Elemer K. Zsigmond, M.D., DSc FCP It is a well-known fact that some highway fatalities, especially when a number of vehicles are involved, are caused by the loss of control of one vehicle. This results in a chain reaction and may lead to multiple fatalities. This fact is only vaguely recalled, until it hits home. As an anesthesiologist with three …
WHY DO WE YAWN?
Alexander Golbin, M.D. Are you ashamed of having irresistible urges to yawn in front of guests or in an important meeting? I was. I thought that it was a sign of disrespect to the speaker or a signal that the speaker was boring and saying nothing of significant importance. Sure enough, I thought the same way when somebody yawned when …
SILENT NIGHTS
Ira L. Shapira, DDS, FICCMO Surgery on the soft palate has been a popular treatment for snoring and sleep apnea beginning with the UP3 or uvulopaltophayngealplasty. Initially it was thought that this surgery would eliminate sleep apnea and snoring. However the procedure proved to have a very high morbidity, problems experienced secondary to the surgery, and was not successful in …
The Man Who Devoted his Life to the Life of Chicago
Alexander Golbin, M.D. Mr. Larry Weintraub, Chicago’s famous journalist for 35 years died recently at the age of 69. He came into my life many years ago much like he has into the lives of many others: suddenly, with a lot of grueling questions, following me around at work for days with the forcefulness of a professional reporter and the …
Several New Reasons to Diagnose and Treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Neil S. Freedman, M.D. Obstructive sleep apnea is an extremely common, and often underdiagnosed, medical problem affecting up to 4% of the middle aged American population. It is characterized by episodic partial and total obstructions of the upper airway, resulting in a reduction or inability of air to get from the nose and mouth to the lungs during sleep. Disrupted …
Selective Mutism – a mother’s perspective
At age 4 our daughter, Michelle, was diagnosed with Selective Mutism (SM). SM is a psychiatric disorder most commonly found in children. It is characterized by a “consistent failure to speak in certain settings and continues for more than one month [Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – IV, 1994].” These children understand the spoken language and have the …
Do Animals Have Sleep Disorders?
Sleep Disorders are common in humans, but many scientists wonder whether these same problems can occur in animals as well. There is some research to suggest that the answer is “yes.” Animals are in many ways very much like human children. Like our children they wet in their sleep, “talk” in their sleep and often have disturbing dreams. They have …
Sheep No Longer Employed for Sleepless Nights
adopted from CNN, January 24, 2002 Researchers at Oxford University in London, England have discovered that the traditional cure for sleeplessness, which is believed to date back to the early 19th century, does not work because it is just too boring to fully distract the mind from problems and concerns. In a recent experiment, 50 insomniacs were asked to try …
The Dream
Sleep, do not forgo me, for it is with great anticipation that I await your adventures To you, I entrust my soul each night, that I should be led through the dark, ominous corridors that pull, weight, and try to prevent me; through fires, floods, and to foe that torment me. But, you challenges, I nevertheless welcome, for they inevitable …
Ritalin: ”Use It, Don’t Abuse It”
Few drugs have received such public attention and been publicized like Ritalin (with the exception of Prozac). This is likely because Ritalin is used for children. Ritalin has been in the headlines of major newspapers, such as the New York Times and the Chicago Tribune. Ritalin has caused angry marches of different activity groups (at many cultural landmarks). Cosmetic pharmacology …