Robert S. Rosenberg, D.O., FCCP, sleep medicine and sleep apnea specialist, discusses sleep apnea, CPAP compliance, and CPAP care.

Robert S. Rosenberg, D.O., FCCP, has more than three decades of experience in sleep medicine. Dr. Rosenberg is board certified in sleep medicine, pulmonary medicine, and internal medicine. He has served as the medical director of the Sleep Disorders Center in Prescott Valley, Arizona, as well as the sleep medicine consultant for Mountain Heart Health Services in Flagstaff, Arizona. Dr. Rosenberg is a sought-after speaker on the subject of sleep and other medical topics and is a regular guest at medical conventions. He is a published author and columnist whose work has appeared in many top periodicals such as O, The Oprah Magazine, Women's Health, Prevention, Woman's World, Parenting, and Ladies' Home Journal, as well as many others. His books Sleep Soundly Every Night, Feel Fantastic Every Day, and The Doctor's Guide to Sleep Solutions for Stress & Anxiety are in wide release and are considered by many to be must-reads for doctors and patients alike. 

The sleep expert discusses sleep apnea and the solutions to the problem. As he states, obstructive sleep apnea, the most common form of sleep apnea, is when your airway basically collapses during sleep. So for those who are predisposed to sleep apnea either due to obesity, large tongues, heredity, etc., the problem could exist. Dr. Rosenberg mentions that of the nearly twenty million with sleep apnea, only about twenty percent of those have been diagnosed. And with sleep apnea, the oxygen drops, carbon dioxide levels rise, and the sympathetic nervous system (known as fight or flight) is triggered which constricts blood vessels and increases blood pressure. This unfortunate chain of events puts extra strain on the heart, brain, and other areas of the body. He delves into a detailed analysis of the areas of the body that could be affected by obstructive sleep apnea and the ways it can be prevented or treated. 

Dr. Rosenberg's opinions and findings on the subject of sleep have made him a frequent guest on television and radio shows. Additionally, he publishes a monthly newsletter for healthcare professionals that condenses the most current research in sleep medicine, as well as an informative monthly newsletter on a myriad of sleep topics for the general public. Dr. Rosenberg is an affiliated professor of sleep medicine at Midwestern College of Osteopathic Medicine and he is on the board of directors for the American Sleep Association. In this discussion, Dr. Rosenberg details the health problems that sleep apnea can contribute to, and how sleep apnea is highly underdiagnosed. 

The sleep doctor talks about the new CPAP offerings on the market and their benefits. CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. CPAP is a positive airway pressure ventilator that applies mild air pressure on a continuous basis to keep airways open in people who have difficulty breathing spontaneously on their own. As he states, the new offerings are smaller and quieter, and many people find that they are much more comfortable than the large cumbersome devices of the recent past. He discusses how the pressure is variable and changes based on a person's specific requirements. He also talks about the various ways someone can delay the functioning of the device if they want to fall asleep without it intruding on them, and then it will begin after they have had time to begin resting. Additionally, he talks about the heated tubing that new systems offer to help prevent dryness, providing quality moisture into the air. 

Dr. Rosenberg discusses maintenance of the machines and systems and hoses. He talks about the benefits of the SoClean sanitizing product. SoClean is an efficient and effective way to clean CPAP machine equipment. The SoClean system kills 99.9% of CPAP germs and bacteria in the mask, hose, and reservoir and does not require disassembly or chemicals.

The sleep health expert details oral appliances, which are devices designed to adjust the jaw, bringing the lower jaw forward which in turn brings the tongue forward, and in many cases, this is enough to prevent some people's problem of sleep apnea. Oral appliances are designed specifically for individuals. Dentists will make molds of their patients' upper and lower teeth in order to tailor the oral appliance for individuals. The oral appliances are adjustable, worn at night, and for many people, this specially crafted device is a great option to prevent sleep apnea and avoid CPAP. 

Additionally, Dr. Rosenberg discusses some of the patients he sees, and their stories of past frustration with their care and devices. Dr. Rosenberg's goal is to find ways for these patients to be healthy and enjoy their sleep, with whatever device or system or method is necessary, and he works with people individually to ensure they get the best quality care.