most have only a vague idea based on a single night in the sleep lab. Part of our responsibilities during a set-up appointment involve education about the different types of masks and how they might or might not be helpful to a particular user. The choice can be based on the CPAP pressure prescribed by the referring physician, the mask used in the sleep lab, and the user's own preferance. I will cover some very basic information in this post and get into a bit more detail in the next.

Most but not all  masks (sometimes referred to as interfaces), fall into the following three catagories:

Nasal pillows are small, soft, cone-shaped forms that fit underneath and slightly into the nose.
They are usually easy to fit and to seal against air leaks, and the headgear (straps) are simple to adjust. Once the fit is adjusted, they are easy to put on and to remove after use and don't require the use of clips or snaps. Nasal pillows are usually better tolerated at air pressures  up to about 9 or 10 CWP. Most often, pressures above these result in discomfort due to the airflow  being delivered through a relatively small opening; the resulting higher flow ( not higher pressure), can be irritating to the nasal passages.

Nasal pillows can be good choice for the user who likes a less bulky mask, is a side sleeper, or has some degree of claustrophobia.

Nasal masks are most often a triangular-shaped mask that fits over the entire nose. There is a great variety of different makes and models of nasal masks, and they are the most commonly used. They are held in place with straps that most commonly go across the forehead to the top of the mask, and below the ears to the bottom of the mask frame.

Full face masks are larger and are designed to cover the nose and mouth. The headgear is the same or similar to a nasal mask. Full face masks are helpful for the user who has a relatively high pressure on his or her PAP device, or who has trouble keeping the mouth closed during sleep.

More comments tomorrow about choosing a CPAP mask!

"If you have questions about the mask you have, contact the DME company you use or your doctor."



By: Martha J. Powell, RRT, CEO
Strategic Medical Sales, LLC