If It Sounds Too Good to be True …

… it probably isn’t true!

Over the last year, we’ve examined a number of so-called “alternatives” to traditional treatments for obstructive sleep apnea, debunking some and clarifying others.  We’ve looked at pain relievers that also “help” the user to sleep, only to find that they all use the same “sleeping” ingredient, benadryl.  We will continue to look at devices and medications as they come to light in 2009, but in the meantime we urge you to be aware of certain easy to spot misleading statements about various products:

• If it claims to “cure” sleep apnea, it probably doesn’t.  You can effectively treat sleep apnea but, in most cases, other than very mild cases, it cannot be “cured.”
• Products that claim to stop you from snoring generally do not stop apnea episodes from occurring.
• If it includes a come-on like “Not Available in Stores,” ask yourself “Why not?”
• If its main selling point is “As Seen on TV,” that’s hardly scientific evidence of a product that works.
• If it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t true.
• If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck … you’ve got a duck.

 

Steve Gardner

The Sleep Wellness Institute