Pillars of Good Health & Sleep with Dr. Raj

Steadfast Care Planning

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🫁 Welcome back to the Steadfast Care Planning podcast! Today, we’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Raj to the show. Dr. Raj is a quadruple board-certified physician and a renowned expert in internal medicine, pulmonary critical care, and sleep medicine. He is also a clinical researcher, associate professor, media personality, and author. In this episode, Dr. Raj delves deep into the critical topic of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and its widespread impact on breathing during sleep, comparing it to the extreme sensation of having a pillow placed over one’s face.
💤✨ Not only does Dr. Raj shed light on the underdiagnosis of OSA in women, but he also discusses the significant health implications of untreated OSA, including its effects on organ function and overall quality of sleep. We explore the contributing factors of OSA, such as weight, and a variety of treatment options ranging from CPAP devices and dental solutions to innovative therapies like the Inspire device.
🛌 Moreover, Dr. Raj emphasizes the need for a personalized approach to treatment, discusses the crucial balance between lifespan and healthspan, and outlines the four fundamental pillars of good health: diet, weight, mental health, and sleep. We’ll also touch on common sleep mistakes influenced by modern lifestyles and how to effectively communicate sleep concerns with healthcare providers.
💡 Don’t miss this episode packed with expert insights, practical advice, and Dr. Raj’s strategies to improve your health and well-being. Plus, learn more about Dr. Raj’s presence on social media and his own podcast, "The Dr. Raj Podcast."
In this episode they covered:
🔹 **Four Pillars of Health:** Discover Dr. Raj's four pillars of good health: diet, finding optimal weight, mental health, and sleep, and how they contribute to a healthier life as we age.
🔹 **Stress Management:** Get tips on maintaining a positive attitude, avoiding isolation, and staying connected to manage stress effectively.
🔹 **Common Sleep Mistakes:** Learn about common mistakes that affect sleep quality, such as late-night technology use, alcohol consumption, snacks, and certain medications.
🔹 Dr. Raj shares valuable insights on *Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)*, a condition that disrupts breathing during sleep and affects millions in the U.S.
🔹 **Underdiagnosis in Women:** Uncover why OSA is often underdiagnosed in women and the symptoms to look out for beyond snoring.
🔹 **Health Impacts:** Explore how OSA affects organ function and can lead to poor quality sleep despite getting enough hours in bed.
🔹 **Contributing Factors:** Dive into the role of weight in OSA and how weight loss can improve symptoms, although it’s not the sole cause.
🔹 **Treatment Options:** Learn about the various treatment options for OSA, including CPAP devices, dental devices, positional therapy, surgery, and the innovative Inspire device.
For more information about Dr. Raj and his 4 Pillars of Health, please visit:
https://www.doctorrajd.com

For additional information about Kelly, check her out on Linkedin or www.SteadfastAgents.com.
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Steadfast Care Planning podcast is made possible by Steadfast Insurance LLC,
Certification in Long Term Care, and AMADA Senior Care Columbus.
Come back next time for more helpful guidance!

Chương

1. Pillars of Good Health & Sleep with Dr. Raj (00:00:00)

2. Introduction (00:00:03)

3. Difference between Lifespan and Healthspan (00:01:20)

4. The 4 Pillars of Health: diet, weight, mental health, and sleep (00:03:40)

5. Explaing common sleep mistakes: environment, diet, drinking, medication, electronic devices, etc. (00:08:50)

6. What is sleep apnea? A brief description of airflow and the causes of resricted airflow. (00:14:38)

7. AMADA Senior Care Commercial (00:17:54)

8. Is sleep apnea preventable? How can we avoid having sleep apnea? (00:18:20)

9. New advancements and treatments to help sleep apnea. (00:19:43)

10. What is the Inspire device? Dr. Raj explains the Inspire device and how it works as a sleep apnea treatment. (00:21:45)

11. Who is a good candidate for the Inspire device and explaining sleep labs that help correctly diagnose certain types of obstructive sleep apnea. (00:24:19)

12. Do CPAP users need to get retested periodically and are there sleep lab options like home testing? (00:25:38)

13. Dr. Raj explains ResMed and Respironics that both made CPAP machines and he explains the Respironics recall. (00:26:15)

14. Justifying a retest for insurance purposes, or not. (00:27:15)

15. Dr. Raj answers what advice he has for people to live healthy and to live well. (00:28:48)

16. Dr. Raj explains that 30% of our lives are spent spleeping so we really should take it seriously and make it count for better well-being and healthy living while we are awake. (00:29:00)

17. How to contact Dr. Raj and where to find his podcast, The Dr. Raj Podcast. (00:30:21)