16 Page 16 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, OCTObER 25, 2024 Everett Public Libraries Calendar of Events Parlin Adult and Teens Parlin Book Group: Parlin Meeting Room and Zoom, Monday, October 28, at 6:00 p.m. We’ll discuss Taylor Jenkins Read’s “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.” Monique is summoned to the home of an aging and reclusive actress, Evelyn Hugo. Evelyn tells a tale of ruthless amSa a bition, unexpected friendship and a great forbidden love. And Monique learns that her life intersects with Evelyn’s in tragic and irreversible ways. (Amazon – 18+). Call Kathleen at 617-3942300 or send an email to slipp@ noblenet.org for the Zoom link, or join us in person! Crochet Workshop Series: Parlin Meeting Room, Tuesday, October 29, at 6 p.m. Our fall series of crochet workshops will guide you through all the essentials, from getting your yarn on the hook to fi nally fi nishing that tricky project you’ve been working on. This week we’ll be working on granny squares. BYO yarn and hooks or borrow Sa nir y Senior Seni by Jim Miller Best CPAP Alternatives for Sleep Apnea Dear Savvy Senior, I’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea and have been trying to use a CPAP device for the past six months but can’t tolerate it. Are there any alternative treatment options you can tell me about? Sleepy Sam Dear Sam, I’m sorry to hear your CPAP mask is keeping you awake at night, but I’m happy to hear that you’re addressing your obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) problem. Left untreated, OSA is linked to daytime sleepiness and an increased risk of anxiety, diabetes, hypertension and stroke. For those whose aren’t familiar, OSA causes your breathing to pause during sleep because something blocks your airway, like your tongue or relaxed throat muscles. Losing weight, quitting smoking, and limiting alcohol can all help ease obstructive sleep apnea symptoms such as snoring. The primary treatment for people with moderate or severe OSA is a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, which keeps your airway open by pumping air through a mask you wear over your mouth and/or nose when you sleep. But many people, like yourself, have difficulty tolerating CPAP and don’t stick with it. But CPAP machines have become smaller and quieter, with more comfortable options available. And for some people with mild to moderate OSA, less invasive alternatives to CPAP may be worth considering. Here are several to ask your doctor about. Dental device: This is designed to move the jaw so that the tongue shifts toward the front of the mouth to help keep the airway open. It’s one of the primary alternatives to CPAP and can also be used with CPAP to help make severe obstructive sleep apnea milder. A dentist who specializes in sleep medicine (fi nd one at dentalsleep.org) will be able to customize its fit to help your breathing without causing harm to your bite or teeth. These custom-made oral appliances can cost between $2,000 and $4,000 but may be covered by insurance. There are much cheaper options available online to treat snoring, but experts say these may not help with OSA, and could move teeth out of place or cause jaw issues if they’re not properly fi tted. Position therapy: For some, sleeping on the back can make obstructive sleep apnea dramatically worse. In these cases, switching to side sleeping – perhaps using pillows or a tennis ball attached to a shirt back – can sometimes help. Tongue trainer: In 2021, the Food and Drug Administration approved a tongue-stimulating device for mild sleep apnea called eXciteOSA (exciteosa.com), which people wear for 20 minutes a day for six weeks and then 20 minutes a couple of times a week indefinitely. It costs $1,650 and is not covered by insurance. Surgery: Those who can’t tolerate CPAP could have upper airway surgery to reduce the size of their soft palate or other tissue in their throat. But such options don’t always work, have serious potential complications, and cannot be reversed. So, in general, they should not be fi rst-line treatments. A newer option is a surgically implanted device called Inspire (inspiresleep.com). Approved in 2014, it stimulates a nerve that moves your tongue to keep your airway open. Inspire can be removed if it is not tolerated, but it should also be tried only if someone is unable to use CPAP, and it is not an option for everyone. Drug therapy: A new study, recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that tirzepatide – the main ingredient found in type 2 diabetes medication Mounjaro and weight loss treatment Zepbound – helps reduce symptom severity by almost two-thirds in adults with obesity and obstructive sleep apnea. Ask your doctor about this option. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. nior ior some from the library! Materials have been generously funded by the Friends of the Everett Public Libraries. Suggested for ages 14+. Registration is recommended; sign up online at bit.ly/ eveprograms Yarn Club: Parlin Fireplace Room, Tuesday, October 29, at 7 p.m. Come chit-chat and stitch! Bring your crocheting, knitting or any other yarn craft and sit and socialize with other members of the crafting community. Recommended for ages 14-109! Puzzle Club: Parlin Trustees Table, Wednesday, October 30, from 3-5 p.m. Piece together fun and friendship at the Parlin puzzle table! We’ll have puzzles of all shapes and sizes to work on together. Recommended for ages 10 and up. Resume Writing: Parlin Information Desk; do you need help sprucing up an old resume or creating a new one? Sign up for a 30-minute session at the Parlin. By appointment only; to register, please call or send an email to Kathleen: 617-394-2300 or slipp@noblenet.org. Computer Basics 101: Parlin Information Desk; not familiar with the computer? Learn the basics: how to start up and shut down a computer, perform mouse and keyboard functions, use applications, learn Microsoft Word, navigate the Internet, set up an email account, and more! By appointment only; to register, please call or send an email to Kathleen: 617-394-2300 or slipp@noblenet.org. Parlin Children’s **Stop by the circulation desk in the Parlin Library Children’s Room November 1 through November 26 to leave a note in our Thankful Thoughts Jar. We will gather on November 27 at noon to share all of our thankful thoughts together over refreshments. Lego Club: Parlin Children’s Room, Monday, October 28, from 3-5 p.m. Come to the Children’s Room after school on Mondays for some free Lego building fun. Open to all ages; children under six years old must be accompanied by an adult. No registration required. Storytime and Sing-along with Karen: Parlin Children’s Room, Wednesday, October 30, at 11 a.m. Join us for a fun-fi lled morning of singing and storytelling with Karen! Suggested ages: newborn to six. Story Time Adventures with Mrs. McAuliff e: Parlin Meeting Room, Thursday, October 31, at 11 a.m. Join Mrs. McAuliff e for a special edition of our enchanting Story Time! We will read the curious story of “Spookley: The Square Pumpkin” followed by a special screening of the “Spookley: The Square Pumpkin” movie. Bring a friend or make a new one in our circle of friends. Wear your costume today for a special treat! Shute Adult and Teens Resume Writing: Shute Adult Department; book a one-on-one resume assistance appointment at the Shute Library and let a librarian help you craft a resume tailored to your strengths and aspirations. Sign up for a 30-minute session at the Shute Library. By appointment only; please email shuteinfo@noblenet.org or call 617-394-2308. Computer Basics 101: Shute Adult Department. Tech Newbie? No Problem! Learn to power up, click around, type like a pro, explore the digital world and even send your fi rst email. Book your Friday adventure with technology today! By appointment only; please email shuteinfo@noblenet.org or call 617-394-2308. Local residents named to Simmons University Dean’s List T he following local residents have been named to the 2024 spring semester Dean’s List at Simmons University in Boston: Evy Freire, Sherlley Morales Paiz, Dajana Tadic, Martina Vo. To qualify for Dean’s List status, undergraduate students must obtain a grade point average of 3.5 or higher, based on 12 or more credit hours of work in classes using the letter grade system. Follow Simmons on Twitter at @SimmonsUniv and on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/ school/simmons-university/.
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