How Sleep Apnea Can Start During Military Service
Many veterans develop sleep apnea during their time in the military but aren’t officially diagnosed until years later. To prove that their sleep apnea began during service, veterans often submit personal statements to the VA explaining symptoms they experienced—like loud snoring and feeling unusually tired during the day. It’s also common for former roommates or fellow service members to back up these claims by describing what they saw or heard. (more…)
How Sinus Issues and Nasal Blockages Can Lead to Sleep Apnea
Many veterans suffer from both upper respiratory conditions—like sinusitis, rhinitis, or a deviated septum—and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Research and VA decisions now support a clear connection: chronic nasal problems can play a major role in the development or worsening of sleep apnea. (more…)
PTSD Is a Major Cause of Sleep Apnea in Obese Veterans
Many veterans suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)—a condition where breathing stops repeatedly during sleep. While obesity is often blamed, this explanation alone overlooks a crucial factor: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Mounting evidence shows that PTSD is not only linked to sleep apnea but plays a direct role in causing it, especially among veterans who are already at higher risk due to service-related conditions. (more…)
Can Cervical Spine Problems Cause Sleep Apnea?
Yes—cervical spine abnormalities (problems in the neck area of the spine) have been strongly linked to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Veterans who suffer from neck issues due to conditions like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or spondyloarthropathy may be at higher risk of developing sleep apnea. Even surgeries on the neck can affect the airway and contribute to breathing problems during sleep. (more…)
How Chronic Pain Can Lead to Sleep Apnea
Many people living with chronic pain also suffer from serious sleep problems—including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Research has shown a strong two-way relationship between pain and poor sleep: pain makes it harder to sleep, and poor sleep can make pain feel worse. (more…)
How GERD Can Lead to Sleep Apnea
Many veterans with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) also suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)—and research shows this is more than just a coincidence. In fact, up to 60% of people with sleep apnea also have GERD, compared to only about 20% of the general population. (more…)
How Diabetes Can Lead to Sleep Apnea
If you have type 2 diabetes and also struggle with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), you’re not alone—and it’s not a coincidence. Research shows a strong connection between these two conditions. In fact, up to 40% of people with sleep apnea also have diabetes, and many people with diabetes also show signs of undiagnosed sleep apnea. (more…)
How Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) Can Cause Sleep Apnea in obese Veterans
Veterans often suffer from both obesity and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)—and these two conditions can work together to cause obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). While obesity is a well-known contributor to sleep apnea, recent medical and legal evidence shows that MDD is also a significant and independent cause, especially in veterans. (more…)
Factors for Breast Cancer Prognosis and Survival
INTRODUCTION
Interest in factors for breast cancer prognosis and survival has been stimulated by the success of systemic adjuvant therapy for early-stage, cancer of the breast. Patients destined for recurrence can be selected for systemic adjuvant therapy, while patients who will not have a recurrence can be spared the morbidity of a treatment that offers no benefit.
For lawyers these factors may help the lawyer to evaluate whether the delay in diagnosis was material.
2 factors are important doubling time and cancer maturity. Doubling time reflects how fast the tumor grew between the time mammography was erroneously read as benign and the ultimate removal of the tumor. Cancer maturity refers to the tendency of tumors to be less differentiated as they grow bigger. Understanding prognostic factors are thus of prime importance in projecting damages.
The enclosed article is based largely on Tumor-Related Prognostic Factors for Breast Cancer William L. Donegan, MD CA Cancer J Clin 1997;47:28-51 and on Retsky, Swartzendruber, Wardwell, Bame. Computer model challenges breast cancer treatment strategy. Cancer Investigation, 12(6): 559-67, 1994.
Complications Of Laparoscopic Surgery
Introduction
This article is written with an attempt to guide physicians and lawyers through the complications of laparoscopic surgery in the hope that such complications will be avoided in the future. My concern is that the explosive growth in the number of laparoscopic surgery procedures and their diversity coupled with insufficient training by surgeons who now perform this procedure have led to many unnecessary complications.