New Courses: OSA, CPAP Humidification, Shift Work & Insomnia

Sleep Medicine is Essential to a Good Night’s Sleep

Since good sleep is essential to our health, sleep medicine is a growing  and essential field that manages sleep disorders including insomnia, hypersomnia, parasomnia, sleep apnea, sleep related breathing disorders, circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders, and sleep movement disorders. A good night’s sleep is essential to our health and healing.  Many of the health benefits of sleep take place during NREM sleep including tissue growth and repair, energy restoration, releasing of growth hormones. A deep sleep (REM), when dreaming occurs, is essential to our minds for processing and consolidating emotions, memories and stress.

Sleep Medicine has only recently been recognized as a specialty of medicine. Its development is based on an increasing amount of knowledge concerning the physiology of sleep, circadian biology and the pathophysiology of sleep disorders.  Sleep Medicine has evolved over the past 25 years due to major developments in the science of sleep and sleep disorders, including medical technology advances. Sleep disorders are becoming more prevalent:

“Overall, the Report of the National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research estimated that total sleep time for the US population has decreased by 20% over the past century.¹ The consequences of sleep deprivation can be disastrous. ” – National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)

SleepEdu.org provides approved online continuing education specifically for Sleep Technologist that are approved by the American Society of Sleep Technologists (AAST) and Board of Polysomnographic Technicans (BRPT); and for Respiratory Therapists that are approved by the the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) and the Canadian Society Of Respiratory Therapists (CSRT).  To support education of the leading Sleep Medicine methods and technologies, we are continually adding new CEU courses.  This month we are highlighting the following NEW online courses:

• What’s Hot in OSA?
• Humidification with CPAP-Pathophysiology and Treatment Rationale
• Insomnia: Diagnosis and Treatment
• Shift Work Sleep Disorder

All of the SleepEdu.org courses are written by Sleep Medicine and Respiratory Care Industry Leaders; and are Peer and/or Physician Reviewed! The four new courses are written by Mark Rasmus, MD.  They are free to Canadian Society for Respiratory Therapists members and available on their website.

Here’s a synopsis for all four NEW courses:

What’s Hot in OSA?

This course is presented in webinar format using Powerpoint slides and narration. The learner will understand new perspectives in diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), including co-morbidities, sleep disordered breathing in partners, surgical interventions, autotitration PAP therapy, psychosocial issues and travel considerations

• AARC – What’s Hot in OSA VIDEO PRESENTATION (AARC CREDIT 1.0 CRCE)
• BRPT – What’s Hot in OSA – VIDEO PRESENTATION (BRPT CREDIT 1.0 CSTE)
• CSRT – What’s Hot in OSA – VIDEO PRESENTATION (CSRT CREDIT 1.0 PD/CE)
• AAST – What’s Hot in OSA – VIDEO PRESENTATION (AAST CREDIT 1.0 CEC)

Insomnia: Diagnosis and Treatment

This course is presented in webinar format using .ppt slides and narration. The learner will understand the differential diagnosis, will realize the significance of sleep history & sleep diary keeping, understand categories and types of insomnias including initiation insomnia, active insomnia, circadian rhythm disorders, delayed sleep phase, advanced sleep phase, jet lag & shift work, and will be able to apply therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) & medications.

• BRPT -Insomnia – Diagnosis and Treatment (BRPT CREDIT 1.0 CSTE)
• AAST – Insomnia – Diagnosis and Treatment (AAST CREDIT 1.0 CEC)
• AARC – Insomnia – Diagnosis and Treatment (AARC CREDIT 1.0 CRCE)

Shift Work Sleep Disorder

This course is presented in webinar format using .ppt slides and narration. The learner will be able to define and explain the role of the circadian rhythm, define and describe the prevalence of shift work sleep disorder (SWSD), describe scheduling characteristics which may benefit and/or help the shift worker, describe long term health consequences associated w/ shift work, and describe management/treatment options for SWSD.

•  AARC Shift Work Sleep Disorder (AARC CREDIT 1.0 CRCE)
• AAST Shift Work Sleep Disorder  (AAST CREDIT 1.0 CEC)
• BRPT Shift Work Sleep Disorder (BRPT CREDIT 1.0 CSTE)
• CSRT Shift Work Sleep Disorder (CSRT CREDIT 1.0 PD/CE)

Humidification with CPAP: Pathophysiology and Treatment Rationale

This course is presented in webinar format using .ppt slides and narration. The learner will be able to understand the physics of humidification, effectively discuss the anatomy/physiology of the nose, understand the pathogenesis of upper airway obstruction, understand the effects of heated humidifier in CPAP pressure titration, and discuss the relationship between humidification, nasal symptoms and adherence with CPAP therapy.

• AARC – Humidification with CPAP: Pathophisiology and Treatment Rationale (AARC CREDIT 1.0 CRCE)
• AAST – Humidification with CPAP: Pathophisiology and Treatment Rationale (AAST CREDIT 1.0 CEC)
• BRPT – Humidification with CPAP: Pathophisiology and Treatment Rationale (BRPT CREDIT 1.0 CSTE)