Tag: Sleep Clinic

Visit A Sleep Disorder Center For A Good Night’s Sleep

Sleeping is not just a luxury but a necessity in our lives. We need it in order to function normally and live healthily throughout all the days of our lives. Our sleeping requirement varies as we age. Babies do nothing but just sleep almost the entire day but the length of their sleep reduces as they grow up. Kids still have the biggest requirement because of the rapid growth and development they go through and it is evident in their growing bodies. Once you enter adulthood, sleep becomes more of a luxury because of heavier workload and more responsibilities you have to juggle day in and day out. Yet even if you can claim that your body has reached maturity once you hit adulthood, it does not mean you need less sleep than your younger counterparts.

Sleep is essential for everyone no matter what your age is. Adults need it too because they do so much more now they need the energy to help them last throughout the day and night. They can’t just reason out that they lack sleep as an excuse to skip school or miss work because they should know better that their bodies need to rest too or else they succumb to sickness. It’s the reason why sleep clinics are on the rise these days. Many people finally admit that they lack sleep for a lot of reasons but it should not stop them from getting this lost sleep back with the help of modern science. We are not just simply talking about insomnia or some other sleep distraction but of more chronic, debilitating, and deadly conditions such as sleep disorders.

Dr. John Geyer and his staff at the Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital Sleep Disorder Center help the community sleep at night, literally. As medical director of the sleep center, Geyer evaluates patients and orders sleep studies based on their problems. Once Craig Schumacher, RPSGT, RST, performs and grades the studies, Geyer reviews the data to decide what treatment is right for his patients.

“The study is primarily to figure out what they have. And then we tailor a treatment for that,” Geyer said.

Treatments may include special equipment, mouth pieces, positional therapy or medication.

(Via: http://www.demopolistimes.com/2018/01/15/bwwmh-sleep-center-helping-patients-get-good-nights-rest/)

Sleep apnea has already been prevalent years ago but it’s only now that people are starting to recognize it for the health risk it really is. Imagine people with sleep apnea experiencing multiple breathing pauses during their sleep and that leaves them lacking in oxygen that is crucial for various body processes that keeps us alive. Back then, we only think of snoring, the most prominent symptom of sleep apnea, as a nasty habit most older uncles are guilty of doing when they sleep. We just simply shrug it off and laugh at them for their silly habit. But we know better now.

One of the largest professional societies focused on sleep issues is moving beyond its original roots.

This week, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) announced that it would expand its mission with a new patient-focused membership group called the American Alliance for Healthy Sleep.

AAHS, a 501(c)(4) organization, will bring together individual patients and healthcare providers and focus on policy, public awareness, and patient support.

Because the organization includes both of these groups, AAHS says it “will be in the unique position to break down barriers to collaboration while facilitating discussion and solutions that address the concerns of both patients and providers together.” 

(Via: https://associationsnow.com/2018/01/sleep-medicine-group-launches-offshoot-focused-patients/)

It is high time the world at large gives importance to sleep and not discredit it anymore. We can only live a healthy and normal life if we get enough sleep at night. Even sleeping during the day could not make up for the many recuperative processes that take places when you snooze at night, so seek help for your sleep woes if you have problems with it because sometimes what you need is medical help. Don’t ever rely on sleeping pills because it is not the best answer to your dilemma. It’s just a temporary patch and should not be abused. It’s not advisable to be taken in the long run especially if you have a diagnosed sleep disorder like sleep apnea because you need something else to address the underlying problem that results to your chronic sleepless state.

If you are undecided yet as to what treatment plan you want to try, you can try something that offers relief and at the same time addresses the major worries in sleep apnea such as anti-snoring mouthpieces. https://snoringmouthpiecereview.org/zquiet and https://snoringmouthpiecereview.org/snorerx are great for starters and they don’t cost a fortune either. You not only put an end to the awful snoring sound but also opens up the airway so you save yourself from the deadly breathing pauses that happens countless times in your slumber.

The Dangers Of Sleep Apnea Clinics

We may have achieved so much in terms of innovation and advancements but we are still clueless on how to completely eradicate many maladies that make life hard for all of us at one point or another. We have a lot of things going in that 24 hours each day is no longer enough for us to finish everything every single day. While we celebrate at the seeming non-existence of boredom anymore, there are things that pose a new threat, one that is far bigger and more deadly than getting bored of our wits for hours on end. Our addiction to technology has opened up a whole new world of possibilities and helped keep us entertained 24/7 but it has also deprived us of precious sleep. As a result, we get on with our days with only the minimum number of hours of sleep and it is seriously messing up with our health and well-being.

Chronic lack of sleep and several other sleep-related disorders and issues have prompted the popularity of sleep clinics. Of course, there is a demand for their services, a big one at that. People really have difficulty falling and staying asleep. And even if they do, it isn’t as fitful or as rejuvenating as it should be.

Now, with the demand for sleep clinics continuing to soar, some may take advantage of the situation and this where the problem begins. As of date, many Canadian sleep clinics have been accused of various irregularities. And to improve quality and consistency of care, not to mention uphold patient’s rights and safety, seems like the authorities will have to step in as the dangers can no longer be ignored for people’s lives are in danger in the hands of unqualified personnel who aren’t equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to handle sleep disorders and its management.

Up to 200 sleep apnea clinics in Alberta — which have gone unregulated for years sparking concerns about the quality of patient care — now face new rules introduced Jan. 1 aimed at improving oversight, safety and consistency of care.

While standards have been in place for overnight sleep medicine clinics since the 1990s, until now labs offering take-home sleep apnea tests and treatment were not subject to similar rules.

“The quality of care issues [are] disastrous,” said Dr. Charles Samuels, medical director of the Calgary-based Centre for Sleep and Human Performance and president of the Canadian Sleep Society, an organization that promotes sleep disorders medicine and education.

“We’re seeing terrible problems and poor treatment that should never occur.”

(Via: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/sleep-apnea-clinics-alberta-regulations-accreditation-1.4472111)

Come to think about it, people actually spend the night in sleep clinics to get a proper assessment. They just don’t stay there for several minutes like in traditional doctor’s clinics. They sleep there while covered in various contraptions and wires that monitors important parameters in their bodies. Hygiene is not the only issue here as well. Unregulated sleep clinics compromise the patient’s health by misdiagnosing their conditions and not treating them properly despite these patients paying them the corresponding fees for their services.

Facilities will need to be registered and meeting the standards by 2020, with full reviews occurring every four years.

The College and Association of Respiratory Therapists of Alberta says it worked in an advisory capacity as the regulations were being developed. 

“It is anticipated they will positively impact our members‘ professional practice by enhancing the quality and safety of patient care provided, particularly around home portable diagnostic testing,” executive director Bryan Buell said in a statement e-mailed to CBC News. 

Buyer beware

While they won‘t be barred from operating, clinics that don‘t meet the new standards won‘t be accredited. 

(Via: https://kaplanherald.com/2018/01/10/albertas-unregulated-sleep-apnea-clinics-face-new-requirements/)

When it comes to medical practice, there are standards that must be met and upheld. You can’t just do what you want especially that you are dealing with people’s lives. If you have sleep issues and have come to terms with it, the next step you are likely to make is a visit to a sleep clinic in your area. Make sure you only trust an establishment that has the proper and updated accreditations. If they don’t, go somewhere else because you deserve far better than what these places can offer. Patients with sleep apnea are often the ones who’d seek treatment here, so while you are still scouting for legitimate sleep clinics you can’t go wrong with an anti-snoring mouthpiece that does not just take care of the snoring but offers palliative support. No need to worry anymore about breathing gaps in your slumber because these handy contraptions such as https://snoringmouthpiecereview.org/sleeptight will ensure your airway is open just right and your brain will no longer have to make that deadly decision between breathing and your precious sleep.

The Sleeplessness Epidemic

With the countless distractions we now face on a daily basis, it is easy to understand why people give up sleep first in order to do more in life. 24 hours each day simply is not just enough anymore for us to pursue what we like to do most. Both young and old are affected, it does not discriminate. Dark under-eye bags are no longer uncommon and people often complain they lack sleep but does not seem to be doing anything about it. It is high time we think of sleep as no longer a luxury but as a necessity that it really is. We sleep for a lot of reasons and that is what nature designed it to be. It is not up to us to decide whether we need it or not because your body will ask for it every day without fail.

It is the only respite you can offer your tired body after a long day at work or at school. At times, there is not much you can do to save yourself and your sanity from the hassles and struggles of daily life apart from allowing yourself to temporarily say goodbye to the world when you close your eyes in slumber. Yet what most of us do? We consciously and willingly give up sleep because the lure of modern living is just irresistible. Smartphone use has bordered to an addiction and it is common knowledge already yet most of us aren’t worried about it at all even if young kids and toddlers are now hooked to smart gadgets as well.

For a lot of people, getting a good night’s sleep and feeling well rested throughout the day is an indulgence. With busy workdays and inconsistent sleep schedules, it is no wonder people struggle with tiredness and other serious health concerns stemming from sleep deprivation.

Roxanne Brooks is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and Adult Sleep Coach who consults out of the CanSleep clinics, a medical consulting company that provides treatments for sleep-related disorders and specializes in sleep apnea. Brooks, who works by referral from the Clinical Therapists, said there are several things that people do throughout the day that affect their sleeping habits, both in positive and negative ways. She suggested that the time at which you exercise, have your last coffee, or watch TV can drastically affect your sleeping habits and overall quality of sleep.

(Via: http://www.tricitynews.com/standout/sleep-is-not-a-luxury-1.23145590)

When we say that there is a sleep epidemic, we are just stating facts and not making assumptions. This is a widespread sleep disaster as the boundaries between day and night are fast being blurred by modern conveniences and contrivances. After all, it is a common practice already for people to check their phones soon after arising and then the last thing they tinker with before retiring for the night. As if these modern addictions aren’t enough, life in itself is stressful with the daily traffic to and from school and work, the multitude of chores and tasks we all have to finish, and the inconsistent sleep patterns we have to deal with every single day. No wonder sleep clinics are growing in popularity as more and more people report sleep-related issues but getting treated is no joke, as well as appointments in these facilities, don’t come cheap.

Learn and practice relaxation techniques.  The harder you try to sleep, the greater the chances are that you’ll end up gnashing your teeth all night rather than stacking some z’s.  That’s why it is important to relax once you’re in bed.  “The one problem with insomnia is that, people often concentrate too much on their sleep, and they press too hard,” says Dr. Michael Stevenson, clinical director of the North Valley Sleep Disorders Center in California.  “The key to successfully falling asleep is to reduce your focus and avoid working yourself into a frenzy.” 

Biofeedback exercises, deep breathing, muscle stretches or yoga may help.  Special audiotapes can teach you how to progressively relax your muscles.  It may not come easy at first, but as Dr. David Neubauer of the Johns Hopkins University Sleep Disorders Center says, “It’s like dieting; you must work on it all the time.  It will take time to get results, but if you stick with it, it will pay off.” 

(Via: https://businessmirror.com.ph/sleep-tight-sleep-right/)

Sleep is supposed to be a recuperative process and it has not changed over the years despite all the changes in our surroundings and lifestyle. The more we neglect our sleep, the higher the risk of contracting chronic and debilitating conditions as we continue to deny our body the chance to recharge and heal itself from the strain and tension it had to endure for the day. While sleeping normally and healthily is such a challenge now, it is still possible and doable. Don’t throw in the towel just yet because all you need is your sheer will and determination and you’ll be able to overcome any struggle even if it means you need to set turn off your phone as soon as the click hits your bedtime.

Meanwhile, it is a different story for those with diagnosed sleep disorders because there are things happening to your body that is beyond your control. For instance, sleep apnea patients face a lot of dangers every time they close their eyes for the night. Anti-snoring mouthpieces such as https://snoringmouthpiecereview.org/zquiet and https://snoringmouthpiecereview.org/snorerx may not be the ideal management but they are helpful enough in addressing sleep apnea while at the same time curbing the annoying snoring sound individuals suffering from sleep apnea often make.

Sleep Clinics That Are Up To No Good

We rarely have a say when it comes to medical institutions. These facilities often do what they want and we just follow because their services are as valuable as our lives. IN the US, getting hospitalized is no joke as your medical bill can shock you upon discharge especially if you do not have medical insurance. Some people try to steer away from it as much as they can but of course, you can’t tell when medical emergencies may happen and off to the hospital you go. Not all our health problems will lead us to the hospital, though. At times, it is to relatively different medical facilities that are more specialized to handle your problem. It’s what sleep clinics are for. It is better for patients with sleep disorders and other sleep-related complaints to go here rather than in traditional hospital as they are equipped with the equipment and materials as well as manpower that are knowledgeable and skilled in handling such cases.

Seeing how many sleep clinics have opened up in and out of the country, we can clearly see how many people are struggling with sleep, or better yet, the lack of it. Sleep deprivation is a chronic problem that cripples most people whether they are young or old. Then there are those sleep disorders such as sleep apnea and insomnia that are so frustrating and can mess with one’s life and health. Hence, it is no longer surprising to see sleep clinics with tarnished reputations and accused of various scams or cases of unprofessionalism. Sleep clinics are essentially an extension of hospitals, so they need to uphold integrity and superior standard medical practices as well as ensuring the facility is clean and complete with all the necessary materials and devices. The staff is also expected to be professional at all times. Unfortunately, this is the exact opposite in many sleep clinics in the country today and it is raising alarm bells to the entire medical community.

The former owner of a Virginia sleep-study center has pleaded guilty to giving doctors kickbacks for treatment that wasn’t medically necessary.

The U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia said Dannie Ahn, 43, pleaded guilty to fraud charges Thursday.

Ahn is the former owner of 1st Class Sleep Diagnostic Center and 1st Class Medical, which provided sleep-related treatment at clinics in Northern Virginia and Maryland.

He also pleaded guilty to defrauding the federal government of more than $1 million.

(Via: http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/former-owner-of-sleep-study-center-pleads-guilty-to-fraud/article_ad518ec6-9c36-5a9a-b4a3-bd7a9e97cb0d.html)

Sleep clinics are a lucrative business now and it is easy to see why many end up scamming people as the temptation to get rich quick by duping people is glaring them right in the face. While not all sleep clinics scam people of their hard-earned money, a lot of them run their business without the proper accreditation or even bother to get accredited in the first place. Other times they not just scam the people but the government and health insurers too as they submit fraudulent claims in order to get more money like what this business owner openly admitted in court.

The indictment claims that the defendants and others recruited patients by offering cash in exchange for participation in a sleep study test. They are also accused of offering additional money to those who referred to others. The defendants recruited patients despite knowing that no doctor had prescribed sleep study testing for them and whether or not the testing was even needed.

Vishnevsky is accused of failing to interpret the data or allowing anyone to interpret it. Vishnevsky is also accused of billing some patients for two sleep studies, despite only visiting the clinic for a single night. It is believed that the defendants submitted more than $11 million in fraudulent claims. At this point in time, the defendants remain innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

(Via: http://brokernewswire.com/california-clinic-owner-and-ups-driver-indicted-for-bogus-sleep-study-scheme/)

Seeing that a lot of people are now getting themselves checked and treated for sleep-related problems, scams have occurred far more common too. The rising awareness of the dangers of sleep deprivation and disorders like sleep apnea scare them, so off to sleep clinics and study centers they go. The overnight stay in a sleep clinic is costly in itself but the financial burden has lightened as public and private health insurances cover these check-ups and treatments. Sleep testing services are highly lucrative and it has subsequently resulted to insurer spending to skyrocket primarily because of getting basic sleep testing first, patients are prescribed with far more expensive and advanced testing procedures they may actually not need or treatment that is just as pricey.

Sleep apnea, for instance, is especially deadly and may ultimately compromise your health in the long run if not treated right away. At times, cheaper devices like anti-snoring mouthpieces e.g. https://snoringmouthpiecereview.org/zquiet and https://snoringmouthpiecereview.org/vitalsleep can alleviate symptoms without breaking the bank. It also comes in handy for patients who can’t tolerate using the CPAP. Rather than risk their health (and life) each night, these contraptions can save their lives without costing a lot.

Using Light The Right Way To Improve Sleep

At this time and age, we have countless tech contrivances to make our life easier in general. You may spend extra in procuring them but they definitely lighten workload whether at home or in the office. Unfortunately, too much technology can get in the way of your good health. Too much distraction makes people stay up all night trying to catch the latest episodes of whatever they are watching and scrolling their social media newsfeed for hours to get updated on all the latest news or to catch up with family and friends even if they are miles and miles away. Tech devices emit light especially blue ones and they disrupt sleep. It is no wonder now why many people constantly complain about lacking in sleep because their new hobby has definitely been upgraded and it has turned into an obsession.

However, is it possible to use the same technology in addressing sleep issues and hopefully allow you to sleep better at night for your sake? There is a light therapy that can possibly solve this dilemma. It might not be 100% right away, but definitely baby steps in that direction. Teens and the younger population are the first to reap its benefits especially that they are the ones who are more glued to their gadgets and have been silently battling sleeping issues on their own. Light is used to correct the body’s natural clock so you are naturally oriented to the normal sleep-wake cycle again on your specific time zone and can be used in conjunction with melatonin pills.

To treat this mistiming, he said he prescribes light therapy, where patients sit before a bright light for prescribed periods of time, as it is the most “powerful” way to retrain the body’s internal clock.

Shapiro said that sometimes he brings his subjects into his lab for a body clock test. While not covered by OHIP, Shapiro said the test gives the most definitive diagnosis of body clock functioning.

For six hours, from 6 p.m. to midnight, subjects sit in a dark room. Once an hour, remaining in the dark, they chew a cotton ball and spit it into a tube.

From the saliva extracted, staff measure the melatonin level and plot it on a graph, to show when it rises. If it rises too late in the evening, that can indicate there’s a body clock problem.

(Via: https://www.thestar.com/life/health_wellness/analysis/2017/12/18/young-adults-sleep-issues-often-helped-by-light-therapy.html)

Sleep clinics can help patients with this light therapy as it often is a diagnostic procedure where patients are asked to sit in a dark for six hours and data is extracted from them through their saliva in order to measure melatonin levels. The result can give doctors a better understanding as to why you are suffering from sleep issues and they will be able to formulate a better medical management of your condition that is more tailor-fit to support your needs.

FUTURISTIC glasses — designed to combat sleep deprivation — are in high demand.

Developed at Flinders University and manufactured at Lonsdale, they direct blue and green light into the eyes to help adjust the body clock and improve sleep.

Professor Leon Lack and Dr Helen Wright from the university started researching and developing the device in 1987.

Sales have continued to increase since the Re-Timer light therapy glasses were launched in 2012.

“We knew this would be useful for people flying across time zones … and for some people with sleep disorders,” Prof Lack said.

(Via: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/business/jobs/retimer-antisleep-deprivation-glasses-are-made-by-a-former-automotive-manufacturer/news-story/4e644360eb576f34b1af9f6c5b591a30)

It’s really amazing what technology can achieve when used right. There are numerous valuable resources you can tap right now to help you deal with and manage a lot of your issues especially the ones concerning your health. A surgery is not always done first if the condition can be corrected by something else, in this case, a futuristic glass. You were able to diagnose your sleeping woe through light therapy and now it is time to get back on your lost sleep and overcome sleep deprivation. Like how the light therapy takes a closer look at how your body clock works, these futuristic glasses are designed to adjust your circadian rhythm by emitting blue and green light. People who are always on the go and travel across various time zones can benefit from this glasses so sleep would now be the lease of their worries.

But if your problem is sleep apnea, you need so much more than this glasses. For starters, you need a diagnosis for it so your doctor can take the right course of action in treating your condition. More often than not, CPAP is recommended while you always have a choice to try something more convenient to use like an anti-snoring mouthpiece, examples of which are https://snoringmouthpiecereview.org/zquiet and https://snoringmouthpiecereview.org/snorerx that corrects the problem with your anatomy and not only gets rid of the snoring but reduces the deadly breathing gaps in your slumber.

The Rising Popularity Of Sleep Disorder Clinics

Have you’ve ever had sleep issues in the past or still suffer from them now and then or far more common than you would like to admit it yourself? Well, you are not alone. In reality, millions of people toss and turn each night for various reasons. Some can’t sleep because of their preoccupation with tech gadgets while the other half suffer from medical conditions like sleep disorders. If you happen to belong to the latter, no need to fret because help is readily available if you just learn to ask for it. Have you heard of sleep clinics? It’s high time you know them. There are numerous sleep clinics scattered all over the country that can help you get to the bottom of your sleep issues once and for all.

Sleep clinics are lifesavers to individuals who struggle with sleep every single night. There was a time when the rest of the world simply shrugged off sleep issues but not anymore. You can head to the nearest sleep clinic in your area and spend the night there to get assessed in your slumber. That way, the sleep doctors/experts can give a more accurate diagnosis about your condition and come up with a more tailor-fit medical management that fits your needs. Getting diagnosed and treated is a must especially if you are suffering from a deadly condition like sleep apnea because you literally stop breathing in your sleep and it predisposes you to other more deadly conditions like heart disease and diabetes.

Sleep apnoea affects about 10 per cent of the adult population. Treatment options include weight loss, exercise, surgery and mouthguards “but if it is severe, the only thing that really works is continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) therapy”.

“I assess people and send them home with a monitor to use while they’re asleep so we can work out what’s happening,” Mrs Aplin said.

“Sleep apnoea covers about 90 per cent of sleep disorders so we need to rule that out before looking at other issues.

“If a patient has sleep apnoea, they can trial a CPAP therapy machine which keeps the airways open. If it’s a different issue, we can talk about other sleep practices that people can try, such as cognitive behavioural therapy programmes that are often available online.”

(Via: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/wanganui-chronicle/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503422&objectid=11931912)

Poor sleep quality is second to breathing pauses that many sleep apnea sufferers complain about. It makes people generally sleepy throughout the day. It is risky if you work in an industry that requires you to operate machinery or have to drive on a daily basis. By now, we all know that CPAP is the ideal treatment for sleep apnea but we also know how much patients hate it because of its sheer inconvenience during bedtime. With the help of sleep clinics, you can also explore other treatment regimens like cognitive behavioral therapy to help you combat the condition without making your life miserable. You can also choose from handy anti-snoring devices like https://snoringmouthpiecereview.org/zquiet or https://snoringmouthpiecereview.org/sleeptight that helps correct those anatomical problems that lead to snoring and sleep apnea.

Dr Alex Bartle, director of New Zealand’s Sleep Well Clinics, believes up to 15 per cent of adult Kiwis have chronic insomnia which affects their waking lives.

“That’s a fair number of people who have disrupted sleep at least three nights a week, and have had for more than three months,” says Bartle. 

“Part of the problem is that many people who can’t sleep accept it as normal and insomnia is not normal.” 

Although we spend about 24 to 26 years of our lives asleep, how much we really need varies from person to person. The gold standard for an average night’s sleep, set by the US Sleep Foundation, is 6½ hours.

“Any less than six hours and we don’t compute very well,” says Bartle. 

He’s right: when we’re sleep deprived we tend to be grumpy, unproductive and often unable to think straight. Research from the University College London Medical School revealed that people who fail to get a full night’s sleep score significantly lower on tests of logic and vocabulary and, more worryingly, have slower reaction times which can impact on everything from operating machinery to driving.    

(Via: https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/well-good/teach-me/97841599/how-to-reverse-insomnia-a-sleep-expert-offers-advice)

People today can attest to the rise in popularity of sleep clinics as some actually have to wait for weeks to get an appointment. Whether it is insomnia, sleep apnea, or some other sleep disorder, the best place for you to get checked and treated is a sleep clinic because they have the facility, equipment, and expertise over this matter. Giving patients sleeping pills is not always a good idea but may be used in conjunction with other management programs like cognitive behavioral therapy, which is found to be more effective as it helps rewire the brain to adapt better sleeping habits that are mostly helpful for insomniacs.

If you find yourself counting sheep in the middle of the night, snap out of it and get an appointment to the nearest sleep clinic as soon as you can because that’s where you can find the help that you desperately need.

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.

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.