As a sleep technologist, you already know the importance of a good night’s sleep. Sleep plays a vital role in well-being and health. It’s crucial to sleep well to protect both mental and physical functioning. When a patient doesn’t sleep well, it can be harmful over time. Lack of sleep can cause chronic health problems like stroke, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and high blood pressure. It can also increase the risk of obesity. According to the American Psychological Association, as many as 40 million Americans suffer from more than 70 different types of sleep disorders. In patients with sleep apnea, multiple health problems can occur if they can’t get quality sleep at night. Below we look at the pros and cons of APAP therapy so that you’ll be able to speak to your patients in a knowledgeable and beneficial way about their sleep apnea treatment.
As a sleep technologist, you treat patients with sleep apnea on a regular basis. Continuous positive airway pressure or CPAP is an effective and widely used treatment for the condition. Patients use the non-surgical treatment when sleeping to open the airways.
Discover the 42 key terms all sleep technologists should know, so you can communicate more effectively in the workplace.
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As aftermath effects of Hurricane Harvey continue to unfold in Texas, AAST wishes to help members with resources that best help them prepare for these circumstances and recover from the impact.
Sleep medicine is always evolving, and the need for people to gain more knowledge and experience as a registered sleep technologist is growing. As a current or prospective sleep technologist, it’s important for you to know how sleep medicine has evolved to focus more on patient education and positive treatment outcomes.
If your patients don't want to wear a CPAP mask, then you can try recommending alternative sleep apnea treatment options. We've written about how sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that requires professional medical attention when diagnosed.
Sleep technology is recognized as a separate and distinct allied health profession. It requires sleep technologists, like you, to engage in a number of educational efforts. Competency assessment and training by a registered and experienced technologist under a sleep medicine physician's supervision is the minimum requirement to work independently. Currently, it is recommended that all sleep technologists complete an accredited training program and attain certification. Most insurances and some states also require licensing or certification.
Having trouble sleeping is commonly reported throughout the world. According to the American Sleep Association (AMA), sleep disorders currently affect as many as 50 to 70 million U.S adults, and insomnia is the most commonly reported. As a sleep technologist, you should know that if your patients are unable to sleep, it can get them down. It can also be very dangerous. AMA reports that drowsy driving is responsible for as many as 1,550 deaths and 40,000 injuries per year on America’s roads.
smithbucklin | aast | aasm
The AAST has hired SmithBucklin, the largest association management company in the world. Since then there has been a number of questions that our current, past , and dare I say future members have been asking. We have listed the top questions and answers thus far in this post.
