Latest news with #sleepapnea
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Doctors Deliver Verdict on TikTok's 'Mouth Taping' Trend
If you struggle with 'mouth breathing' while you sleep, from the occasional snore or full-blown obstructive sleep apnea, you – or your sleep-deprived partner – may be looking for ways to fix it. In your quest for a peaceful night's sleep, you may quickly come across the social media trend of 'mouth taping': that is, taping your mouth with a particular kind of porous medical tape, to keep it shut while you sleep. In thousands of TikTok videos, influencers claim this simple trick can solve a litany of problems, from jawline definition to energy levels to oral hygiene to sleep apnea. But as with many 'simple tricks' that go viral online, this one is going to need a whole lot more science to back up any of those anecdotes. Helpfully, a team of doctors and scientists from the London Health Sciences Center and the University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine have just published a review of the 10 most relevant research papers, spanning data from 213 patients in total, to assess whether mouth taping is even safe, let alone worth the hype. Each one of those papers investigated how night-time mouth taping or similar techniques affected patients with obstructive sleep apnea, nasal obstruction, or mouth breathing during sleep. Most of the studies took the form of medical visits or formal sleep studies, in which patients are closely monitored while sleeping in a controlled environment. Two papers showed improvements in patients with mild sleep apnea, in measures that included apnea-hypopnea index, gauged by counting the number of apneas or hypopneas during sleep, or drops in blood oxygen saturation. But overall, the researchers found, there's an absence of evidence supporting the claims of mouth tape proponents. "Other studies showed that mouth taping offered no differences and even discussed potential risks including asphyxiation in the presence of nasal obstruction," the authors write. "There are potential serious detrimental health outcomes to those with nasal obstruction who seek oral taping as means to ameliorate their mouth breathing, obstructive sleep apnea, or sleep disordered breathing during sleep." That makes sense: if you're breathing through your mouth because of a physical blockage in your nose, like a sinus infection, a deviated septum, or nasal polyps, taping your mouth shut is not going to help. Band-aid social media solutions like this can also delay or divert patients from treating the cause of their problems. It's worth noting the researchers found all 10 existing studies on mouth taping were of poor quality for various reasons, such as a lack of follow-up with participants, non-representative groups, and unclear adjustment for confounding factors that could influence the results. And remember, these were the top 10 papers the researchers could find on the topic. "There does seem to be a very specific use-case scenario, in patient populations where obstructive sleep apnea is mild, that mouth taping or occlusion may improve [measures of apnea severity]," the team writes. "However, in other patient populations with nasal obstruction as a cause of mouth breathing or more severe forms of obstructive sleep apnea, there is little evidence to support any clinical benefit for this practice." You already know this, but if you're having trouble sleeping, or your partner's snores and gasps are keeping you awake, it's best to book a doctor's appointment rather than scrolling the internet for answers. So, go on then! This research was published in PLOS One. This Type of Fiber Could Have Weight Loss Benefits Similar to Ozempic Study Reveals Plague's Evolutionary Hack to Survive 3 Pandemics One Key Way of Consuming Sugar Could Spike Your Diabetes Risk
Phone Arena
a day ago
- Business
- Phone Arena
Discounted by $261, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is just too good to pass up
If you've been thinking about getting the Galaxy Watch Ultra, now is the perfect time to grab one. A third-party seller on Amazon is offering an incredible $261 discount, letting you get one of the best smartwatches on the market for just under $390. Even though the offer isn't coming directly from Amazon, you still get a 30-day return window, so you can buy with confidence, knowing you have the option to return the device if needed. $261 off (40%) Score the Galaxy Watch Ultra at a $261 discount on Amazon! This tough smartwatch is built for anything, boasting standout features like FDA-approved sleep apnea detection and Samsung's advanced body composition tracking. Don't wait—save while you can! Buy at Amazon Of course, price matters, but what really makes this Samsung watch worth considering is its durability and premium design. It features a rugged titanium case and a sapphire crystal display, making it tough enough for everyday wear and even more extreme conditions. With IP68 and 10ATM ratings, it handles dust with ease, withstands up to 30 minutes in five feet of water, and even holds up during brief dives as deep as 328 feet. Beyond its tough build, it also delivers great battery life. You can get up to two days per charge with heart rate tracking enabled and the always-on display turned off. Plus, it's packed with advanced health features, including FDA-approved sleep apnea detection and Samsung's body composition functionality. All things considered, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is the complete package, offering durability, a plethora of features, and solid battery life. Furthermore, it's a true bargain at its current price on Amazon. And while this $261 discount comes and goes, it creates an unmissable opportunity to up your smartwatch game every time. So, don't miss out! Tap the offer button at the beginning of this article and score one at a bargain price today!
CNET
2 days ago
- General
- CNET
Easily Make Your Own Distilled Water With 5 Simple Steps
When disaster strikes, distilled water can be a lifesaver, especially if you have a CPAP machine for sleep apnea or other critical medical devices that require it. As the purest type of water available, distilled water can be a blessing for dealing with cuts or scrapes, since you'll be limiting the risk of infection. Unlike simple filtered water, distilled water is pretty much free of all impurities. That means it's missing beneficial minerals like calcium and magnesium and will taste a little weird, even though it's extremely safe to drink. Maintaining and storing a good supply of distilled water is a great way to prepare for emergency situations like hurricanes, floods, wildfires or other natural disasters. Most grocery stores sell distilled water, but in the past few years, we've seen many shortages. If you can't find distilled water and need it to prepare for an upcoming storm or to ensure you can run your medical devices, there's an easy way to make it at home yourself. Why make distilled water at home? For people suffering from sleep apnea who use CPAP machines or any other sort of humidifier, distilled water is essential. It's also useful if you don't want additional minerals in your water. (For example, distilled water won't corrode automobile engine parts or create lime-scale buildup in aquariums and it's easier on your home if you use it to make this all-natural cleaner.) Joey Skladany/CNET If you live in a place with "hard" water or water with lots of chemicals, you can even use distilled water to protect your hair when washing it. However, because distilled water doesn't have minerals like calcium and magnesium, it tastes bland and isn't the best for drinking. You can buy distilled water at your local grocery store or on Amazon, but making it at home will save you money and keep a few plastic jugs out of the recycling system. Learning to make this bacteria-free water at home will also save you if the store is out of stock. Below, I'll walk you through the five steps to make your own distilled water. I'll also explain the differences between all the types of water you come across in the store. For more tips, find out if it's cheaper to buy groceries online compared with the grocery store and our list of the best filtered water bottles. What's the difference between tap, filtered, purified and distilled water? Tap water is the easy one. Turn on your kitchen faucet. Water comes out of the tap. Voila! Tap water. The quality of tap water varies by location and might contain traces of minerals specific to the geology of your region, as well as traces of chemicals used in municipal water treatment. Hopefully, your tap water is safe to drink, but that's not true for as many as 45 million Americans. Filtered water is one solution. Filtered water starts out as plain tap water. You may already have filtered water in your home by way of a whole-house filtration system, a faucet filter or a water filtration pitcher. Most filtered water passes through some combination of carbon and micron filters, which help to remove chemicals such as chlorine (commonly added to municipal tap water as a disinfectant) and pesticides, and metals like copper or lead. Filters can also eliminate foul odors and tastes. Purified water usually begins as tap water as well. It will go through many purification processes, including those used for water filtration. Purified water goes a step further than filtering, with a process that removes chemical pollutants, bacteria, fungi and algae. You'll often find purified water in bottles at your local grocery. Distilled water is a more specialized type of purified water but much easier and cheaper to produce at home. As with purified water, it meets the classification requirement of 10ppm (parts per million) of total dissolved solids, aka contaminants, or less. The process of distilling is simple: Heat tap water to the point that it turns to vapor. When the vapor condenses back to water, it leaves behind any mineral residue. The resulting condensed liquid is distilled water. Is it safe to drink distilled water? Distilled water is completely safe for use but the downside of distilling is that it removes all of the helpful minerals like calcium and magnesium that occur naturally in tap water. For that reason, it isn't generally recommended to use distilled water as your daily drinking water. You might also find that it lacks the flavor of tap or filtered water. What's the best way to store distilled water? If stored properly, distilled water can have a long shelf life as long as it's not exposed to direct sunlight or warm temperatures. Choose the storage container you use for distilled water carefully. Distilled water's lack of nutrients can cause it to leach chemicals from the container it's stored in. If you plan to use the water immediately, most containers will do but for long-term storage it's best to use glass or high-quality stainless steel. Making distilled water is like a fun science project. Gettys Images/DanBrandenburg How to make your own distilled water Here's how you can distill your own water at home. Not to get too scientific here, but this is exciting for me. We'll be using water in all three of its known states -- solid, liquid and gas. The gist is this: You heat water (liquid), turn it into water vapor (gas), then collect the condensation with the aid of ice (solid). It's like middle school science class all over again. You'll likely find everything you need in your kitchen. A large pot with a lid, a small pot, water, ice and oven mitts for handling the hot cookware. It does take some time for all this science to happen, so be prepared. In my example below, I started with 8 cups of water in the large pot. After 1 hour, I had produced about 1 1/4 cup of distilled water. To create a gallon jug that you'd find in the supermarket you'd need about 13 hours of distilling time. If you follow these steps, you should get near 100% yield, but whatever amount of distilled water you want to end up with, make sure to add additional water so you don't end up heating an empty pot(s) at the end of the process, which can damage cookware. Ice speeds up the condensation process. Steve Conaway/CNET 1. First, place the large pot over a stovetop burner and add 8 cups of water. Then, place the smaller pot inside the large pot. At this point, the smaller pot should float on top of the water. The key to circulating water vapor inside the large pot is airflow. Make sure there's plenty of space around the smaller pot, both around its sides and between it and the top of the larger pot. 2. Next, turn the burner to somewhere between medium and medium-high heat. I tried to keep the heat level at a steady simmer -- somewhere between 180 and 200 degrees Fahrenheit -- and not a boil. Running a higher temperature won't get you a higher yield, but it will warm up the cold side of the lid faster, and make general handling of the equipment harder to deal with. 3. After you put the burner on, place the lid upside-down on the large pot. Lids are usually higher in the middle than around the edges. Flipping the lid will allow the condensed distilled water to trickle down to the middle of the lid and into the smaller pot. Once all this is done, head over to your icemaker (or tray) and load the top of the inverted lid with ice. The difference in temperature on the two sides of the lid will speed up the condensation process. Use caution throughout the process. Steve Conaway/CNET 4. At this point, you can sit back and wait. I ended up replenishing the ice supply twice within an hour, once at 30 minutes and once after 45 minutes. This is what you need the oven mitts for -- that lid will be hot! Use caution when dumping that now-hot melted ice. The water in the smaller pot is your distilled water. Steve Conaway/CNET 5. Any water that has dripped down into the smaller pot has now been distilled. Again, I was able to make about 1 1/4 cup of distilled water from 8 cups of tap water in about an hour. Just remember, making your own distilled water is easy (and fun!), but lack of nutrients makes it a bad choice for daily drinking water. But if you're stuck at home and you rely on a device that requires it, or perhaps you just want to keep your fish healthy, you may want to try making it yourself. For more, check out how to clean mold and bacteria out of your washing machine and the best way to unclog a clogged toilet.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Sleep Apnea Oral Appliances Market - Global Forecast to 2030 with SomnoMed, Resmed, ProSomnus, DynaFlex, Vivos Therapeutics, and OpenAirway Leading
Growth is driven by rising lifestyle-related disorders like diabetes and obesity, spurring obstructive sleep apnea. The home care settings segment is projected to dominate, thanks to convenience and cost-effectiveness. Retail pharmacies lead distribution channels due to easy access to appliances. The Asia Pacific region will grow at the highest CAGR, propelled by manufacturing expansions and healthcare infrastructure advancements. Key players include SomnoMed, Resmed, and ProSomnus Sleep Technologies. Sleep Apnea Oral Appliances Market Dublin, May 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Sleep Apnea Oral Appliances Market by Product (Mandibular Advancement Devices (MAD), Tongue-Retaining Devices (TRD)), Purchase Type (Physician-prescribed), Gender (Male, Female), Age Group, Distribution Channel (Online, Retail) - Global Forecast to 2030" has been added to offering. The global sleep apnea oral appliances market is projected to reach USD 0.8 billion by 2030, up from USD 0.5 billion in 2025, with a CAGR of 9.8% The report discusses market penetration, product development and innovation, market development and diversification, and competitive assessment. In-depth insights into trends, R&D activities, product launches, and assessments of leading market players' growth strategies and revenue are also provided. This growth is fueled by an increase in lifestyle-related disorders such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity leading to obstructive sleep apnea. The awareness of managing and treating sleep apnea is rising, alongside innovations by leading companies offering advanced, adjustable oral appliances. Primary participants include SomnoMed (Australia), Resmed (US), ProSomnus Sleep Technologies (US), and other significant companies like DynaFlex, Vivos Therapeutics, and OpenAirway. Understanding market dynamics and capturing market share are vital for established and new firms. Those purchasing the report can adopt strategies to enhance market presence. The report offers insights into market drivers (such as the large pool of undiagnosed patients, rising awareness, and increasing usage of oral appliances), restraints, opportunities, and challenges. End User Dominance: Home Care Settings/Individuals The home care settings/individuals segment is anticipated to dominate the market. This segment's growth is attributed to the preference for sleep apnea devices due to convenience, remote availability, and cost-efficiency. Insurance and reimbursement policies further enhance this market, particularly in regions like North America and Europe, propelled by lifestyle choices prevalent in these areas. The accessibility of home sleep apnea tests also supports this market expansion. Distribution Channel Insights: Retail Pharmacies Lead Retail pharmacies hold the largest market share in this segment due to the increasing availability and establishment of these outlets in emerging markets. The demand for oral appliances is rising as awareness of undiagnosed sleep apnea risks grows. Retail pharmacies offer varied devices with no waiting times, accommodating different affordability and quality preferences. Regional Growth: Asia Pacific Ascends The Asia Pacific region is set to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, boasting the fastest-growing market for sleep apnea oral appliances. Manufacturing and distribution companies are expanding their presence, evidenced by new manufacturing plants. Advances in healthcare infrastructure and technology also contribute to this growth. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 265 Forecast Period 2025 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2025 $0.5 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $0.8 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 9.8% Regions Covered Global Market Dynamics Drivers Large Pool of Undiagnosed Sleep Apnea Patients Growing Awareness Associated With Effects of Untreated Sleep Apnea Increasing Usage of Oral Appliances Among Patients With Mild-to-Moderate Sleep Apnea Entry of Established Companies With Advanced Sleep Apnea Oral Solutions Challenges Complex Referral Pathways and Long Waiting Periods Opportunities Rising Demand for At-Home Sleep Apnea Tests Increasing Importance of Telemedicine, Mhealth, and Ai Poor Compliance and Low Adherence Associated With Cpap Company Profiles Key Players Somnomed Resmed Prosomnus Sleep Technologies Dynaflex Vivos Therapeutics, Inc. Openairway Panthera Dental Airway Management Apnea Sciences Oravanosa Myerson Llc. Braebon Medical Corporation Other Players Mpowrx Health & Wellness Products The Snore Reliever Company, Llc Tomed Gmbh The Aurum Group Erkodent Enrich Kopp Gmbh Oscimed Sa Sicat Gmbh & Co. Kg Glidewell Apnomed, Inc. Zquiet Dream Systems Dental Sleep Lab Alive Medical Surgical Equipment Trading Llc Orthoapnea Doc Brands, Inc. For more information about this report visit About is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Sleep Apnea Oral Appliances Market CONTACT: CONTACT: Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@ For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Is mouth taping dangerous? An expert says the trend 'is not an appropriate therapy' for people with sleep apnea
Mouth taping has become a viral wellness trend among influencers and celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow, Ashley Graham and Emma Roberts. However, Canadian researchers are warning that putting tape or an adhesive patch over your mouth while sleeping could be "extremely unsafe" if you have breathing issues. A study published Wednesday in the journal PLOS One indicated mouth taping could be harmful when trying to treat problems like mouth breathing and sleep disordered breathing. It could also be dangerous for someone with sleep apnea, a disorder where a person's breathing stops repeatedly while they're sleeping. Dr. Brian Rotenberg, a senior author on the study, told Yahoo Canada there are two main reasons why people should likely avoid this home remedy. "If the patient is having nasal obstruction, there's usually a reason for that," the otolaryngologist at London Health Sciences Centre, St. Joseph's Health Care London and Western University in Ontario explained. This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Contact a qualified medical professional before engaging in any physical activity, or making any changes to your diet, medication or lifestyle. "It is better to have that reason investigated by a qualified health-care practitioner — for example a primary-care physician, an ENT (ear, nose and throat) person like myself or a nurse practitioner — to actually make a diagnosis than doing a Band-Aid and treating it without knowing the cause," he added. The sleep surgeon further explained there are numerous people who are unaware they have sleep apnea. About nine per cent of men and three to four per cent of women have the disorder and remain unaware, he indicated. "We're talking millions of Canadians and way more Americans and way more globally." Mouth taping is a home remedy method that involves a person placing a tape or adhesive patch over their mouth when going to sleep. This is meant to reduce their mouth breathing at night, pushing them to use their nose to breath. In turn, nose breathing should warm and humidify the air entering the body, reducing snoring and improving sleep quality. In November 2022, Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow shared on Instagram she was using a product called MyoTape, touting it was "probably the single best wellness tool" she'd recently found: "Breathing through your nose at night apparently creates alkalinity in the body and promotes the best quality sleep." The following May, supermodel Ashley Graham posted similar reviews to the practice, saying she had "never slept better." Actress Emma Roberts also recently called it "life changing" and that she wakes up feeling "more refreshed." Influencers online have lately been echoing similar sentiments, claiming that sleeping this way has improved their asthma symptoms, increased their oral hygiene and even sharpened their jawline. But according to Rotenberg's research in collaboration with Halifax-based paediatric otolaryngologist Dr. Elise Graham and Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry resident Jess Rhee, there wasn't any strong evidence of mouth taping health benefits. The team looked at 86 existing studies on the topic, and gave an in-depth review of 10 worth looking over. Out of those studies, eight showed no benefits and two suggested minimal benefits. Rotenberg used an analogy of a patient who is seeing their vision worsen. In some cases, that might simply be a case of needing new glasses. "But what if you have glaucoma? What if you have cataracts? What if you have retinal disease? All those things can present as decreases in vision that are otherwise non-specified," Rotenberg noted. "But you would never not go to your eye doctor. You wouldn't just order glasses off the internet and say, 'Let's give them a go.' You would actually do something about it and investigate it." He said the same analogy works with the nose, which is a part of the body that can have "lots of issues" that cause breathing problems. Those might include a deviated septum, nasal polyps or even a tumour. "Those things are not going to get fixed with mouth taping," he shared. When it comes to having sleep apnea, he said mouth taping can become "extremely unsafe" and can potentially make the disorder even worse: "When you have sleep apnea, the throat's collapsing in. So your throat's collapsing, now your nose is blocked and you're treating your nose blockage by covering your mouth. At that point, what's left to breathe through?" A few years ago, Rotenberg said he initially thought mouth taping was just another viral trend that wasn't worth spending time worrying about. But over time, he and his collaborators noted how it became a real thing that people were continuously doing. That pushed him to begin research on the topic about a year and a half ago. If a patient was asking about potentially using mouth taping as a remedy, Rotenberg said he'd do an assessment and then conduct an examination to see what might be happening: "More often than not, I would likely see something happening to cause the obstruction, in which case I would not offer mouth taping but I would offer them other therapies that are evidence based and science based." Still, he noted there may be the odd occasion where a patient won't have any reason why they're not breathing through their nose. "Something like that, I think [mouth taping] would be OK." However, he urged people to use more critical thinking when it comes to following viral trends they come across on social media. "Just to be clear, I don't want to portray mouth taping as the root of all evil on planet Earth — it's not like that. There for sure some people out there who would probably benefit from this," he shared. "My thesis is to have people apply a little more thought before they just initiate something because of an influencer suggesting this is a good idea. Actually look into it and think, 'What's the problem here in the first place?'"
