Recently in Awareness Category

Sereno, The Center for Snoring Solutions, Educates the Public During National Sleep Awareness Week(R)-

Introduced by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) to educate the public about the importance of sleep to both health and lifestyle, National Sleep Awareness Week® is March 7-13, 2010.  

One very common, but major detriment to adequate, high quality sleep is snoring.  NSF research suggests that:

• Approximately 90 million Americans suffer from snoring
• 23% of couples sleep apart because of snoring
• A substantial percentage of couples are too tired or fatigued for a normal sex life

Historically, snoring has been considered an inconvenience rather than a serious medical condition. That perception is rapidly changing. The effects of sleep loss caused by snoring include fatigue, lack of focus and productivity.  But more importantly, research now indicates a strong link between loss of sleep and medical conditions such as stroke, heart attack, diabetes and hypertension.  Snoring can also have a significant lifestyle impact on couples, and can be a cause of tension or resentment in a marriage or relationship.

SERENO, THE CENTER FOR SNORING SOLUTIONS, a new medical practice based in San Francisco, offers leading-edge, medically proven treatments for snoring in a confidential, professional environment.  

Dr. Matthew Mingrone, medical director of Sereno and a board-certified Otolaryngologist, is a specialist in the treatment of snoring and sleep apnea.  According to Dr. Mingrone, "Snoring treatments now available are safe, minimally invasive, simple, and potentially life-changing.   Sereno is ground-breaking in its unique, patient-centered, and highly effective approach to improving the lives of snorers.  We understand and treat this area of medicine specifically, and far more comprehensively than would be undertaken by a traditional medical practice.   Sereno is the premier practice in the United States dedicated entirely to the treatment of snoring and mild to moderate sleep apnea."

A recent Sereno patient had the following to say about his treatment, "The level of excellence from pre-patient to post-patient care to results far exceeded my cautious optimism.  Last night was the first time since childhood that I didn't snore during a night's sleep.   I, along with my father, underwent the minimally invasive procedure to reduce/cure snoring. Our significant others, the true beneficiaries, have been thrilled with the results. Clearly, I'm a believer and so is my father. We recommend this procedure for all our fellow snorers."

Dr. Matthew Mingrone has extensive experience treating snoring and obstructive sleep apnea and has worked with hundreds of patients whose snoring has had an impact on their marriages, relationships, work, quality of life, and general health.  Using FDA-approved, minimally invasive procedures, which are virtually painless, Dr. Mingrone makes a positive difference in the lives of his patients.  "We recognize the other health issues associated with lack of sleep caused by snoring.  While each patient needs to be individually evaluated, we can make a substantial improvement to the condition in most people. Two things are certain: Snoring is nothing to be ashamed of.  And snoring is definitely not funny."

Visit www.serenocenter.com to learn more.

When clocks go back an hour early Sunday morning, our roads and highways may become more dangerous as people drive drowsy, according to The National Road Safety Foundation, Inc. (NRSF), a non-profit group that offers free driver safety programs.

Drowsy driving is a significant factor in traffic crashes. The risk increases as daylight savings time ends and we spend more time driving at night, says David Reich of NRSF. "Drowsy driving is as dangerous as drunk driving," he notes.

Studies show 60 percent of U.S. motorists have driven while fatigued and nearly 37 percent admit to having fallen asleep at the wheel.

Drowsy driving is especially prevalent among teens, who tend to keep late hours and think they can function on minimal sleep. Teens actually require more sleep than adults.

NRSF urges drivers to be alert to signs of drowsiness while driving:

• Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking, rubbing eyes
• Daydreaming or not remembering the last few miles driven
• Head snaps, yawning
• Drifting out of your lane, tailgating or hitting rumble strips
  

If you experience any of these warning signs, pull over safely and take a break. Have a cup of coffee or a caffeinated snack or take a 20-minute nap. Allow 30 minutes for caffeine to enter your bloodstream. Never drink alcohol before driving and know if any medications you take might induce drowsiness.

The National Road Safety Foundation, with National Organizations for Youth Safety, is sponsoring a competition for young people ages 13 - 22, inviting ideas for public service announcements that address drowsy driving or other safety issues including speeding, seat belt usage, and driving while drunk or distracted. The winner will receive $1,000 and a trip to New York to see the idea professionally produced into a public service announcement that will air on TV nationwide. Entry deadline is Nov. 21. Information is at www.drivetolife.com.

For more than 45 years, the National Road Safety Foundation has produced films and teaching materials that have been used to train millions of young drivers about the dangers of drinking and driving, speeding and aggressive driving. To download or receive a free copy of the Foundation's program on drowsy driving, "Almost Home," and other free driver education programs, visit the NRSF website at www.nrsf.org.

To see press release go to http://myprgenie.com/2862

Contact: David Reich, david@nrsf.org, 212 573-6000

SOURCE The National Road Safety Foundation

Bob Hickman, United Feather & Down's Senior Vice Present of Sales and Marketing, and Neil A. Petrocelli, Borghese, Inc.'s Vice President of Marketing, list their top sleep and beauty tips.

1. Aloe vera gel penetrates skin almost four times faster than water, and its super emollient qualities help it moisturize the under layers of skin. Aloe treated bedding is kind to your skin to help you awaken refreshed and rejuvenated.

2. Choose the right pillow to fit your sleep style. A quality pillow is constructed to fit either a side sleeper, back sleeper or stomach sleeper and the right pillow can make a world of difference for getting a satisfying and full night's rest.

3. Try to get to bed at the same time every night. This keeps your body in the proper rhythm to obtain a full, good night's rest. This is because humans have an inbuilt body clock called the circadian rhythm. Controlled by hypothalamus at the base of the brain, it governs the body's daily alternation between sleep and wakefulness.

4. Night cremes concentrate on repairing, refreshing and rejuvenating what was damaged during the day's exposure to sun, environmental factors and simple stress. They can help improve skin tone and color, reduce blemishes and hydrate and rejuvenate the skin. Moisturizing creams rich in natural, soothing botanicals are gentler for your skin. Giving your self an "overnight facial" is a great way to wake up feeling refreshed and looking younger.

5. The area around your eyes doesn't contain oil-producing glands, so pay special attention to this sensitive area by gently applying a soothing, botanical eye cream to help prevent fine lines and dark circles.

6. The right mattress pad can help extend the life of your mattress and bedding, and provide extra support to help you get a better night's sleep. When constructed with the right fibers and fabrics, a proper mattress pad promotes breathability, or proper air-flow to help moderate body temperature, improve moisture management and wick excessive moisture away.

7. Night time is the best time to practice a skin care regimen focused on repair and refreshment, because in the quiet of your bedroom, you are free from stress, sun and environmental factors that can cause premature aging.

8. A good night's sleep isn't important only for beauty, but also for better health. Your immune system benefits as well. Rapid-Eye-Movement or REM sleep helps the body and the immune system recharge and repair cell damage from the day's stressors and activities.

9. Body temperature is important when you sleep, so selecting the right bedding is important. When selecting down, premium, quality larger down clusters provide a higher fill power that will trap more air for lighter, softer loft and warmth in a comforter; and in a pillow, superior loft and adjustable comfort. Consider the construction of the comforter or pillow, type of fabric and the thread count.

10. Allergies can keep a person awake at night. The proper hypoallergenic bedding will help lessen the possibility of an allergic reaction or response. United Feather & Down's Freshness Assured(R) guarantee is a proprietary 15-step cleaning process that ensures all our Down and Feather blends are hypoallergenic, the cleanest, freshest product available.

SOURCE United Feather & Down

In a new online survey, eighty-five percent of people who experience diabetic nerve pain said that their pain was one of the top three most bothersome complications of their diabetes. Despite the fact that people with diabetic nerve pain recognize the condition's impact on their lives and eighty-four percent of those surveyed said they have discussed the condition with a healthcare provider, just slightly less than half of respondents (49 percent)( )were treating their pain. The survey was fielded as part of a new educational campaign, "Take the Next Step," which is designed to help people with diabetes recognize the symptoms of painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (pDPN) and proactively talk to their healthcare professional about incorporating the treatment of pDPN into their overall diabetes care, which may include blood sugar control, diet, pain management, exercise or other changes in lifestyle. The initiative is supported through a sponsorship by Pfizer Inc.

Taking Control of Your Diabetes (TCOYD), a leading non-profit organization dedicated to educating people about diabetes, and Kim Lyons, personal trainer and nutritionist featured on NBC's hit show, "The Biggest Loser," are participating in this campaign to raise awareness of pDPN, one of the most common and debilitating complications of diabetes. "Take the Next Step" features an activity program developed by Lyons to demonstrate activities that are appropriate for people with diabetes and help people with pDPN understand how increasing their activity level can help them control their pain. For more information, including Kim Lyons' activity program and tips and tools to help people with diabetes discuss pDPN with their physician, visit www.diabetespainhelp.com.

"Optimal blood sugar control has been shown to prevent the onset and delay the progression of pDPN and ease its symptoms," said Steven Edelman, MD, Founder and Director of the not-for-profit Taking Control of Your Diabetes and Professor of Medicine, University of California at San Diego. "Given the debilitating impact of pDPN, such as on a person's ability to be physically active and to fall asleep at night, treating the pain can really make a difference for these patients and help them get back to normal daily activities which in turn can help them better manage their diabetes."

Survey Shows pDPN Can Impact Lifestyle, Yet Many Unaware of Treatment Options

Of the people surveyed, almost two-thirds (64 percent) said that their nerve pain interfered with the daily activities that matter to them. The most common activities that respondents said were impacted by their pain were exercising (76 percent), falling asleep (71 percent) and spending time with or caring for family (68 percent). Of the more than half of those surveyed who were not being treated (51 percent), less than a third (32 percent) were aware of treatments that are approved to treat the condition.

Currently, nearly 24 million Americans suffer from diabetes. Approximately 20 percent of people with diabetes experience painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy, most commonly caused by poorly controlled blood sugar levels that result in nerve damage over time. Symptoms of pDPN may include burning, throbbing or painful tingling in the feet or hands. The pain associated with the condition can become extremely debilitating, affecting patients' everyday activities such as the motivation needed to exercise and be active and the ability to fall asleep. Difficulty maintaining an active lifestyle can hamper patients' ability to control their weight, an important key to diabetes management. Treatment guidelines point to the unique nature of pDPN and the need for specialized treatment, which can include prescription treatment for the pain.( )

"I was motivated to be a part of this campaign because I've seen the benefits of activity for people who suffer from pDPN," said Kim Lyons. "I know that for people with this kind of pain, engaging in physical activity might seem daunting at first, but people will be amazed to see that taking small steps towards increasing activity level can make a big difference."

Prevention, Early Diagnosis and Aggressive Treatment Are Critical

People with diabetes can develop nerve pain at any time, but the risk is greater the longer a person has suffered from diabetes, with the highest rates among those who have had the condition for at least 25 years. In the early stages of nerve damage, some people have no symptoms, or may have numbness or tingling in the feet. These symptoms can be mild at first and because nerve damage can occur over several years, these cases may go unnoticed until the nerve damage progresses and becomes painful, sometimes leading to painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

A number of prescription medications are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help relieve the specific symptoms of pDPN. These medications can play an important role in helping to reduce the pain associated with this condition. Over-the-counter pain medicines such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen are frequently used, but have not been specifically approved by the FDA to treat painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

About the Survey

The survey was conducted online by Impulse Research among 553 men and women, 18 and older who have either type I or II diabetes and are suffering from diabetic nerve pain in the United States, to assess the impact of nerve pain on their lives. The research was conducted in July 2009. The maximum expected sample error for a simple random sample of this size is +/- 3 percentage points. The survey was commissioned on behalf of Taking Control of Your Diabetes, and sponsored by Pfizer.

About the "Take the Next Step" Campaign

The "Take the Next Step" program is designed to help people with diabetes better understand and manage painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (pDPN), a complication of the disease that can have a debilitating impact on daily activities.

Taking Control of Your Diabetes (TCOYD), a leading non-profit organization dedicated to educating people about diabetes, and Kim Lyons, personal trainer featured on NBC's hit show, "The Biggest Loser," are participating in this campaign to raise awareness of pDPN, one of the most common and debilitating complications of diabetes. The Take the Next Step campaign features a customized motivational program, developed by Lyons, which helps people with pDPN understand how to raise their activity level and better manage daily activities. Ms. Lyons will be traveling to a series of TCOYD health conferences this fall to share her activity program with conference attendees.

The "Take the Next Step" campaign is sponsored by Pfizer Inc.

SOURCE Taking Control of Your Diabetes