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Cork/Kerry
Branch
Operational
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medical
awareness of the condition would have to be increased.
Following this the meeting was opened to the floor to give sufferers
an opportunity to question and discuss matters of interest to us
all. A lively discussion followed which ranged from problems with
equipment (mask leaks in particular) to some very good reports on
the service provided by The Southern Health Service Executive (HSE)
[ http://www.hse.ie/en/ ].
There followed an election to form a local committee, the results of
which are as follows:
Robert Barnes (Kerry), Joe Moynihan (Cork),
Eamonn O'Brien (Cork), Martin Dempsey (Cork)
Noreen Dillon (Cork)
We expect this committee will have their first meeting, which will
include an election of officers and a representative to the National
executive Committee, in early December.
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On
October 2nd 2001 at a meeting in The Imperial Hotel, Cork (where
Michael Collins spent his last night) the Southern Health Service
Executive (HSE) [ http://www.hse.ie/en/ ] regional committee became
a reality.
The meeting, chaired by Dan Smyth (Hon Treasurer ISAT), and
assisted by Maria Stack (Senior Respiratory Technician Cork
University Hospital) and Anne O'Mahony (Respiratory Nurse
Specialist, The Mercy Hospital Cork), was attended by over fifty
Sleep Apnoea sufferers. They had traveled from as far away as
Waterford in the east and Tralee in the West. A very big thanks to
all who attended, and indeed those who sent their apologies.
A brief introduction outlining the reasons for forming ISAT, the
main issues confronting sufferers of Sleep Apnoea and the absolute
need for an advocacy and support group to represent their views was
given by the chairman. It was also stressed that public and |
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Some recent developments that may effect you
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Dr.
Maxine Hardinge (John Radcliffe Hospital Sleep Centre, Oxford)
reported at the Sleep Apnoea Trust Association Conference and AGM
that recent trials
indicate that the use of CPAP, by patients with severe Sleep Apnoea,
reduces hypertension (high blood pressure) by anything up to 15% and
can reduce the incidence of stroke by anything up to 20%.
Mandibular Advancement Devices (MAD's):
These are dental devices that pull the jaw forward thereby
increasing the airway at the rear of the tongue. They are primarily
used to prevent snoring and they are successful for that purpose.
They are designed and fitted by dentists.
A recent trial carried out on 50 Sleep Apnoea patients, using MAD's
as an alternative to CPAP produced the following results:
62% (31 cases) gave up due to the intolerable side effects
(excessive salivation, sore gums and joint pain).
Of the 38% (19 cases) remaining, 89% (17 cases) had their OSA
controlled for a weekend: 61% (12 cases) had their OSA controlled
for 1 week and 50% (10 cases) had their OSA controlled for 1 month.
The conclusions were that the acceptance rate was poor, but that the
MAD concept can replace CPAP and control OSA for short periods of
time. Design of MAD's would |
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also
have to be improved. As they are somewhat inflexible and
uncomfortable.
Many of the trialists indicated that they felt more comfortable and
secure with their CPAP machines.
Just goes to show how CPAP can
grow on you !!
Driving:
A recent test on a driving simulator indicates that alcohol
impaired steering error, whole-time sleep deprivation and Sleep
Apnoea were alike and caused progressive deterioration in driving
control.
UK Police Statistics indicate that 15/20% of all accidents are
attributable to sleepiness, particularly on monotonous roads. The
main causes are 'Lane Drifting' and 'Running off the Road'. The
recent horrific train crash, caused by a jeep falling down the
embankment, is now being put down to sleepiness on the part of
the jeep driver. The peak times for sleep related accidents appears
to be between 2AM and 7AM and between 2PM and 4PM. 40% of
sleep related accidents involve commercial vehicles (work related).
They have found that Sleepy Drivers are aware of their problem, but
seldom do anything about it.
There is now a belief that Sleep Related Vehicle Accidents are not
in fact accidents, but are due to 'Preventable Human Error'.
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