Blue Light, Restless Night: How Your Cell Phone Interferes with Sleep

May 12, 2021

Woman playing on her cell phone at night in bed

You spend about half an hour looking at your phone before bed every night, and then in the morning you’re feeling tired even though you gave yourself plenty of time to sleep. Could these two things be related? As odd as it might seem, spending too much time on your phone or any other kind of electronic device could end up decreasing the quality of your sleep – and if you already have a disorder like sleep apnea, the problem could grow even worse. Read on to learn why turning your devices off before bed could be the key to enjoying a more well-rested lifestyle.

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What Having Sleep Apnea Means for Pregnant Mothers

May 3, 2021

Pregnant mother looking at her belly on couch

If you haven’t been sleeping well since becoming pregnant, that’s nothing unusual. More than 75% of pregnant women say they experience sleep disturbance. But if said disturbances are being caused by an interruption of airflow, then that’s a much more serious problem – one that could have grave consequences for you and your yet-to-be-born child. Every mom-to-be needs to be aware of the risks of sleep apnea during pregnancy so that they can act quickly to protect themselves and ensure that the birth is successful.

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How Sleep Apnea Can Give You Nightmares

Woman under covers having woken up from nightmare

Lately you haven’t been able to remember most of your dreams, but the few you have had have turned into horrible nightmares. What could be the cause of your nighttime terrors? Surprisingly, it could very well be a natural consequence of sleep apnea. In addition to the numerous other health complications it causes, this disorder can affect the way your dream – and in some cases can make your nights much more disturbing.  Below, you can learn about sleep apnea nightmares and what can be done to make your nights peaceful again.

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Will Sleep Apnea Ever Go Away?

March 26, 2021

Man wide awake in bed staring at alarm clock

When you’re considering different solutions for sleep apnea – be it an oral appliance, CPAP therapy, or a combination of the two – there might be a part of you that’s asking: “What if I just wait for my disorder to go away on its own?” As tempting as it might be to try and save money by letting your sleep apnea take care of itself, it’s important to understand what causes the condition and how that can affect its potential to go away naturally. Read below to learn more about what contributes to sleep apnea and how you might take control of some of those risk factors.

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Will Your Insurance Cover Sleep Apnea Therapy?

March 23, 2021

Stethoscope on a health insurance form

You’re likely to have several questions about sleep apnea and the process for treating it. Some of the most important inquiries that you’ll need to make will be about insurance and the overall cost of sleep apnea therapy. Will your own plan cover the cost of sleep apnea therapy? What if you rely on Medicare instead? And what about the cost of a sleep study? In this post, you’ll find the answers to these questions so that you can begin planning for your sleep apnea treatment right now.

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Weight Gain and Sleep Apnea: A Vicious Cycle

February 25, 2021

Buttoning pants, concerned about sleep apnea and weight gain

At the beginning of 2021, were you among the millions of people who resolved to lose weight this year? Whether you want to shed the “quarantine 15” or reach long-held fitness goals, hopefully all is going according to plan. If it is not, have you considered that the quality of your sleep might be part of the reason why? Let’s talk about the connection between weight gain and sleep apnea and what you may be able to do to address both conditions.

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I Have Sleep Apnea — Is It Okay to Take a Nap?

February 15, 2021

Sleeping man, unconcerned about relationship between napping and sleep apnea

Napping is a harmless — and perhaps even helpful — practice for most people. Whether you are struggling to get through an afternoon slump or just need to take a midday siesta, getting a little shuteye can have significant benefits. However, that might not be the case if you have sleep apnea. Napping and sleep apnea have a negative relationship. Let’s discuss why that is so and what you can do to improve the quality of your nighttime rest.

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How Too Much Alcohol Can Make Sleep Apnea Worse

December 14, 2020

Bearded man being kept up by his sleep apnea

Some people use alcohol to try and fall asleep faster. On the surface, it makes sense: alcohol has a sedative effect that makes you feel like drifting off. But before you head to the fridge for a drink before bed, you should know that numerous studies have found that alcohol has actually been linked to poor sleep quality – especially in those who suffer from sleep-related breathing disorders. Discover the truth behind the link between alcohol and sleep apnea.

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Could Your Child Be Suffering from Sleep Apnea?

December 6, 2020

Child sleeping with her mouth open

When someone has sleep apnea, their sleep is habitually disrupted by breathing complications, which drastically affects sleep quality and results in daytime sleepiness. For children, this condition can sometimes cause restlessness and other behavioral issues that mimic the symptoms of ADHD. If any of this sounds familiar, your child may be suffering from this disorder. Keep reading to learn the symptoms, causes and treatment of children’s sleep apnea.

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Using a Sleep Diary to Diagnose Sleep Apnea

November 24, 2020

Open notebook on bed with pen and alarm clock

Even if you’ve noticed warning signs of sleep apnea, treatment can’t begin right away. After all, there are different kinds of sleep disorders that are linked to unique causes; in order to successfully treat them, they need to be properly diagnosed. There are a few different ways to confirm that you have sleep apnea, but one step that you might be asked to take is to keep a sleep diary – a useful reference tool that can give you and your sleep doctor some important context about your resting habits. Read on to learn how a sleep diary could be the first step to enjoying peaceful nights again.  

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