Author: 2138845006

  • PRIVACY POLICY

    Last modified: March 7, 2025
    Introduction
    BLACKSTONE MEDICAL SERVICES, LLC (the “Company” or “We”) respects your privacy
    and is committed to protecting it through our compliance with this privacy policy (the “Policy”).
    The Policy should be read in connection with the Sleep Health Application End User License
    Agreement (the “EULA”), HIPAA Privacy Practices Policy, Medical Benefits Assignment, any
    applicable delivery ticket(s), and any terms and conditions or terms of use applicable to the
    Blackstone Medical Services Sleep Health Application (the “App”), the Company’s website (the
    “Website”), and any other applications or websites of the Company used or accessed by you in
    connection with the home sleep study (the “Services”).
    This Policy describes:
    · The types of information we may collect or that you may provide when you download,
    access, register with, or use the App.
    · Our practices for collecting, using, maintaining, protecting, and disclosing that
    information.
    This policy applies only to information we collect in the App and in email, text, and other
    electronic communications sent through or in connection with the App.
    This Policy DOES NOT apply to information that:
    · We collect offline or on any other Company applications or websites which are not
    otherwise intended to be used or accessed in connection with the Services.
    · You provide to or is collected by any third party.
    Our websites and applications, and other third parties, may have their own privacy policies,
    which we encourage you to read before providing information on or through them.
    Please read the Policy carefully to understand our policies and practices regarding your
    information and how we will treat it. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, do not
    download, register with, or use this App.
    BY CLICKING “I AGREE” OR OTHERWISE INDICATING YOUR CONSENT WHEN
    PROMPTED TO DO SO BY THE APP OR BY USING THE WEBSITE IN CONNECTION
    WITH THE SERVICES, YOU AGREE TO THIS POLICY.
    This Policy may change from time to time in the sole discretion of the Company, in accordance
    with the terms set forth herein. Your continued use of this App after we revise the Policy means
    you accept those changes, so please check the Policy periodically for updates.
    Children Under the Age of 18
    The Services are not intended for children under eighteen (18) years of age, and we do not
    knowingly collect Personal Health Information (as defined below) from children under eighteen
    (18). If we learn we have collected or received Personal Health Information from a child under
    eighteen (18) without verification of parental consent, we will promptly delete such information.

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    If you believe we might have any information from or about a child under eighteen (18), please
    contact us using the contact information below.
    Information We Collect and How We Collect It
    We collect information from and about users of our App:
    · Directly from you when you provide it to us.
    · Automatically when you use the App.
    · When you authorize us to receive your information from third parties.

    Information You Provide to Us
    When you download, register with, or use this App, we may ask you provide information:
    · By which you may be personally identified (“PII”), such as:
    · Personal Identifiers (such as your name, postal address, email address, telephone
    number, social security number)
    · Personal Information Categories, as listed in Cal. Civ. Code Sec. 1798.80(e)
    (including but not limited to your name, driver’s license number, insurance policy
    number, or other information which may overlap with other categories of information
    collected, as set forth in this policy)
    · Protected Classification Characteristics, as protected under state or federal law
    (including but not limited to age, race, sex, medical conditions, physical or mental
    disability)
    · Commercial Information (such as records of products/services purchased, obtained or
    considered, or other purchasing or consuming histories or tendencies)
    · Biometric Information (including genetic, physiological, behavioral, and biological
    characteristics, or activity patterns used to extract a template or other identifier or
    identifying information, such as, fingerprints, faceprints, and voiceprints, iris or retina
    scans, keystroke, gait, or other physical patterns, and sleep, health, or exercise data)
    · Internet or Network Activity (browsing history, search history, information on your
    interaction with a website, application, or advertisement)
    · Geological Data (such as your physical location or movements)
    · Sensory Data (audio, electronic, visual, thermal, olfactory, or similar information)
    · Professional or Employment Related Information (occupation)
    · Inferences Drawn from PII (profile reflecting a person’s preferences, characteristics,
    psychological trends, predispositions, behavior, attitudes, intelligence, abilities, and
    aptitudes)
    · Information related to your medical history, including information, whether oral or
    recorded in any form or medium that is created or received by a health care provider,

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    health plan, public health authority, employer, life insurer, school or university, or
    health care clearinghouse and relates to the past, present, or future physical or mental
    health or condition of an individual, the provision of health care to an individual, or
    the past, present, or future payment for the provision of health care to an individual,
    or any other information that is considered “protected health information” under
    certain state laws and federal laws such as HIPAA and HITECH (collectively,
    “Personal Health Information” or “PHI”).
    · That is about you but individually does not identify you.
    This information includes information that you provide:
    · By filling in forms or responding to prompts for information in the App. This includes
    information provided at the time of registering to use the App and/or subscribing to or
    electing to participate in any of our services, including requesting further services.
    · Upon reporting a problem with the App.
    · In correspondence with us. We may retain records and copies of your correspondence
    (including email addresses and phone numbers), if you contact us.
    · By responding to surveys or questionnaires that we might ask you to complete for
    research, customer satisfaction, or other purposes.
    · By responding to bill pay notifications. You may be required to provide financial
    information to our payment processor, at which time, the terms of service of such
    payment processor will be provided.
    We abide by the following principles with respect to your information:
     The Company will not collect any more PII than is considered necessary for the purposes
    collected
     PII is used for the specific purposes set forth in this Policy
     PII is not stored longer than is deemed necessary
     PII is not shared with any third parties except as provided in this Policy
     The Company will abide by any applicable law and/or Business Associate Agreement
    with respect to your PHI, notwithstanding this Policy

    Automatic Information Collection and Tracking
    When you download, access, and use the App, it may use technology to automatically collect
    information about your interaction with and use of the App or Website, including:
    · Usage Details. When you access and use the App, we may automatically collect certain
    details of your access to and use of the App, including traffic data, location data, logs,
    and other communication data and the resources or features that you access and use on or
    through the App.

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    · Device Information. We may collect information about your mobile device and internet
    connection, including the device’s unique device identifier, IP address, operating system,
    browser type, mobile network information, and the device’s telephone number.
    · Location Information. This App collects real-time information about the location of
    your device.
    · Stored Information and Files. The App also may access metadata and other information
    associated with other files stored on your device. This may include, for example,
    photographs, audio and video clips, and similar information.
    · Behavioral Tracking. The App may use technologies to collect information about your
    activities over time and across third-party websites, apps, or other online services.
    · Security. Certain data collection may be used to protect you and us and to detect any
    violations of this Policy or the Agreement.
    · Performance. The App may use technologies to ensure optimal use of the Services and
    the App or Website.
    IF YOU DO NOT WANT US TO COLLECT THIS INFORMATION DO NOT DOWNLOAD
    THE APP OR DELETE IT FROM YOUR DEVICE.
    We do not control third parties’ collection or use of your information to serve interest-based
    advertising. However, these third parties may provide you with ways to choose not to have your
    information collected or used in this way. You can opt out of receiving targeted ads from
    members of the Network Advertising Initiative (“NAI”) on the NAI’s website, located at
    https://optout.networkadvertising.org/?c=1.

    Information Collection and Tracking Technologies
    The technologies we use for automatic information collection may include:
    · Cookies. A cookie is a small file placed on your smartphone. It may be possible to refuse
    to accept mobile cookies by activating the appropriate setting on your smartphone.
    However, if you select this setting you may be unable to access certain parts of our App.
    · Web Beacons. Pages of the App and our emails may contain small electronic files known
    as web beacons that permit the Company, for example, to count users who have visited
    those pages or opened an email and for other related app statistics (for example,
    recording the popularity of certain content and verifying system and server integrity).

    Third-Party Information Collection
    When you use the App or its content, certain third parties may use automatic information
    collection technologies to collect information about you or your device. These third parties may
    include:
    · Analytics companies.
    · Your mobile device manufacturer.

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    · Your mobile service provider.
    · Advertisers, ad networks, or ad servers.
    These third parties may use tracking technologies to collect information about you when you use
    this App. The information they collect may be associated with your Personal Health Information
    or they may collect information, including Personal Health Information, about your online
    activities over time and across different websites, apps, and other online services websites. They
    may use this information to provide you with interest-based (behavioral) advertising or other
    targeted content.
    We do not control these third parties’ tracking technologies or how they may be used. If you have
    any questions about an advertisement or other targeted content, you should contact the
    responsible provider directly.

    How We Use Your Information
    We may use information that we collect about you or that you provide to us, including any
    Personal Health Information, to:
    · Provide you with the Services, and any other information, products or services that you
    request from us.
    · Fulfill any other purpose for which you provide it.
    · Give you notices about your account/subscription, including expiration and renewal
    notices, as applicable.
    · Carry out our obligations and enforce our rights arising from any contracts entered into
    between you and us, including for billing and collection.
    · Notify you when App updates are available, and of changes to any products or services
    we offer or provide though it.
    · Notify you of any updates to our policies and terms of service, as applicable.
    The usage information we collect helps us to improve our Services and to deliver a better and
    more personalized experience by enabling us to:
    · Estimate our audience size and usage patterns.
    · Store information about your preferences, allowing us to customize our App according to
    your individual interests.
    · Speed up your searches.
    · Recognize you when you use the App.
    We may use location information we collect to provide you information in connection with use
    of the Services, such as identifying the nearest courier for purposes of shipping the home sleep
    test device.
    We may use your information to contact you about other goods and services we offer that may
    be of interest to you.

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    We may use the information we collect to display advertisements to our advertisers’ target
    audiences. Even though we do not disclose your Personal Health Information for these purposes
    without your consent, if you click on or otherwise interact with an advertisement, the advertiser
    may assume that you meet its target criteria.

    Disclosure of Your Information
    We may disclose aggregated information about our users, and information that does not identify
    any individual or device, without restriction.
    SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE STATE AND FEDERAL LAW, INCLUDING BUT NOT
    LIMITED TO OUR OBLIGATIONS UNDER HIPAA AND HITECH, WE MAY LICENSE,
    SELL, OR OTHERWISE SHARE AGGREGATED, DE-IDENTIFIED VERSIONS OF YOUR
    PHI AND OTHER DATA (“DEIDENTIFIED INFORMATION”) WITH OUR
    SUBSIDIARIES, AFFILIATES, PARTNERS, CUSTOMERS, INVESTORS, AND
    CONTRACTORS FOR ANY PURPOSE. YOU AGREE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
    COMPANY IS THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE OWNER OF ANY DEIDENTIFIED
    INFORMATION CREATED BY COMPANY AND THAT YOU HAVE NO OWNERSHIP OR
    OTHER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS IN OR TO SUCH DEIDENTIFIED
    INFORMATION.
    In addition, we may receive or disclose other information, including Personal Health
    Information, that we collect or you provide:
    · To your physician and insurance carrier, as applicable.
    · To our subsidiaries and affiliates who are bound by contractual obligations to keep PHI
    and other information confidential and use it only for the purposes for which we disclose
    it to them.
    · To contractors, service providers, and other third parties we use to support our business
    and provide the services, including durable MyCardio, LLC and medical equipment
    providers and who are bound by contractual obligations to keep PHI and other
    information confidential and use it only for the purposes for which we disclose it to them.
    · To our third-party payment provider, as applicable.
    · To a buyer or other successor in the event of a merger, divestiture, restructuring,
    reorganization, dissolution, or other sale or transfer of some or all of the Company’s
    assets, whether as a going concern or as part of bankruptcy, liquidation, or similar
    proceeding, in which Personal Health Information held by the Company about our App
    users is among the assets transferred.
    · To fulfill the purpose for which you provide it.
    · For any other purpose disclosed by us when you provide the information.
    · With your consent.
    · To comply with any court order, law, or legal process, including to respond to any
    government or regulatory request.

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    · To enforce our rights arising from any contracts entered into between you and us,
    including the EULA, and for billing and collection.
    · If we believe disclosure is necessary or appropriate to protect the rights, property, or
    safety of the Company our customers or others. This includes exchanging information
    with other companies and organizations for the purposes of fraud protection and data
    security.

    Accessing and Updating Your Personal Health Information
    You can review and change your PHI or other information by logging into the App and visiting
    your account profile page. We cannot change your PHI or other information nor can we delete
    your PHI or other information except by also deleting your user account. We may deny access to
    your PHI or Personal Health Information when required by law or if we believe such access
    would cause the PHI or other information of a third party to be revealed.
    You may also contact us to request access to, correct, or delete any Personal Health Information
    that you have provided to us; provided, however that certain information we may not be able to
    delete without deleting your account. We may not accommodate a request to change information
    if we believe the change would violate any law or legal requirement or cause the information to
    be incorrect.

    Data Security
    We have implemented measures designed to secure your Personal Health Information and other
    information from accidental loss and from unauthorized access, use, alteration, and disclosure.
    Information you provide to us is stored on our secure database and all medical records are
    encrypted.
    The safety and security of your information also depends on you. Where we have given you (or
    where you have chosen) a password for access to certain parts of our App, you are responsible
    for keeping this password confidential. We ask you not to share your password with anyone.
    Unfortunately, the transmission of information via the internet and mobile platforms is not
    completely secure. Although we do our best to protect your Personal Health Information, we
    cannot guarantee the security of your Personal Health Information transmitted through our App.
    Any transmission of Personal Health Information is at your own risk. We are not responsible for
    circumvention of any privacy settings or security measures we provide.

    Changes to Our Privacy Policy
    We may update this Policy from time to time. If we make material changes to how we treat our
    users’ Personal Health Information, we will post the new privacy policy on this page with a
    notice that the Policy has been updated.
    The date the privacy policy was last revised is identified at the top of the page. You are
    responsible for periodically visiting this privacy policy to check for any changes.

    Contact Consent.
    By clicking Select, Agree or logging into the Blackstone SleepHealth (Android/iOS) or Blackstone Sleep (iOS) app, I am providing my express written consent to permit Blackstone Medical Services, staff, contractors and subsidiaries, to contact me by telephone, email or text (SMS Messages), including through automated technology.

    SMS Messaging
    You are able to sign up for SMS messages – please note that messaging frequency will vary,
    and message and data rates may apply. You can text HELP for help, or STOP to stop at any time.
    The phone number and SMS consent obtained for the purpose of SMS is not shared with third parties for marketing purposes.

    SMS Terms of Service

    By opting into SMS from a web form or other medium, you are agreeing to receive SMS messages from Blackstone Medical Services. This includes SMS messages for appointment scheduling, appointment reminders, post-visit instructions, lab notifications, and billing notifications. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. See privacy policy at https://www.wpt-ydlv.199-250-204-138.cpanel.site/privacy-policy-2/ Message HELP for help. Reply STOP to any message to opt out.

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    Links / URL’s
    Sleep Health Application End User License Agreement
    HIPAA Privacy Practices Policy
    Medical Benefits Assignment
    HIPAA Marketing Authorization

     

    Contact Information
    To ask questions or comment about the Policy and our privacy practices, contact us at:

    1-888-710-2727 or email us at:  customersupport@blackstonemedicalservices.com


    For refunds, email:
     refundrequest@blackstonemedicalservices.com

    For receipts, email: receiptrequest@blackstonemedicalservices.com

    For a time extension when doing your test, email: extension@blackstonemedicalservices.com

  • REFUND POLICY

    Refund Policy
    After you have completed the test, you will be required to return the testing device to Blackstone in the
    package provided. Once Blackstone receives your device, Blackstone will then conduct an accounting of
    all testing costs, fees and payments made associated with your account. After you have returned the
    device, you should contact your insurance company to determine what portion if any of the testing fee
    is not covered by insurance and for which you are responsible. If the amount for which you are
    responsible more than your initial payment to Blackstone, you will have a balance due. If the amount
    for which you are responsible is less than your initial payment you made to Blackstone, you may be
    entitled to an overpayment refund.

    If Blackstone is holding any overpayment funds on your behalf, Blackstone will access an administrative
    fee of $10.00 per month for every month in which Blackstone is holding any overpayment after the
    conclusion of the sleep test. The administrative fee is necessary to cover the administrative expenses
    incurred in conducting a final accounting and in maintaining your account. However, if you have an
    overpayment being held by Blackstone, and you contact Blackstone within 90 days’ following the
    conclusion of your test to request your refund, the administrative fee will be waived.
    However, if after 90 days you have not contacted Blackstone to request your refund, all accrued
    administrative fees will be applied to your account, and your credit balance will be deducted
    accordingly.  Your account will thereafter continue to be assessed the monthly administrative fee until
    your account balance reaches $0.00 or you contact Blackstone Medical Services to request the refund of
    any overpayment you may have.

    If Blackstone issues an overpayment refund check and you do not cash it within 90 days of issuance, the
    check will thereafter be rendered void, the administrative fee will be applied to your account, and your
    credit balance will be deducted accordingly.  Your account will thereafter continue to be assessed the
    monthly administrative fee until your account balance reaches $0.00 or you contact Blackstone Medical
    Services to request that we issue another check for the remaining credit balance. In the event
    Blackstone Medical Services does issue a second check, this process will begin again until that check has
    been cashed or your account reaches $0.00.

  • California Herald: Regaining Your Focus in the Face of Challenges with Vick Tipnes

    California Herald: Regaining Your Focus in the Face of Challenges with Vick Tipnes

    Everybody has a dream; each of us tries to reach for those dreams one way or another. There are some that struggle and decide that it isn’t worth it, but there are also those that persevere despite all the struggles that they have to face. Then there are also some of us that can’t seem to find a goal to latch on to. Vick Tipnes belonged to the fortunate few that had a dream, struggled for it, but achieved it in the end. This is a story of success, and it all started when Vick was a little boy.

    Vick Tipnes always knew that he wanted to be an entrepreneur, as a kid he had high hopes of becoming a great businessman, looking up to his father for inspiration who was also an entrepreneur. Growing up, he eventually realized that he wasn’t great at selling anything at all, he realized that if he wanted to start a career in the business industry, he had to at least work on his salesmanship.

    He started working as a car salesman to get a good grasp on salesmanship and improve his entrepreneurial skills. He gained a lot of valuable experience from his time as a car salesman and managed to boost up his confidence as well; this was looking to be a start of a fruitful career for Vick.

    After gaining the right skill set and a set amount of knowledge, he then ventured on to establish his very own business. Though Vick struggled to scale the businesses he started early on in his career, he had to sell the businesses he started since the mounting problems were too difficult to bear. By the time he turned 35 years old it finally hit him, he had realized that he had to work harder than ever before in order to reach for his dreams, he couldn’t just take no for an answer if he wanted to amount to anything.

    And so he took action and sought self-improvement to the point of near obsession. He was obsessed with gaining more knowledge so he could improve his skills in the business industry. During this time, Vick had little or no money to his name, he didn’t even own a sofa, but he had something more important, he had belief in himself. He knew that if he made himself more able and had more knowledge, it would benefit everyone around him.

    He finally hatched a plan to establish Blackstone Medical Services straight from his own kitchen. He started Blackstone in 2012; with the purpose of helping as many people as he could through better cost, access, and quality. Vick started Blackstone from a 400 sq.ft office, with no revenue, one employee, and a loan from an investor. He just accepted the fact that some weeks he may not get paid because he had to take care of his employees first, but he knew that all the hard work and sacrifice would pay off one day.

    And so it did, since then, Blackstone Medical Services has grown into becoming one of the largest providers of Home Sleep Testing services in the USA. Blackstone recently made the coveted Inc 5000 list in 2016, 2017, 2018, and was ranked 1276 out of 5000 companies in the country, based on its 345% growth.

    They have grown into a national company that does business in all 50 states in America. They are contracted with over 17 million lives via various Insurance Providers, providing an unmatched level of service to their clients.

    Vick Tipnes managed to overcome the challenges that he faced by refocusing on his goals and his true purpose. Now he owns a company that earns him money and gives him financial freedom while also helping those around him.

    Link to Article: https://www.californiaherald.com/regaining-your-focus-in-the-face-of-challenges-with-vick-tipnes/

  • Are Naps Beneficial?

    Are Naps Beneficial?

    Many people, mostly children and the elderly, are caught needing a nap or two throughout their days. Humans are thought to be one of few mammalian species that are monophasic with their sleeping – meaning each day is split into a time for sleep and a separate time for being awake. Are naps something we should take more serious?

    It is not fully clear or proven that people need to maintain a monophasic sleep schedule. Humans often feel the need to take a nap throughout their day.

    Which kinds of naps can people benefit from?

    The best kinds of napping often tend to be short, quick intervals of sleep that are either planned or immediately following one’s feelings of being suddenly tired. The scheduled naps will allow your body to maintain its proper sleep cycle and the immediate napping is great to help reduce major feelings of fatigue. 20 – 30 minutes is great for napping intervals to produce short-term increases in alertness and energy.

    Napping has been proven to increase a person’s sense of awareness, general mood, and both mental and physical performance.

    Improve Sleeping

    Napping is great, but the real work is done when you sleep at night. There are always things you can do to help your main sleeping at night, like adjusting the room temperature to be slightly cool, removing electronic usage before bed, and other things of the same nature. What most people do not realize, though, is taking naps late in the day can sometimes hurt your ability to fall asleep on time. You can improve your sleeping by moving these naps to earlier times in the day, or simply power through and maintain your overall sleep schedule.

    Other Reasons for Tiredness

    Napping is one way to reduce drowsiness and overall tiredness of your body and mind, but there may be another reason why you are feeling tired each morning, or throughout your day. 1 in 5 people are affected by sleep apnea. This means you have a big risk of succumbing to this breath-taking disease.

    Sleep apnea is a disease that causes you to stop breathing for a few seconds up to a minute when you are sleeping. This is quite scary to deal with if you do not have a proper treatment plan in place. It is recommended that you go see your doctor and be hooked up to many tests, or to order your own sleep test kit at home (one can be found HERE).

    Sleep is an essential part of human life. It helps the body to rebuild, cleanse itself, and gather is energy for the next day to come. Get some sleep!

  • Not Getting Enough Sleep Hurts You

    Not Getting Enough Sleep Hurts You

    Chances are, you have probably woken up one morning after only five hours of sleep and felt like you could have used another five. Not getting the amount of sleep your body needs can actually have some harmful effects – even if you cannot physically see them.shutterstock_387245272

    Not enough sleep has been linked to a lack in efficiency of your memory, ability to learn, your ability to focus and be productive, and more. This can even affect your body in such a way that your organs have trouble performing their best and your metabolism can slow down. For those people trying to lose weight, you need to make sure you are sleeping enough!

    Especially with older people, not having enough sleep can be a risk factor for things like depression when the person has a form of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

    Heal Your Body

    “Forty-five percent of Americans say that poor or insufficient sleep affected their daily activities at least once in the past seven days, according to the National Sleep Foundation’s inaugural Sleep Health Index™.” – LackOfSleepFoundation

    A lack of sleep clearly has more than enough negative effects on our bodies. Being that it is so important to have a healthy sleep each night, there are things you need to do to help regulate your patterns:

    Set a schedule each day on when you are waking up and going to bed to help your body’s natural sleep cycle to kick in during times it is needed. Also, putting your body through a routine before bed can help trigger your mind into recognizing that sleep is soon to come. Even if you are tired, try to stay awake when it is later in the day so your body can effectively start its sleep cycle at night.

    If you want to drink coffee, do so earlier in the day so your body has a chance to come down to normal levels for its nighttime cycle of sleep. Also, when trying to fall asleep in bed it is important to remove distractions that may cause you to wake your body up: Pets, cell phones, light pollution, etc.

    Not getting enough sleep is sometimes not our fault. We may have experienced an event, or person, waking us up for some reason through the night, or we may even have a disease that prevents us from getting our full 8 hours.

    Sleep apnea affects 1 in 5 people and this interferes with their ability to breathe when they sleep. There are machines and processes you can use to alleviate sleep apnea, but to make sure you even have it you should get tested first. There are two choices for this: Go to the doctor and get hooked up to many different tests, or click HERE and get your own sleep test kit to use in your home.

    Sleep is something that people often overlook because it is a common thing we all experience. A lack of sleep is something that needs to be fixed before your health sees terrible effects! Go catch some quality Zs!

  • Sleep Apnea Affects 1 in 5 People – Get Tested!

    Sleep Apnea Affects 1 in 5 People – Get Tested!

    Sleep apnea has been affecting large numbers of people for a while now. An increase in obesity has helped it grow into a bigger problem, but being overweight is not always a reason it shows up.sleep-apnea

    What is Sleep Apnea?

    Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes you to have a single, or multiple pauses in breathing while sleep. These can be short pauses, or they can be lengthy minutes of restrained breaths. Sometimes short pauses do not affect the body too much, but a lot of the time the extra stress it puts on your body can have serious health effects.

    How is Sleep Apnea started?

    There can be many different causes which makes this important for you to see a doctor or get tested in your own home (click HERE for more information). Often, though, sleep apnea can be triggered by collapsing tissues near the back side of your throat’s airways. By closing and restricting the amount of air you can take in while sleeping, your body responds by snoring, a lack of breath, or even waking up consistently throughout the night.

    What to do if you think you have Sleep Apnea?

    Sleep Apnea can increase stress amounts on your body and can lead to higher blood pressures, heart disease, and an increase occurrence of strokes, increased chances for pre-diabetes and diabetes, and forms of depression. How do you treat this before these symptoms appear?

    You can see your doctor and get tested through a complicated, lengthy process to find out if your sleeping issues are caused by sleep apnea. Also, you can go to Blackstone Medical Services and we can help guide you to doing a simple and quick in-home test to see if you need to be treated. Once we have determined you need treatment for obstructive sleep apnea, we can then walk you through an easy process of fixing this unneeded intrusive disease so you can get normal nights of rest.

    Sleep Apnea affects 1 in 5 people so do not feel worried if you happen to be one of them. There is a way to handle it – you just have to reach out and ask for help.

  • Get Better Sleep to Improve Your Quality of Life – How To

    Get Better Sleep to Improve Your Quality of Life – How To

    A good night’s rest is vital to maintaining a healthy body and mind, but how can you make sure your sleep is at its best?

    shutterstock_338717978Your life will improve greatly, in term
    s of quality, when you get enough sleep. There are different things you can do to help you fall asleep faster, maintain deeper sleep, and more.

    The Power of Routines

    Falling asleep and waking up at similar times each day will put your body’s sleep schedule in more of a routine. When your routine is a bigger part of your sleep cycle, your body will automatically start to get tired at the same times each day. You need to make sure you do this on weekends as well so your biological clock recognizes the routine!

    To help put your body and mind into the properly relaxed mindset, every night before you go to sleep you should incorporate a series of things you do to prepare. This series of routine actions will help trigger your body and mind to start preparing itself to sleep. An example of this could be to read a book for 30 minutes, wash your face with a warm towel, brush your teeth and then head to bed without any use of electronics during the whole process.

    Assist your body and mind to get into a more relaxed and sleep-ready state, you can make your resting room more peaceful and restful. Often, people prefer to sleep in rooms with no light, no sound, and a slightly cool temperature. This can vary from person to person, but if you are not sure what your body prefers yet, you can start with this basic environment.

    What if your quality of sleep does not improve?

    If you are not using electronics at all during, or after your nightly routine, you will have a greater chance to have exceptional sleep. If you get enough quality sleep but still feel tired, there may be other things that are affecting your body – like sleep apnea, or a reduction, or interruption of breathing during sleep. It is best to talk to your doctor if this is the case because if something like sleep apnea is left untreated, there may be some serious negative effects on your body.

    If you want to understand obstructive sleep apnea more, or even get tested in your own home, go HERE. There is no reason you should not have someone helping you through something like sleep apnea.

    Get more sleep

    Getting more quality sleep has a number of benefits like more energy, more recovery for our body’s muscles and joints, and less illness. Just remember to make sure you create a routine to put your body and mind into the right state and your quality of life will improve greatly.

  • Stop Snoring!

    Stop Snoring!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJdX37W5Rbo

    What if you snore and found out you do not have sleep apnea? What do you do?

    The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that sleep physicians prescribe oral appliances rather than no therapy for adult patients who request treatment for primary snoring when they do not have obstructive sleep apnea. What are some of the benefits?

    Advantages of Oral Appliances that Reduce Snoring

    Oral appliances reduce the frequency and intensity of snoring, improve sleep quality for the patients who snore and their bed partners, and improve quality of life measures.

    Insufficient evidence exists to conclude the treatment of primary snoring and prove other health-related outcomes or to compare objective sleep quality during the use of oral appliances versus other treatments. Nonetheless, it will help you with your snoring.

    Therefore, oral appliances should be recommended for patients who snore and fail conservative measures such as losing weight, positional therapy, avoiding alcohol, and request further treatment.

    Diagnosed primary snoring should be rendered by sleep physicians like ours at Blackstone Medical because snoring is frequently accompanied by OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea). When it is misdiagnosed, there can be serious implications for the patient. If you need more information please contact us at our website BlackstoneMedicalServices.com because we are the preferred choice in home sleep testing.

    There is a very high chance that you know someone who snores in their sleep, or you may be that person! This often can be harmless, but it may be a nuisance to other people around. It can be harmless, but it also can be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea. Make sure you and your loved ones are rightfully informed with the correct information so you can live your lives to the fullest!

  • The Link between Blood Pressure and Apnea

    The Link between Blood Pressure and Apnea

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dLufsHzeuo&feature=youtu.be

    Often we are affected by disorders that we do not choose to have to live with. It is highly-likely that you are either affected personally with sleep apnea or high blood pressure, or you know someone who is. These can be a deadly combination and can be related in some senses so it is best you have all the right information to help manage and control your life.

    I want to provide you with the latest information about your health so you are more educated and can help yourself and other people that suffer from these issues. This will be something that is very important for you if you are, or know of, someone who is affected by one of these two disorders.

    The Relationship between Blood Pressure and Sleep Apnea

    There is a wealth of research that suggests sleep apnea and high blood pressure are a very dangerous pair. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when breathing is briefly and repeatedly interrupted during sleep and this has been known to increase the risk for high blood pressure.

    Research also shows that high blood pressure, often referred to as the “Silent Killer,” can cause sleep apnea or it can worsen breathing in patients who are already affected by sleep apnea.

    Sleep apnea and high blood pressure have both been linked to significantly increased risk of serious complications like strokes and heart attacks. Research suggests that anywhere from 30% – 50% of patients with high blood pressure have sleep apnea.

    However, sleep apnea is much more common in patients with resistant hypertension who have tried a variety of blood pressure treatments but can’t get their condition under control. Resistant hypertension is a major public health issue because uncontrolled, high blood pressure can lead to serious complications.

    Treatments

    The good news is that treatment for obstructive sleep apnea can aid in lowering blood pressure levels. A simple, mass-therapy called “CPAP,” helps promote normal breathing during sleep and shows to have reduced blood pressure levels. CPAP is especially effective as a potential treatment for these high-risk patients.

    It is very important that you know how to handle and manage high blood pressure and sleep apnea because your overall health can be greatly affected by these two. Please reach out to us for more information at BlackstoneMedicalServices.com.

    We are the preferred choice for home sleep medical testing for a reason!

  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea Increases Risk of Stroke

    Obstructive Sleep Apnea Increases Risk of Stroke

    The chances are high that you are, or know of someone who is, affected by obstructive sleep apnea. While this may appear as a minor disorder, it can actually be a common cause for major complications.

    Obstructive sleep apnea more than doubles the risk of stroke in men and increases the chance of having a stroke in women according to new research. The founding comes from a major study that tested 5,400 people of the age 40 and older, who had no history of a stroke.

    The Effects for Men

    Researchers say that an increased risk of having a stroke appeared in men with mild sleep apnea and rose greatly with the higher severity of their apnea. Men with moderate-to-severe sleep apnea were about three times more likely to have a stroke than men with mild, or no sleep apnea.

    The Effects for Women

    The increased risk of having a stroke in women with obstructive sleep apnea was significant only in cases of severe apnea according to the study published by the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

    Researchers say more than 50 million strokes occur worldwide every year and about one-third of them are fatal. Increased risk of stroke in people with sleep apnea exists even without other risk factors such as weight, blood pressure, race, diabetes, and smoking.

    How to Protect You and Your Loved Ones

    If you feel you might be at risk, visit our website for more information at BlackstoneMedicalServices.com and you will see why there is a reason Blackstone Medical Services is the preferred choice in home sleep testing.

    We want to make sure you and your loved ones are properly informed and taken care of because obstructive sleep apnea can have severely harmful effects on the people with the disorder and surrounding friends and family. There are ways to make your life better and reduce your risk of stroke from obstructive sleep apnea and we are sure we can help you.

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