Dr. Oz Show Focuses On Patients With Sleep Disorders Spotlight On 20 Million Americans With Sleep Apnea

Main Category: Sleep / Sleep Disorders / Insomnia
Article Date: 22 Jan 2010 - 22:00 PDT

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Watermark Medical CEO Sean Heyniger, said the recent Dr. Oz Show segment on sleep apnea and obesity will help the estimated 20 million undiagnosed Americans realize their symptoms and seek help.

Watermark's ARESTM is an innovative, low-cost, patient-friendly wireless device, offered through primary care physicians that is worn while the patient sleeps at home. The device collects physiological data and integrates it with clinical history to determine the presence and severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

John Sculley, Co-Chairman of the Board for Watermark Medical, said, "The Watermark platform helps transform the manner in which healthcare is delivered by lowering costs and focusing on outcomes and therapy compliance."

The test results are reviewed by a certified sleep technologist and then interpreted by the patient's physician or sleep specialist. Appropriate therapy is then recommended by the patient's physician.

Watermark Medical Chief Medical Officer and inventor of the ARESTM, Dr. Philip Westbrook, is one of the Dr. Oz panel of experts discussing sleep apnea. He can be found on the Sleep Apnea Syndrome tab of the "Ask Dr. Oz" section of the website. See here.

Cleveland Clinic recognized Home Sleep Testing as the # 7 Top 10 Medical Innovations of 2010.

See here. Watermark Medical's technology platform enables connectivity between the physician and the patient's diagnostic and compliance data in a simple and cost effective manner.

Sleep apnea, which can be life threatening, is one of the most common sleep disorders. Breathing stops and then restarts again recurrently during sleep. It is one of the leading causes of disruptive snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness, and also may be responsible for job impairment and motor vehicle crashes.

Untreated sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases, memory problems, weight gain, impotency and headaches, said Heyniger.

"Not enough people are getting screened, especially patients with hypertension or diabetes," he said. "Fortunately, advances in technology make it convenient for those with sleep apnea to comfortably get diagnosed and treated."

Source
Watermark Medical

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