Tag: sleep apnea

Lose Sleep From More Screen Time

Almost everyone is hooked on technology these days. It no longer comes as a surprise seeing how much technology there is in the world right now. It basically makes the world go round and we seem to like it that way. Not only adults but even the young ones seem to have adopted this way of life especially that they grew up seeing technology all around them. Kids as young as two have their own tablets to help them pass the time and keep them entertained, so it just makes sense why they have carried this habit well into their childhood and teenage years. As convenient technology has made our life, it has some nasty downsides and it all boils down to our health.

We all know how too much exposure to technology can mess with your sleep. Instead of sleeping, you end up pushing your bedtime into the wee hours of the morning as you try to satiate your fear of missing out. Back then, people rarely cared about what their friend had for dinner last night or what their favorite celebrity did during their vacation but since we have access to all those things now, it seems like an insatiable desire to know as much as we can. The television is not the only distraction. Your own smart devices and smartphone are excellent platforms that allow you to connect to the web and do all sorts of exciting things to keep you entertained as you wait for sleep to come.

Caitlyn Fuller, medical student, said the results — published in the journal Global Pediatric Health — may suggest a vicious cycle of technology use, poor sleep and rising BMIs.

“We saw technology before bed being associated with less sleep and higher BMIs,” Fuller said. “We also saw this technology use being associated with more fatigue in the morning, which circling back, is another risk factor for higher BMIs. So we’re seeing a loop pattern forming.”

Previous research has found associations between more technology use and less sleep, more inattention, and higher BMIs in adolescents. But even though research shows that 40 percent of children have cell phones by fifth grade, the researchers said not as much was known about the effects of technology on a younger population.

(Via: http://news.psu.edu/story/496770/2017/12/05/research/screen-time-bed-linked-less-sleep-higher-bmis-kids)

Parents these days just hand their kids with gadgets to keep them preoccupied as they struggle to multitask on a lot of things. Many of these kids can’t last a few hours without tinkering with their devices and the long-term results of this kind of neglect are yet to be determined in the coming years but we can already see dangerous patterns and immediate effects of too much screen time to both young and old people. Sleep is the first thing they lose and it triggers a domino effect of innumerable conditions that are worsened by the lack of sleep. We all know that sleep is crucial to growing up strong and healthy, the very things that kids need for optimal health.

Past studies have found that teens are particularly likely to struggle with technology addiction. This study suggested kids often have a difficult time self-regulating their screen time, which can take a toll on both the quality and quantity of sleep they get.

“When children were reported by their parents to use one form of technology at bedtime, they more than likely used another form of technology as well,” Fuller said.

Curbing technology use at bedtime can help “encourage childhood development and promote mental health during the childhood and adolescent years,” she said.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that parents set boundaries for technology use, such as requiring kids to put away their devices during meal times and keeping phones out of bedrooms at night. 

(Via: https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/screen-time-before-bed-can-disrupt-sleep-and-nutrition-in-children-121117.html)

First and foremost, it is the parent’s responsibility to limit the tech use of their children. They have the parental control and authority to do so yet how can you expect them to do this when they themselves struggle with managing their own habits that likewise involve screen time. For starters, parents can set schedules as to when their children can use their devices. Homework should be done first and there should be plenty of time left before bedtime so their bodies have a chance of mellowing down for the night and not too triggered anymore over the last post they saw online. Regularly changing the WiFi password will also work so that they don’t have a choice but to call it a night like what children do in the past in the absence of modern contrivances.

This only works to bad habits involving too much screen time. If your problem is of medical origin like sleep apnea that is one of the major reasons why people can’t sleep fitfully at night, you need an entirely different solution. Aside from CPAP and surgery, more convenient alternatives like anti-snoring mouthpieces such as https://snoringmouthpiecereview.org/good-morning-snore-solution and https://snoringmouthpiecereview.org/sleeptight can help you sleep better through the night and hopefully save your life and sanity too.

Is It Safe To Sleep With Gadgets?

We are at a point in time when technology is so advanced there are things you can do now that you didn’t think you would see possible in your lifetime. We may not be seeing flying cars in the sky just yet but we have definitely transformed the world that we know of. Technology fuels a major part of our lives and we have a device to do certain things for us and some that can do a multitude of things for us at a time. Aside from making the most of technology to entertain us and make our lives easier and enabling us to do more things faster, technology can now be used to promote our health and we have seen it then and now in the hospital and in other healthcare settings. This time around, innovators found more useful ways for technology by promoting sleep and in aid of medical management to help people sleep better and overcome the many symptoms of their conditions like common sleep disorders such as sleep apnea.

You can see a lot of devices that are designed to help people sleep better these days. In the digital health category of this year’s CES, numerous sleep technologies were highlighted and shown to the world. They range from smart beds, phone applications, masks, and even robots you can snuggle with. These technologies work well in promoting sleep health but not all technologies are safe sleeping buddies. Some can pose a significant threat to your health and can spark an unfortunate disaster you don’t want to find yourself in especially while you are in a deep slumber.

Let your devices sleep alone

If you’re like most people, you not only paid $700 (or more) for your smartphone, but your whole life is on your device. Between email and social media, it’s your connection with the rest of the world.

Unfortunately, plenty of people have experienced the danger of sleeping with a smartphone under their pillow. Others have experienced phones exploding in their pocket.

While charging, phones and other devices generate more heat and need room for air to circulate. These devices should never be covered while charging.

(Via: https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/larry-alton/3-reasons-sleeping-with-gadgets-is-dangerous/)

We live in a digital world but there are still boundaries we should consider. If a gadget is safe enough to sleep with, then that’s when you can safely indulge in this luxury because you can never tell when something might go wrong and you are unable to protect yourself because you are now even aware of the danger. For starters, devices powered by lithium ions can explode. It has happened several times in the past and can happen again if luck is not on your side.

Today, almost all of us can’t survive without our indispensable communication gadget. And it has gone a step further, whether single or not, mobile phones have becoming a sleeping companion to people globally.  There’s hardly any of us who goes to bed without it.

Despite health warnings of radiation, we still keep it next to our faces near the pillow or at the most, within an arm’s reach on the bed side table. Well, it’s time to change all of that…

Health warnings

Recently, the California Department of Health warned that the public need to keep their mobile phones several feet away from them to reduce health risks and radiation exposure. The state released guidance for reducing exposure to cell phone radiation, surrounded by mounting evidence that mobile use may be linked to cancer, attention, mental health and reproductive health issues. 

(Via: https://buzzreporters.com/2018/01/10/stop-sleeping-with-your-cellphone-experts-seriously-warn-and-this-time-we-need-to-pay-attention/)

And yes, let’s not forget the dangers of radiation. Modern tech gadgets emit deadly radiation that can put you at risk of certain diseases that you could have avoided if only you were careful enough to reduce your radiation exposure by limiting tech use especially at night when blue light can be twice as deadly. The use of smartphones is the most popular culprit and many people have already fallen victims to this modern addiction that we tend to overlook the potential danger it poses for sleeping with it.

For patients diagnosed with a sleep disorder, it is even more crucial to avoid these sleep dangers if it can be avoided and instead invest in proven sleep technologies that can truly transform the entire sleeping experience and at the same time reduce the risks of sleep apnea, for instance. Examples of which are https://snoringmouthpiecereview.org/zquiet and https://snoringmouthpiecereview.org/vitalsleep that relieves of sleep apnea symptoms and likewise reduce the snoring sound most sleep apnea sufferers often make.

Sleep Apnea Management Reduces Risk Of Alzheimer’s

Most adults just want to hit the sack and get some well-deserved rest and sleep after a long day at work. The daily grind can take its toll on us and merely to survive is still a struggle for many. But some still remain sleepless no matter how fatigued they are. We are not just pointing fingers here and solely blaming technology for this misfortune. At times, it is your own body at fault. There are certain medical conditions that one person is at higher risk of having. You are predisposed perhaps because of your genes or something else in your genetic makeup or family history why you have that certain condition. Sleep apnea happens to be one of those things that many likes making fun of but is actually a very serious health condition. You would probably freak out once you discover that people diagnosed with this sleep disorder really stop breathing in their sleep. And we are not just talking about a random breathing gap but multiple times over the night.

Not only that, people who sleep with this person tend to suffer too as the snoring sound can be so loud and intolerable most of the times. Many couples have broken up because of this so it is really worth looking into aside from the fact that you don’t want to die in your sleep without a fight at all. What’s even more disconcerting is the fact that your body (and your health in general) deteriorates because of the lack of sleep or the poor quality of it. In return, it puts you at higher risk of other conditions that shouldn’t even be a threat to the normal person who gets their recommended of eight-hour nightly snooze. One thing we found out now is the correlation between sleep apnea and Alzheimer’s. If you want to save your memory and your sanity in the twilight of your life, getting yourself checked and treated for sleep apnea if you show signs of it can very well save you from developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) could expose older people to a greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, according to an American study published in the American Thoracic Society’s American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

OSA can lead to cognitive decline and accelerate brain aging in healthy adults, according to a study from the New York University School of Medicine.

Researchers found that breathing problems during sleep favored the accumulation of amyloid plaques in the brain, associated with Alzheimer’s disease, thus exposing subjects to an increased risk.

(Via: http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/278530/improving-sleep-apnea-diagnosis-delay-alzheimers-disease-says-study/)

Sleep issues are becoming far too common in the elderly. It is a common complaint of most seniors. But no matter what your age are, sleep apnea should be addressed right away and not just take your chances once you close your eyes to sleep for the night. And fortunately, the older community will have higher chances of saving as many as they can from succumbing to Alzheimer’s disease especially those who also suffer from sleep apnea. It has been discovered that there is a close relationship between the two. This discovery can help doctors and sleep specialists take a closer look to the occurrence of sleep apnea and Alzheimer’s disease in adults and help them lead normal and healthy lives in the last years of their lives.

“Sleep apnea is very common among the elderly, and many aren’t aware they have it,” said senior researcher Dr. Ricardo Osorio. He is an assistant professor of psychiatry at New York University School of Medicine in New York City.

An estimated 30 percent to 80 percent of the elderly suffer from sleep apnea, depending on how it’s defined, the study authors noted.

Although none of the participants developed Alzheimer’s over the two years of the study, those with sleep apnea accumulated amyloid plaque, which could trigger Alzheimer’s in the future, Osorio said.

Sleep apnea occurs when you have one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths during sleep.

Those pauses can last from a few seconds to minutes, and they can occur 30 times or more an hour. Normal breathing usually starts again, sometimes with a loud snort or choking sound, according to the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

(Via: https://consumer.healthday.com/cognitive-health-information-26/alzheimer-s-news-20/sleep-apnea-may-boost-alzheimer-s-risk-728391.html)

What is the sense of living if you don’t have any idea what you are doing anymore? No recollection of your past and mindlessly going about your present. This is the dilemma faced by many senior people as a big majority of them not only suffers from poor sleep but have Alzheimer’s too. They can’t even manage to do most of their activities of daily living and solely rely on healthcare providers for assistance in everything they do in their day-to-day. But we can save them from a life like that if sleep problems like sleep apnea are diagnosed early on especially now that the experts have discovered the link between the two.

One convenient way of protecting yourself from sleep apnea is by wearing anti-snoring mouthpieces. They are not just convenient to use; they also correct the anatomical problem that gave you sleep apnea in the first place. You no longer have to be scared of not breathing in your sleep when wearing one. CPAP is also available, but difficult to use for most elder people: https://snoringmouthpiecereview.org/why-a-cpap-machine-is-probably-not-for-you. These handy devices are more cost-effective too than other sleep apnea management, so there really is no more reason for anyone to suffer in silence because of this sleep disorder. https://snoringmouthpiecereview.org/snorerx is good for starters. It will save your health and the ears of those people sleeping beside you without hurting your wallet at all and you can be assured of growing old without losing yourself and your mind to Alzheimer’s.

Avoid These Foods To Sleep Better At Night

Sleep becomes more of a luxury as you age. You may hate it as a young child but you soon realize its importance once many of the things you now do as an adult takes too much of your time and you have little time left to sleep. Such an irony, indeed. We may always put the blame on technology because it is indeed a major distraction on just about every aspect but don’t forget that there are other things you also do that has a negative impact on the quality of your sleep. Think about the food you eat and the time you eat them. Eating greasy, salty or sweet foods too close to bedtime can keep you tossing and turning at night and unable to sleep, not even a wink.

Think about it, it is basically your fault why you are unable to drift off to slumber once nighttime falls. Your stomach is full of unhealthy foods that take some time to get digested and give you a sugar rush you do not need when you should be preparing for sleep already. So, what should you do? It is pretty obvious. Avoid eating certain foods that are known stimulants and will keep you tossing and turning until the wee hours of the morning.

The wrong late-night snack choices can add to your weight and subtract from your sleep.

“It works both ways. A healthy diet improves the quality and duration of your sleep. And adequate sleep improves the quality of your diet by curbing hunger hormones,” explains Brigid Titgemeier, MS, RDN, LD.

Here, our dietitians list four types of snacks to avoid when you’re looking at options late in the day:

  1. Snacks that address boredom vs. hunger

“Having ‘something to do’ while you watch TV is not a good reason for eating,” says Kristin Kirkpatrick, MS, RD, LD. “You’re only addressing your boredom.”

Ideally, to maintain your waistline, it’s best to eat all your meals before 6 p.m., she notes.

If you’re not truly hungry, “a late-night snack is a waste of fuel at the end of the day,” she says.

  1. Snacks that are loaded with carbs

One of the worst offenders is cereal and milk. That’s because it’s hard to control how much you eat.

“Cereal is loaded with carbs, especially if sweetened — and let’s be honest, it typically is,” says Julia Zumpano, RD, LD.

(Via: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/2017/10/4-late-night-snacks-that-wreck-your-diet-and-sleep/)

Take care of your body and you won’t have a problem with it, especially in your youth. Sleep will come naturally because your body observes a natural circadian rhythm that tells your body when to get that needed shuteye and when to wake up in the morning. But if you don’t care for your body well and decide to feed it with unhealthy stuff, you have no one else to blame but yourself for whatever sleep problems you experience now and then.

There’s also a connection between sleep and how we metabolize food. Diet and food choices help regulate our circadian rhythm, the roughly 24-hour cycle that our body follows each day, Kristin Eckel-Mahan, PhD, Assistant Professor at the Center for Metabolic and Degenerative Diseases at The University of Texas Health Science Center of Houston, says. Our circadian rhythms keep our body clock running on time, which in turn keeps all of our bodily functions running on schedule — such as falling asleep at night, waking up in the morning, feeling hungry when we need energy and metabolizing the food we eat.

That means behaviors like shifting our eating patterns or altering what we eat drastically (like switching to a very high-fat diet) can actually reprogram the various clocks our body runs on, Mahan says, “putting them on a different time zone than the master circadian clock in the brain [which controls sleep].”

(Via: https://www.nbcnews.com/better/health/how-what-you-eat-affects-how-you-sleep-ncna805256)

As much possible, refrain from eating anything heavy or unhealthy a few hours before retiring to bed. Give your body enough time to digest the food before saying good night. Sleep allows your body to recuperate from the all the stresses of the day and recharges your tired body so you have enough energy to last you another day. You can only do that if you eat the right food your body should have and not just eat anything you like or give in to your cravings. Overeating, for instance, has been known to lead to poor sleep quality, so try to resist the temptation to munch on something and wait for breakfast to satiate your hunger instead.

While we are on the topic of sleep deprivation, a sleep disorder is also a factor why you lose sleep. Sleep apnea is often the first comes to mind because a lot of people have it especially the snorers. However, not everyone is thrilled at the thought of using a CPAP because of this: https://snoringmouthpiecereview.org/why-a-cpap-machine-is-probably-not-for-you, so compliance is low and leads to the worsening of sleep apnea. Another management option is a handy anti-snoring device like https://snoringmouthpiecereview.org/snorerx that works like CPAP minus all the hassle. It’s convenient to use, effective, and more affordable than conventional treatments aside from being non-invasive. Sleep like a baby once more with a gadget like this to keep you from snoring again.

Unique Ways To Treat Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is more than just the loud snoring sound you hear from your old uncles and grandpas. Snoring may be the first thing we notice but there is a real danger with this sleep disorder. Aside from depriving you of your much-needed snooze, it actually deprives your body of oxygen as the airway is blocked in your slumber that leads to breathing gaps and eventually delivers less oxygen to your body. Imagine patients with sleep apnea as individuals who literally stop breathing in their sleep once their eyes close for the night. You can actually die in your sleep without you knowing about it if you have sleep apnea. It may be painless but it sure is scary now knowing whether you’d be able to wake up tomorrow after you tuck yourself in bed the night before.

Hence, it is a must to get yourself checked by a doctor if you think you may be suffering from this condition. Snoring and daytime sleepiness is a good indicator. If you are always drowsy during the day and still feel lethargic even after sleeping at least eight hours each night, then it might mean one thing: you may have sleep apnea. Get yourself checked by a doctor right away because your body continuously suffer if you allow yourself to be deprived of oxygen every single night and the stress of those breathing gaps can eat you up alive as well.

After his failed surgery, Rinando was referred to Dr. Yosef Krespi, a surgeon at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York who performs surgery using a Flex Robotic System to treat cases of sleep apnea.

The robot is designed to navigate the body’s natural twists and turns so tissue can be removed or repaired safely and efficiently. High definition cameras on the robotic equipment can give surgeons a look into the throat with high definition cameras and magnification.

“The robotic equipment can go in multiple directions and is much more effective than the surgeon’s hand,” Krespi told Fox News. “The robot itself is no bigger than my thumb and that gets into the oral cavity in an appropriate position and it’s flexible, similar to a snake.”

(Via: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2018/01/16/sleep-apnea-treatment-uses-snake-like-surgical-robot.html)

Surgery may be required but not all the time patients are advised to go under the knife. CPAP is the first treatment plan that comes to mind although many are not a fan of it https://snoringmouthpiecereview.org/why-a-cpap-machine-is-probably-not-for-you. You don’t have to wonder why after seeing how you would like strapped into it in your sleep. With the advanced technology that we now have, we are seeing more innovative treatments for it. Even the use of robots is now possible and some have already even experienced this first-hand.

In a study in Sleep (7 November 2017), researchers explored the efficacy of dronabinol, a cannabinoid primarily used to treat nausea and vomiting in people receiving chemotherapy. They randomly assigned 73 patients with moderate or severe OSA to placebo, dronabinol 2.5mg or dronabinol 10mg to be taken one hour before bed for up to six weeks.

They found that both doses of dronabinol significantly reduced apnoea/hypopnoea index scores compared with placebo, by 10.7±4.4 and 12.9±4.3 points, respectively, from 25.9±11.3 at baseline. Patients assigned to dronabinol 10mg also reported greater overall treatment satisfaction.

The team said the results indicated the potential of dronabinol for treating OSA, but larger clinical trials will be needed to clarify the use of cannabinoids for the condition.

(Via: https://www.pharmaceutical-journal.com/news-and-analysis/research-briefing/cannabinoid-treatment-shows-potential-in-obstructive-sleep-apnoea/20204209.article)

Experts don’t even limit the possibilities and even look into the use of cannabinoids in addressing sleep apnea seeing how effective this humble weed is in treating a wide range of chronic and debilitating diseases. As long as medical cannabis use is legal in your state and your doctor has given the go signal, don’t be afraid to explore your options and see what works for you. If it fails to deliver, you still have handy anti-snoring mouthpieces to save you from your misfortune. Take your pick from the countless brand in the market today. If you can’t decide, https://snoringmouthpiecereview.org/good-morning-snore-solution is a great choice for starters that can save your life while you are deep in slumber without costing you a fortune.

Stop Losing Sleep Now!

Imagine the refreshing feeling you feel when you wake up after a good night’s sleep. It seems as if you can take on the world. Nothing can stop you from taking on whatever life throws at you because you have the energy and mental acuity that only enough rest and sleep can give you. Indeed, sleep is a curative process and your body benefits from it in many ways but it is something that we also increasingly miss out on because of our modern lifestyle. There’s almost no difference now between night and day except the unstoppable darkness that envelops the land without fail since our planet came to life. The nights are just as alive as the days. With a thriving nightlife especially in big cities. The dominance of technology is also a big distraction. Instead of closing your eyes and drifting off to sleep once you hit the sack, many of us are guilty of still using your smartphones and browsing the web and social media until the wee hours of the morning.

Aside from these modern vices, there are certain sleep conditions like insomnia and sleep apnea that makes sleep impossible. The latter even affects partners and spouses because the loud snoring is just so annoying. No wonder that sleep clinics are gaining in popularity nowadays. It is a good thing since people with sleep issues no longer need to line up in clinics and hospitals alongside other sick patients because there is now a facility that is especially equipped with the staff and equipment needed to address problems involving sleep (or better yet, the lack of it). Since there are plenty of sleep clinics now that can help you with your sleep woes, there is no reason for you to keep on losing sleep each night.

The global market for sleep aids, of which gadgetry is a part, is predicted to be worth up to US$80 billion (Dh293bn) by 2020, and this trend was evident at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas earlier this year where a section was devoted exclusively to sleep-related technology.

Sleep trackers, which aim to measure the amount of sleep you’re getting each night, use accelerometers, microphones and other sensors to detect tossing and turning, and report back their findings in the morning. Since the appearance of the first sleep tracking smartphone apps towards the end of the last decade, these measurements have become more sophisticated – although they still stop short of polysomnography techniques used in sleep clinics. Sensors such as iFit Sleep and S+, can track heart rate or breathing intensity, while last year Apple bought a Finnish sleep tracking firm, Beddit, with a view to incorporating its technology into its own products. Sleep tracking has, however, been criticised for its passive nature. After all, our bodies can already tell when we haven’t had enough sleep; many of these trackers merely provide the numbers to confirm the extent of the insomnia without doing anything practical to address it.

(Via: https://www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/the-numbers-why-we-pay-the-price-for-a-good-night-s-sleep-1.681515)

You get to stay for the night in sleep clinics so the medical staff can assess you properly. In your sleep, of course, because your problems occur while you are in slumber. There are several devices attached to you to check what your body is like when you are sleeping. It really is a complex and extensive process of evaluating your sleeping habits and your body’s reactions to find out what is wrong with you and the best possible management for your condition. And you don’t even have to pay a fortune to afford a checkup at most sleep clinics because most medical insurance got it covered.

Behavioral changes also can be effective in tackling sleep issues. In 2016, the ACP recommended for the first time that cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia be the first-line treatment for adults with chronic insomnia. The ACP’s president stated that although there is not enough evidence to directly compare CBT-I and drug treatment, CBT-I likely is to be less harmful, while sleep medications can be associated with serious adverse effects.

CBT-I is a combination of treatments, including cognitive therapy, behavioral interventions, such as sleep restriction and stimulus control, and helping develop habits conducive to a good night’s sleep.

(Via: http://www.daily-journal.com/life/health/age-may-not-be-why-you-re-sleeping-badly/article_0054e867-cc20-5a59-a589-0e49b34d07ec.html)

At times, more drastic interventions are needed to address problems in your slumber as not all the time simple lifestyle modifications helps, most importantly, it is not nice or safe to keep on taking sleeping pills all the time. At times, patients who come in at sleep clinics get prescribed with other sleep management techniques that do not always involve medicines. Behavioral therapy is just one example. While some may frown on such a strategy, it actually has been helpful to many and safe too because no chemical intake is involved like with conventional pharmacologic treatment. It’s the advantage of seeking treatment at a sleep clinic. Whatever your sleep condition is, you can expect to choose from a diverse set of options on what the best treatment is but still giving you the choice to decide for yourself. This has come in handy especially for patients suffering from sleep apnea and are least excited at the thought of sleeping with CPAP because they realize they have options after all.

Another helpful device you’ll know about during a visit to the sleep clinic is anti-snoring mouthpieces. There are different brands and makes in the market but these two are no fail as well: https://snoringmouthpiecereview.org/zquiet and https://snoringmouthpiecereview.org/good-morning-snore-solution. You don’t have to live in fear all the time knowing your breathing stops in your sleep if you have sleep apnea but you don’t have to put up wearing a CPAP if you don’t like it either. You can simply use either of those two anti-snoring gadgets and you’ll do just fine.

Stop Snoring Products Worth Your Bucks

Snoring has become a global problem. It can’t be easily ignored anymore. If you are quite observant, you have probably noticed by now how much the sleep market has grown. There are different products that promise some sort of relief so that you get to enjoy longer and more restful sleep from now on. Getting treated is a must if you have sleep apnea because the condition predisposes you to various other ailments. It is not nice to always be lacking in sleep because you end up feeling grumpy, drowsy, and basically not your most productive self.

Seeing how fast-paced the world is now, you can’t afford to not always put your best foot forward. The competition is tough and people from different parts of the world can very well compete for the same position in a particular company. It is why when you have a condition like sleep apnea, whose main symptom is snoring and characterized by a chronic state of sleeplessness, must be put under control. How do you do it? Visit a doctor or sleep specialist because they can help you out when no one else can. No need to worry about expensive surgeries or a bothersome CPAP because there are plenty of options nowadays.

According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology, 45 percent of adults snore at least occasionally, and 25 percent are regular snorers. That means a whopping amount of people are set up for side effects including daytime sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, morning headaches, morning sore throats, high blood pressure, and chest pain, according to the Mayo Clinic. Yikes.

Products in the stop-snoring market range from things you maybe wouldn’t think of to products made specifically for hardcore snorers. And while these aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution to everyone’s nighttime buzzing problems, they’re definitely worth a shot if you’re finding that your snoring (or your partner’s) is making you lose restful sleep. Not all stop-snoring products are glamorous, and to be honest, not all the products on this list are glamorous, either. But they are all extremely Instagrammable, whether it’s for a sweet snap of your room or an ironic #justlittlesnoringthings post about your newest nostril openers (yes, really).

(Via: https://www.bustle.com/p/9-products-to-help-you-stop-snoring-that-are-also-extremely-grammable-8527189)

Stop snoring products are everywhere. With the sheer number of choices, finding the right one for you may be a bit tricky. Hopefully, you already have some idea now as to what sleep apnea mouthpieces work. There are customizable ones and there are those that force the jaw slightly forward to open up the airway, a big help for that constricted airway leading to vibrations as the air passes that we commonly call as snoring.

These stop snoring products aren’t limited to oral appliances because some can be chin straps, pillows, mattresses, apps, and so much more that have an effect on sleep and snoring. Mouthpieces can cause a little discomfort on your first few nights of use but they do wonders in stopping you from snoring and making it easier for you to breathe in your slumber. No more gasping for air in the middle of the night, which you’ll have no recollection of when you wake up in the morning.

No woman need suffer any longer with their husband’s snoring. The treatment is simple, painless, low cost and 100% guaranteed to work! SnoreRx’s six year track record of clinical effectiveness and safety qualified it as Best in Class. The American Sleep Association rates SnoreRx as #1, with 5 stars! https://www.sleepassociation.org/top-anti-snoring-mouthpieces-mouth-guards-reviews/

SnoreRx is an oral appliance that works by maintaining an open airway while you sleep by slightly advancing your lower jaw. Its patented Micro-Fit feature offers adjustment in 1mm increments allowing each patient to select the optimal comfort setting.

(Via: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/snorerx-now-available-at-cvs-is-first-and-only-fda-certified-non-prescription-anti-snoring-treatment-300605618.html)

If you follow the traditional management of sleep apnea, your doctor will prescribe you with CPAP or surgery, if possible, which are both costly and have lots of risks too. Also, CPAP has a low compliance rate because many users find it too difficult to use that they’d rather deal with the snoring again rather than strap this mask to their face every time they sleep. With these stop snoring gadgets, though, you can save your wallet from a big expense yet still be able to get your lost sleep back. Most anti-snoring mouthpieces are priced reasonably. Some even offer free trials where you only initially pay for shipping.

A fine example of this mouthpiece is SnoreRx. It is a crowd favorite and for a good reason. It offers 100% money back guarantee. This mouthpiece may be priced a little higher than other sleep apnea mouthpieces in the market today but it speaks of quality and real relief from sleep apnea and snoring. You can also buy it in bulk at a reduced cost. If you are thinking of using a mouthpiece for your sleep apnea while still checking out your options, SnoreRx is a good choice to put that awful snoring sound at bay without constantly depriving your brain of oxygen in your slumber.

Are Implants The Solution To Sleep Apnea?

It is no surprise that people are struggling with their sleep today with the number of distractions all around us. Many of you are probably guilty of doing this; fiddling with your smartphones even if you are already tucked in bed with the lights off. It means you are exposed to blue light that is bad for your health and are further sleep-deprived as you can go on and on late into the night and the wee hours of the morning surfing the web and checking out your social media news feed. But there are those individuals who lose sleep not because of their own doing but due to a medical condition that is known as sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is often associated with snoring for a good reason. Most individuals diagnosed with sleep apnea snore but it does not follow the premise that all snorers have sleep apnea. What’s disconcerting about this condition is that the person actually experiences bouts of breathing pauses during their sleep as the brain decides which is more important, breathing or sleep. Imagine that. You literally stop breathing in your sleep not just once but multiple times and it happens to you every single time you close your eyes and drift off to dreamland. Such a scary thought, indeed.

Sleep apnea (where your brain doesn’t properly send breathing signals while resting) is horrible enough by itself, but the solutions to it can be scary: you may have to take medication, rely on ungainly breathing machines or opt for invasive surgery. You might have a gentler treatment going forward, though. The US Food and Drug Administration has approved an implantable device, Respicardia’s Remede System, that fights more serious cases of sleep apnea.

The hardware amounts to a battery pack (slipped under your skin in the upper chest) and wires that enter the blood vessels near the nerve that stimulates your breathing. If you stop breathing normally in mid-sleep, Remede stimulates that nerve to move your diaphragm and keep you breathing. Think of it as an on-demand jumpstart for your respiratory system.

(Via: https://www.engadget.com/2017/10/08/fda-clears-sleep-apnea-implant/)

Sleep apnea is not that easy to treat. Conventional treatments like CPAP usually have low compliance rates because it is such a major inconvenience to use. Have you ever seen a use person one? It will definitely make you reconsider although it is the best non-invasive management for the condition right now. And because of that, it has prompted experts to come up with more user-friendly devices that address sleep apnea without being a burden to the person using it. Examples of which are anti-snoring gadgets with the likes of https://snoringmouthpiecereview.org/good-morning-snore-solution. This innovative implant is also an option now for those willing to give it a try:

The Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (Mayo Clinic) has signed a purchase agreement with Israeli medical diagnostics company Itamar Medical for its FDA-approved sleep apnea device, nocamels first reports. The purchase agreement was signed for a duration of three years with automatic renewal possible for one-year periods.

WatchPAT is an FDA-approved portable diagnostic device that uniquely uses finger based physiology and innovative technology to enable simple and accurate Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) testing while avoiding the complexity and discomfort associated with traditional air-flow based systems.

(Via: http://hitconsultant.net/2017/09/29/40279/)

Knowing how serious and common sleep apnea is, it helps that newer technologies are being developed and introduced to the public that can potentially save them from dying in their sleep. The difficulties faced by patients in using CPAP is often the reason why they discontinue treatment even without alerting their doctors. It is really troubling knowing how it attacks you in your sleep (if you can sleep at all) when you are the most vulnerable. However, you may possibly save your life with the use of these gadgets and implants that may be alternatives to CPAP and surgery in correcting anatomical problems that lead to sleep apnea.

Testing For Sleep Apnea: A Healthy Choice

Now and then, we may suffer from sleepless nights for various reasons. It can be hormonal or a change in your environment or even overexposure to stressors at work or in school. We often take sleep for granted but we gradually appreciate its importance as we age. It’s because we hated being told to take naps or go to sleep early when we were younger but now crave the rest and relaxation offered by a deep slumber now that we are older and tasked with bigger life responsibilities. Sleep became more of a luxury that we always wished for but not everyone always gets their wish.

The bottom line is that there are certain health conditions that prevent people from enjoying a good night’s sleep. Sleep apnea, for instance, is a major bummer as it deprives you of precious sleep. Your partner may also hate you because of the loud snoring you make once you drift off to dreamland. Then, there is the absolute danger of dying because of the numerous times you stop breathing in your slumber. If those aren’t enough reasons for you to consult a sleep doctor, then I don’t know what is. But apparently, many people take it seriously now considering the number of sleep clinics and labs that have been popping all over the country over the last few years.

Young adults have a natural sleep requirement of about 9 hours a day on average, older adults 7.5 hours. Many people in western societies, however, get considerably less sleep. According to studies, about one-third of the persons surveyed in several industrial countries reported too little sleep. If a young adult sleeps less than 8 hours a night, increased attention deficits occur, which can lead to considerable negative consequences. In sleep clinics there is an increasing number of healthy people who are suffering from the negative consequences of insufficient sleep.

(Via: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170828102725.htm)

Your memory, mental focus, and decision-making skills are impaired if you lack sleep. It is more challenging to finish tasks and you may get clumsier too, not to mention kind of depressed as well. By getting yourself checked by professionals, you save yourself from deadlier complications sleep apnea may trigger if left unattended. So, do not hesitate to go to the nearest sleep clinic in your area and spend the night there so professional can assess you properly in aid of making an accurate diagnosis.

Changes can only take place if young people are willing to engage in a new routine. Our project demonstrated that young people find peer support particularly favourable as a way of gaining information. Attending sleep clinics with a sleep practitioner was also cited as being useful, allowing them to access tailored support for their individual needs. Surprisingly, online support was not popular, with many sharing that they had already explored that avenue with little success. 

In order to make the project sustainable, resources have been developed to train those working in schools such as school nurses, counsellors and support staff to become ‘sleep champions’. The one-day training course includes materials for the sleep champion to share with pupils, colleagues and parents to embed quality sleep information in the heart of school communities. Sleep should also be embedded in all primary care training and featured as part of routine assessments. Reducing levels of sleep deprivation must be a key priority for young people as they move into their adult lives. 

(Via: https://www.nursinginpractice.com/article/sleep-issues-young-people-and-strategies-support-them)

Not only are adults the ones lacking in sleep but even younger kids and teens, too. It’s not surprising anymore because the youth right now have access to tech devices that older generations didn’t have in the past. Aside from school work and activities that they have to finish, their smart gadgets compete for their attention and this is something highlighted by most sleep practitioners. These professionals have confirmed that young kids likewise get treated in sleep clinics, so some are taking initiatives in teaching and training school administrators and teachers about methods to help children get the sleep they need and relay this message to both parents and children to eradicate the issue on sleep deprivation experienced by many.

While kids aren’t that disciplined in their tech use, adults face a different threat in the form of medical conditions like sleep apnea. It robs them of precious sleep and their partners too but all that is about to end with innovative anti-snoring devices like https://snoringmouthpiecereview.org/zquiet and https://snoringmouthpiecereview.org/sleeptight that may not be as effective as CPAP but efficient enough in relieving the symptoms of sleep apnea and allowing patients to enjoy a deeper and more relaxing slumber for the first time in years.

Sleeping With Pets: A Bad Idea?

Pets are like those little icing bits on a cake. They make life a little brighter and happier. Whatever your pet is, they become a big part of your life and they’re basically family to most pet owners. It is not easy being a pet owner, though. You have obligations too as an owner and you can’t just neglect your animals whenever things no longer work out for you. But if you are a devoted pet parent, it is even possible for you to sleep with your pets. It’s perhaps the best feeling in the world to be cuddling with your beloved animals during your downtime.

However, recent studies are showing us that it isn’t always a great idea to sleep with your pets, like dogs, for instance. Well, the truth is, many are actually quite torn regarding this issue as it has been common practice among pet owners to sleep with their pets. However, those with certain allergies are advised not to do so for health reasons. But now, some studies are showing the cons of co-sleeping with your pets and it is not looking good for pet parents.

The researchers first looked at sleep efficiency, the percentage of time in bed actually spent sleeping. Here, the difference between bed-sharers and bedroom-sharers wasn’t obvious. People with dogs in their rooms, but not in their beds, had an 83-percent sleep efficiency level, and people with dogs in their beds had an average sleep efficiency rate of 80 percent. Neither of these rates is alarming: 80 percent is considered satisfactory sleep efficiency; 85 and 89 percent is normal; and above 90 percent is very efficient sleeping.

But a deeper probe revealed some problems with human-dog co-sleeping. This arrangement led owners to wake up more throughout the night compared to their counterparts. Previous research has found an interrupted night of sleep is similar to only having four hours of consistent sleep. Fragmented sleep can have negative effects on mood, attention span, and cognitive ability.

(Via: http://www.newsweek.com/sleeping-dogs-bad-your-sleep-and-health-663755)

There is absolutely nothing wrong with sleeping with your pets, most pet parents would say that and it is their right to their own opinion. But studies have proven that it isn’t always the best thing to do, no matter how violent the reactions of some may be. Well, there may be some gray areas to these studies but when it comes to your health, it is always better to err on the side of caution rather than put your life or health at risk. Yet, on the other hand, other studies say the exact opposite. So, what to believe, then?

The study, published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, included 40 adults, all of whom slept with a dog either in their bed or elsewhere in their bedroom. Both humans and canines wore motion-tracking devices for seven nights, and humans answered questions about their quality of sleep and where their dogs spent the night.

The researchers found that having a dog in the bedroom did not necessarily compromise sleep quality, as had previously been suspected. On average, people with dogs in their rooms (but not on their beds) maintained 83% sleep efficiency—a comparison of time spent asleep to total time in bed. (80% is generally considered satisfactory.)

(Via: http://time.com/4934422/dog-bedroom-sleep/)

In the end, it is up to you pet owner to decide whether you think it will be best for you to sleep with your furry friend or not. You know your body better and you can tell for yourself if it the best decision to snooze with your pet with you. Of course, it is a big no-no if you have asthma or something like that because your life is on the line. Until today, science is just as torn as you, so feel free to do whatever you see is fit for you and your adorable pet.

It might be difficult, though, to sleep with pets if you have sleep apnea because you may end up inhaling all your pet’s fur because of your snoring. Have them sleep in their own bed instead and get yourself something to help you with your sleep apnea. An anti-snoring device like https://snoringmouthpiecereview.org/good-morning-snore-solution is a good choice while others feel more inclined to try the https://snoringmouthpiecereview.org/sleeptight, which is quite different from the former. What’s important is that your snoring is minimized and you aren’t likely to die in your sleep and leave your poor pet behind.