MEDICAL EXPERTS: Snorers Far More likely To Go Blind!

Do you feel exhausted and sleepy even after a full night’s sleep? Do you snore all night, breathe through the mouth, and feel tired the next day? If you have an affirmative answer to these, then you are probably suffering from obstructive sleep apnea.
Though snoring while sleeping is not considered to be unusual, not many know that excessive snoring is a serious health problem that can lead to grave complications, including blindness, heart problems and high blood pressure, if not treated in time.
This noisy and laboured breathing, often interrupted by gasping and snorting, experts have linked with Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA,) a condition that causes interrupted breathing during sleep and found more predominant in individuals with glaucoma.
Researchers in Taiwan have discovered that obstructive sleep apnea is not simply a marker for poor health, it is actually an independent risk factor for open-angle glaucoma.
In a nationwide, population-based dataset to examine the prevalence and risk of the most common form of glaucoma among patients with the most common form of sleep apnea, they found that people with sleep apnea are far more likely to develop glaucoma compared to those without the sleep condition.
According to the study published in the August 2013 edition of the Journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the risk of developing open-angle glaucoma within five years of an obstructive sleep apnea diagnosis was 1.67 times higher in those who had sleep apnea compared to the control subjects.
Glaucoma is the second-leading cause of blindness worldwide. It is a disease of the eye in which fluid pressure within the eye rises. If left untreated, the patient may lose vision, and even become blind. The disease generally affects both eyes, although one may have more severe signs and symptoms than the other.
There is a small space in the front of the eye called the “anterior chamber”. Clear liquid flows in-and-out of the anterior chamber. This fluid nourishes and bathes nearby tissues. If a patient has glaucoma, the fluid does not drain properly - it drains too slowly - out of the eye. This leads to fluid build-up, and pressure inside the eye rises. Unless this pressure is brought down and controlled, the optic nerve and other parts of the eye may become damaged, leading to loss of vision.
Dr Sola Olawoye, a consultant opthamologist, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State, affirmed that several studies have found out that glaucoma and sleep apoea are related considering that a lot of persons that snore also have glaucoma.
According to Dr Olawoye, as a result of insufficient oxygen to the optic nerve due to interrupted breathing during sleep, the optic nerve end is compromised. This is the nerve that carries images of what we see from the eye to the brain. Its damage results to vision loss and blindness.
“As a result, we are beginning to say that some glaucoma cases are not related to raised intra-ocular pressure in the eyes. This is because intra-ocular pressure in the eye oftentimes is within the normal range, which is within the statistically normal range, but they still have glaucoma and many of such cases may be related to sleep apnea.
There are different degrees of sleep apnea-mild, moderate and severe. The degree can be ascertained by using a Polysomnography.
Dr Olawoye, however, stated that for now the moderate and severe forms of sleep apnea are those to worry about when thinking about glaucoma.
“Usually, those with mild sleep apnea are asked to change their lifestyle, do more exercises, eat more green vegetables, stop smoking and lose weight to control it, but for the moderate and severe ones, aside these changes recommended for those with mild sleep apnea, they will also require therapy. They require using the continuous positive air pressure machine.
“What this does is to ensure that the person continues to take in enough oxygen through the night while sleeping. It has been found to be very valuable, especially in those who with normal tension glaucoma and who experience also severe or moderate sleep apnea.
In Nigeria, some centres exist in Lagos where Polysomnography can be done to ascertain the severity of sleep apnea.
Losing weight is of great importance in treatment of sleep apnea. “We know that the airway can get choked up because of the shortness of their neck, fat deposits in the neck region and so on,” she explained.
Can individuals know if they have glaucoma? “Diagnosis of glaucoma can only be done by an ophthalmologist or optician. Individuals cannot detect or know they have eye problem.”
Usually, glaucoma would have started for many years before it is detected by many individuals. The side vision is gradually lost and over time, the central vision is affected. It is only then that the patient knows something is wrong with the eye. Unfortunately, where just one eye is affected to start with, the patient might not realise the loss of vision since the unaffected eye would be trying to compensate.
Dr Olawoye declared: “What we usually advise is that individuals above the age of 30 years see an ophthalmologist at least once a year to have their eye check for the disease.  That the intraocular pressure is normal, however, does not mean a person does not have glaucoma. In people with a type of glaucoma called low pressure or normal tension glaucoma, the intraocular pressure is low.
“The high intraocular pressure is the one that is easy to detect by any trained person who has the machine to pick it, but those other ones who have statistically normal pressures need an ophthalmologist look at their optic nerve to ascertain if they have glaucoma.
“Important, that a person’s parents have glaucoma means  such should be more concerned about ensuring regular eye checks because they have a risk of developing the eye problem. Also, a person that wears prescription glasses needs regular eye checks for glaucoma.”
So, how many people in Nigeria have glaucoma? According to Dr Olawoye, between 7 and 8 per cent of Nigerians may have glaucoma.
“In a recent study that we did in Ibadan in Akinyele local government, about 7 in 100 people above the age of 40 years had glaucoma. Sadly, in many developing countries, including Nigeria, between 90 and 95 per cent of people affected by glaucoma are not aware they have this blinding disease and as such are not seeking medical care.”
While describing glaucoma as a silent epidemic, which is more severe in black people, Dr Olawoye said as people age. In people aged 60 years, about 20 percent have glaucoma. This is because the older people get, the more the risk of developing glaucoma. So, the older one becomes, the more the need to pay attention to one’s eyes.
But are children exempted from problem of glaucoma? “Unfortunately, Nigeria and other West African countries have the highest prevalence of juveniles with glaucoma and often times, the disease is worst in this age group. Often, glaucoma in juveniles is genetic but it does not follow the mendelian inheritance fashion as is the case in sickle cell disease.
“So, the fact that the father and the mother do not have glaucoma does not mean their child cannot develop glaucoma if the disease is in the family medical history, thus making it worse. “
To this end, she urged people with glaucoma to ensure people in their lineage also get tested because everyone is at risk of developing this blinding disease.

Jonathan Approves N400bn For Varsities!

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has approved a sum of N400 billion to be expended on infrastructural development of Nigerian universities in order to transform them to international standard within the next four years.
The document to this effect is expected to be made available  today at the meeting of the Presidential Committee on Implementation of the NEEDS Assessment in the universities with the leaders of the four university based unions - the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
President of SSANU, Comrade Samson Ugwoke, stated this while addressing his union members at the SSANU National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held at the University of Abuja at the weekend.
Comrade Ugwoke was briefing the SSANU members on what the NEEDS Assessment Implementation Committee, led by the Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswan is doing.
The N400 billion, according to him is different from the N100 billion which Governor Suswan- led committee had raised from donor agencies and big companies to tackle the problems of Nigerian universities in the year 2013.
The SSANU President said: “Let me give you a tip on what the NEED Assessment Committee is doing. The President has approved that within the next four years, N400 billion would be expended in infrastructural development of Nigerian universities, and to transform them to international standard.
“N100 billion has been raised by the Suswan Committee, he has done that already. 61 universities had been penciled down as contained in the NEEDS Assessment Committee. These 61 universities will share the N100 billion in various categories which include refurbishing and renovation of lecture theaters and lecture halls, refurbishing and renovation of laboratory/library and the renovation of hostels.
“The second category is building of new hostels of international standard, self-contained room, the latest model in the world. That is the standard to be built in every university, and also the state-of-the-art laboratories as well as classrooms, lecture theatres and the halls.”
Comrade Ugwoke pointed out that the money had been shared  and out of the N100 billion, N96 billion had been sent to universities.
He added: “The committee is meeting again on Monday (today), and by Monday, the document will be out. This time around, it is not only by giving universities money, but it will be monitored to ensure that the money is used to transform the universities, to bail universities out of the present situation and develop them to an internationally recognized university standard.”
He, however regretted that the initial setting up of the first committee that came up with the report was subjective, wondering how a committee on NEEDS in the universities would be set up to work without the inclusion of the three non- teaching staff unions, SSANU, NAAT and NASU, but only flocks with ASUU members and their associates.
The SSANU president stated that this led the committee to write a report only from ASUU’s perspective, but for the quick intervention of the other three unions who wrote a counter report which was accepted by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, who apologized to the other unions.
However, he assured the non-teaching staff in the universities and SSANU members that none of them will be retrenched based on the previous NEEDS Assessment report.
The SSANU president said: “I know that our members will be saying that what does the committee say about our members. I can assure you that our members will never be relegated, they will never be sacked or retrenched, there is nothing like that in the terms of reference of the Presidential Committee on the Implementation of NEEDS Assessment.
“We have three Presidents against one in that committee and we are doing our networking. Unless they want to close the universities, they dare not try to retrench or touch our members, because when we go on strike, it will be mother of all strikes, they know that.
Not even vice-chancellors will cross the gate of the universities.”
He also frowned on the Senate approval of girl-child marriage, describing it as an embarrassment to the nation, saying that what Senate should concern itself with is girl-child education, compulsory girl-child education and not compulsory girl-child marriage.
Comrade Ugwoke also condemned the abrogation of the National Minimum Wage law and the failure of the Senate to approve local government autonomy because of their personal selfish interest.
SSANU, according to him called on the Senate to reverse its amendment on girl child marriage, local government autonomy and the issue of national minimum wage.

Arsenal Fans Calls On Club Not To Renew Arsene Wengers Contract Due To His Recent Failings

London: Disgruntled Arsenal fans have stoked up the pressure on under-fire manager Arsene Wenger by telling the club`s board it would be `inappropriate` to offer the Frenchman a new contract.

Wenger`s deal expires at the end of the season but having failed to win a trophy in the last eight years, the 63-year-old is facing more heat than ever before in his 17 years in North London.

Many of the grievances come from Wenger`s recruitment policy, with young French forward Yaya Sanogo the only addition of the close season despite the board`s assurances the club had money to spend and could compete financially with the elite.

Fans called for investment throughout the disappointing 3-1 home loss to Aston Villa in their Premier League opener on Saturday, with the Arsenal Supporters Trust (AST) saying contract talks for the manager must be put on hold.

"In recent weeks (chief executive) Ivan Gazidis has spoken of the club`s intent to offer Arsene Wenger a new contract. The AST believes this is inappropriate," the group of more than 800 members, who own a handful of shares in the club, said in a statement on Sunday.

"There remain important questions about the way player identification, recruitment and remuneration processes are managed at Arsenal.

"The failings we highlighted in Arsene Wenger holding too much power have only been amplified in recent weeks. These must be addressed as a matter of urgency."

Wenger, who has won three league titles and four FA Cups with Arsenal, told reporters after Saturday`s defeat that he and his team `work 24 hours a day` to try and identify new recruits and that they analyse `every single player in the world`.

Arsenal were heavily linked with Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain before he moved to Napoli, Brazil midfielder Luis Gustavo, who went to VfL Wolfsburg, while Liverpool have so far rejected all advances for Uruguay forward Luis Suarez.

All this while, Premier League rivals Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, who all have board members assisting on deals, have invested heavily ahead of the new campaign with the transfer window set to close on September 2.

Improvement needed

"The fact that there is money available for squad strengthening is not disputed. The AST`s independent analysis suggests that the amount is somewhere between 70 million pounds to 100 million pounds," the AST said.

"For several transfer windows now, Arsenal have not used all the resources available to strengthen the team.

"A decision on whether to offer an extension to the manager`s contract which ends in May 2014 should only be taken following the closing of the transfer window and assessment of the team`s performance in the weeks ahead.

"Considerable improvement must be shown for us to be convinced this should happen."

The AST called upon Arsenal`s majority shareholder Stan Kroenke, known as `Silent Stan` for his reticent approach, to appoint an independent expert to conduct a review of all football functions at Arsenal.

However, Arsenal honorary vice president Nina Bracewell-Smith voiced her lack of faith in Kroenke on Sunday when she expressed regret at selling her shares to the American, who owns more than 66 percent of the club.

Kroenke, who also owns American teams in the NHL, NFL and NBA, bought Bracewell-Smith`s shares equating to almost 16 percent in 2011 during a tussle for control of the club with Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov.

Through his Red and White Securities, Usmanov and UK fund manager Farhad Moshriri own almost 30 percent of shares after buying up those of former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein, who recruited Wenger in 1996 and assisted on many transfers before departing in 2007.

"Bring David Dein and give Usmanov representation on the board if we are to have success going forward. #AFC," Bracewell-Smith said on her Twitter account.

Wenger`s plans to recruit are hampered by the busy start to the season with Arsenal away to Turkish side Fenerbahce in the first leg of their Champions League playoff round on Wednesday.

They then face a Premier League London derby at Fulham on Saturday before hosting Fenerbahce in the second leg on August 27 in a bid to once again reach the lucrative group stages.

Should results not go his way and the transfer window close without the signings demanded by the fans, Wenger could face as much heat from the home crowd as he normally gets from arch-rivals Spurs when the two clash at the Emirates on September 1.        

In Ekiti,Hunter Shoots Mate to Death,Says 'I Mistook Him For Antelope"

The police in Ekiti State have arrested a man in Igbara-Odo in Ekiti South West Local Government Area of the state for allegedly shooting his hunting mate to death during a hunting expedition.
A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the Ekiti State police command, Mr. Victor Babayemi, gave the name of the suspect as Musibau Mustapha, adding that his age was 30 years.
Babayemi said detectives of the state police command arrested Mustapha, saying he resided at Owode Street, Igbara-Odo  Ekiti, and that he was currently being investigated for murder.
According to Babayemi, Mustapha and 22-year-old Sunday Ijasa of Oke-Ode Street, also of Igbara-Odo, had gone on a hunting expedition on August 5, 2013, adding that the incident occured “at about 0230 hours in the bush where the two went for hunting.”
He added that “the suspect claimed he mistook the deceased for an antelope while they were on hunting expedition in the night.”
But the police said in the statement that “investigations conducted so far revealed that there are inconsistencies in the claim made by the suspect.”
The police added that “an autopsy has been conducted while investigation is still on-going,” adding that “the suspect will be charged to court as soon as investigation is completed.”

The Devil is a liar! hmmmm

Usain Bolt Did It Again When You Think He Has Done It All....

Usain Bolt anchored the Jamaican 4×100-meter relay to gold in the final event of the World Track and Field Championships on Sunday, his third title of the meet that matched him with three of the greatest U.S. sprinters of all time.

Bolt took the baton close to even with American Justin Gatlin, but the U.S.’ final exchange was not as clean as Jamaica’s. Bolt opened up daylight quickly and held on to win in 37.36 seconds. Jamaica has won the 4×100 at five straight major international championships dating to the 2008 Olympics.

“I wasn’t really worried about Justin,” Bolt said, according to The Associated Press. “I knew if he got the baton in front of me, I could catch him. So it was just going out there to run as fast as possible.”

The U.S. got silver in 37.66. Great Britain crossed third but was disqualified for a pass out of the exchange zone, elevating Canada to bronze.

Bolt went three for three in gold medals (100, 200, 4×100) for the fourth time at a worlds or Olympics in his career. He now owns eight career World Championships gold medals, tying the record also held by Allyson Felix, Michael Johnson and Carl Lewis.

Bolt also won his 10th career World Championships medal of any color, matching him with Lewis for the most by a man. Only Jamaican-turned-Slovenian Merlene Ottey has won more (14). Bolt said at the London Olympics he lost all respect for Lewis, who has criticized Jamaica’s drug-testing program.
“I’ll continue dominating,” Bolt said, according to the AP. I’ll continue to work hard. For me, my aim is to continue hard into the greatness thing.”
Bolt celebrated the 4×100 relay victory by flashing a smile after crossing the finish line, flipping the golden baton, taking off his Puma spikes, throwing them into the Moscow crowd and performing a barefoot dance on the track.
“I’m not even sure which country it’s from,” Bolt said, according to the AP. “It just went along with the music, so I did it.”

The U.S. finished the nine-day meet with the most overall medals (25 to Russia’s 17) but did not lead (or co-lead) the gold medal count for the first time at a worlds since the first edition in 1983.

Russia won seven golds, and the U.S. took six, its lowest total since 2001.

Jamaica also won the women’s 4×100 relay in 41.29 seconds on Sunday. The U.S., slowed by a poor relay exchange from Alexandria Anderson to third leg English Gardner, crossed second in 42.75, .03 of a second behind France. France was disqualified about three horus later, handing silver to the U.S. and bronze to Great Britain. Jamaican anchor Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce became the second woman to win three golds at a single worlds, joining Felix.