Sleep Tight As Buggers Don't Transmit Disease

Do not let the bed bugs bite. So goes the nursery rhyme. It seems that the old dread of disease from the bed bug is not to be feared.
A report in the April 1 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association found that the little buggers don’t transmit disease as previously thought. The report reviewed more than 50 previously published articles and found no reliable evidence of disease transmission.
The authors of the study do point out that even though there is no transmission of disease, the bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) still remain a nuisance.
Bed bugs are a human parasite (organism living in, with, or on another organism) and feed only on blood. They are small but visible to the naked eye, wingless, yellow to reddish brown in color, oval shaped, and have prominent eyes. They can hide in the cracks and crevices of mattresses, in box springs, on the backboards of beds, and behind loose wallpaper baseboards, and they can travel in furniture, luggage, clothing, and other personal belongings. Bed bugs are predominantly night feeders, attracted to warm-blooded animals which includes humans.
The authors found multiple reports describing various cutaneous reactions associated with bed bug bites. Systemic reactions, such as anaphylaxis, were less common.
In many cases there is no reaction to the bite. Often there will barely be any visible evidence of a puncture from a bite. The most common reaction is the development of small inflamed pruritic (itchy) bumps where each bite occurred. These usually resolve in one to two weeks. Over-the-counter topical antihistamines or topical corticosteroids will help with the itching.
Much less often, an allergic reaction to the bed bug bite can cause a complex skin reaction that results in urticaria (inflammation and swelling of the skin) at the site of the bite. When this happens, care should be taken so that the resulting rash doesn’t become secondarily infected. Use the OTC topical creams as above for the itching. If the rash becomes infected, then antibiotics may be required.
Rarely, asthma occurs as a systemic type of an allergic reaction caused by bed bug bites. This may be accompanied by more extensive urticaria and anaphylaxis (severe and sometimes fatal reaction to an allergen resulting in breathing difficulties, low blood pressure, and eventually shock if untreated). Anaphylaxis reactions need to be treated as an emergency. If you have these types of symptoms, go to the emergency room.
The authors noted that eradication of the creatures is challenging because of insecticide resistance, a lack of effective products, and health concerns about spraying mattresses with pesticides.

Sleep Apnea Linked To Increased Risk Of Death

Sleep-disordered breathing (also known as sleep apnea) is associated with an increased risk of death, according to new results from the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort, an 18-year observational study supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health. Researchers found that adults (ages 30 to 60) with sleep-disordered breathing at the start of the study were two to three times more likely to die from any cause compared to those who did not have sleep-disordered breathing. The risk of death was linked to the severity of sleep-disordered breathing and was not attributable to age, gender, body mass index (an indicator of overweight or obesity), or cardiovascular health status.
“Sleep-Disordered Breathing and Mortality: Eighteen-Year Follow-Up of the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort,” is published August 1 in the journal Sleep.
Researchers followed 1522 generally healthy men and women for an average of 13.8 years after testing them for sleep-disordered breathing using a standard overnight sleep test. Participants with severe sleep-disordered breathing were three times more likely to die during the study than those without breathing problems during sleep. Those who were not treated were at even greater risk. Participants with untreated severe sleep-disordered breathing were four times more likely to die from any cause and five times more likely to die from cardiovascular conditions.
The Wisconsin Sleep Cohort is the most comprehensive assessment yet of mortality risks associated with sleep-disordered breathing and the first to study a randomly selected population of adults in the United States. The findings suggest that the treatment of severe sleep-disordered breathing may be protective, especially against cardiovascular deaths. Further studies are needed to determine whether the findings are applicable across the United States, and how treatment may improve survival, quality of life, and the overall health status of affected individuals.
Michael J. Twery, PhD, director of the NHLBI National Center on Sleep Disorders Research, is available to comment on these findings, as well as on associated health risks of sleep-disordered breathing, and the importance of diagnosing and treating the condition.
An estimated 12-18 million Americans have moderate to severe sleep-disordered breathing. Periodically during sleep, the upper airway becomes narrowed or blocked, and air has trouble reaching the lungs; in some cases, breathing stops completely (called apnea) for seconds to minutes at a time. The frequent pauses in breathing disrupt sleep and prevent adequate amounts of oxygen from entering the bloodstream. Interruptions in breathing are potentially serious medical conditions and should be evaluated by a physician to determine whether treatment is needed.
Because affected individuals are asleep and typically unaware of the breathing problems, and the condition cannot be diagnosed during routine physician office visits, most people with sleep-disordered breathing are undiagnosed.
Untreated sleep-disordered breathing has been linked to a greater risk of cardiovascular disease and risk factors — including high blood pressure, stroke, and diabetes — as well as to excessive daytime sleepiness, which can impair quality of life and performance on the job or in school, and increase the risk of injury or death from work-related accidents and vehicular crashes.
Common signs that should be discussed with a physician include complaints of snoring from bed partners, excessive daytime sleepiness, and morning headache. Sleep-disordered breathing occurs in people of all ages, but is more common in men, the elderly, and overweight individuals. With the growing prevalence of overweight and obesity in the United States and the aging population, the number of individuals with sleep-disordered breathing is likely to rise.

Insomnia and Anxiety Medications Linked to Increased Mortality

Medications taken for insomnia and anxiety are now linked to increased mortality. Results of an analysis found a 36 percent increased chance of dying among individuals who use sleeping medications and anti-anxiety drugs, found in a twelve year study.
The findings come from a study that followed 14,000 Canadians in the Statistics Canada's National Population Health Survey from 1994 and 2007. During the survey, participants who used drugs for insomnia or anxiety were noted to have a thirty-six percent higher chance of dying after adjusting for other personal factors, including depression, tobacco and alcohol use, other health issues and activity levels.
The researchers say there are several reasons that sleeping pills and medicines to treat anxiety might do more harm than good.

How Sleeping Pills and Anxiety Meds Increase Risk of Dying

Medicines used for insomnia decrease reaction time and alertness and lead to lack of coordination, potentially leading to falls and other mishaps. Impaired judgment could also increase the chances of suicide among depressed patients.
Geneviève Belleville, a professor at Université Laval's School of Psychology where the study was conducted says, "These medications aren't candy, and taking them is far from harmless." Another theory is that insomnia drugs and anxiolytics lead to respiratory depression, aggravating existing breathing problems that can lead to death.
Given the findings, Belleville suggests short-term use of drugs for insomnia and anxiety. Behavioral and cognitive therapy are shown to treat anxiety and sleep disorders and should be offered to patients by physicians. "Combining a pharmacological approach in the short term with psychological treatment is a promising strategy for reducing anxiety and promoting sleep."