According to the Mayo Clinic, more than 12 million Americans suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Those who suffer from the condition start and stop breathing several times a night when their throat muscles relax and block their airways. OSA is the most frequently occurring form of sleep apnea compared to the far less common central sleep apnea, a condition in which the brain actually fails to signal muscles to breathe as a result of instability in the respiratory control center.

Symptoms of OSA

• Excessive sleepiness during the daytime (known as hypersomnia)
• Loud snoring
• Observed episodes of stopped breathing during sleep
• Abrupt awakenings while sleeping accompanied by a shortness of breath
• Waking with a sore throat and/or dry mouth
• Morning headaches
• Trouble staying asleep (known as insomnia)

Causes

OSA occurs when the muscles that support soft tissue in the throat relax. This causes the airway to narrow and close, and breathing is then momentarily restricted for approximately 10 to 20 seconds. This can lower the level of oxygen in the blood.

When the brain senses an inability to breathe, it briefly rouses you from your sleep so your airway can reopen. Often, this episode is not memorable because it only lasts for a brief moment.

Risks for Developing OSA

OSA can affect anyone, but certain people may be at a higher risk, such as: Read more

On Nov. 22, 2016, a federal judge in Texas issued a preliminary injunction, halting the enforcement of the Department of Labor’s (DOL) new overtime rule until further notice. This means employers can continue to follow the current mandates set by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) until any new announcements are made regarding the overtime rule.

The rule, originally scheduled to take effect on Dec. 1, 2016, would have increased the salary threshold for the “white collar overtime exemptions” to $47,476 per year. This prompted some employers to make adjustments ahead of the rule deadline.

Employers who already adjusted salaries and employee classifications have the ability roll back those changes, but should consider employee morale before simply retracting those adjustments. It is important for the HR department to clearly communicate next steps to applicable employees, so they aren’t left speculating. Read More

DID YOU KNOW?

President-elect Donald Trump will be inaugurated on Jan. 20, 2017. In a video address published in late November, Trump released a plan for his first 100 days in office.

During his campaign, Trump called for a repeal of President Barack Obama’s health care reform legislation, the Affordable Care Act (ACA). However, his plan does not indicate that he will be repealing it in the first 100 days of his presidency. Instead, his plan is focused on issues that include proposals related to immigration, defense policies and trade deals.

Deutsch & Associates, LLC will continue to monitor the presidential transition and any changes that will be made, and provide updates as necessary. Read More

Historically, one of the top New Year’s resolutions is to lose weight. Unfortunately, many people look to fad diets and weight-loss products to achieve their goals quickly. While fad diets may prove effective initially, research shows that many people don’t find long-term success with these types of diets.

Instead of setting a goal to lose weight fast this New Year’s, set a goal to lead a healthier lifestyle. Common lifestyle New Year’s resolutions include the following:

• Exercise regularly—Aim to get at least 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity a week and to do strength training exercises of major muscle groups at least twice a week.
• Maintain a well-balanced, healthy diet—Try to eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein-rich foods and healthy fats. Make it a goal to incorporate more fruits and veggies into your diet.
• Increase the amount of sleep you get—One of the best ways to become healthier is to get enough sleep. Try to get at least seven hours of sleep, the expert-recommended amount, per night.

Regardless of what you choose to make your New Year’s resolution, make sure it is a “SMART” goal—one that is specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely—to increase the odds that you will stick to it. Read More