On our blog, we talk a lot about sleep apnea. We've discussed everything from the connection between sleep apnea and heart disease to whether it's possible for your pet to have it. 

But as much as we like to keep our readers updated on the details and newest developments in the world of sleep health, we also want to make sure you have access to the basics: the most important, pertinent information about a sleep disorder that is both prevalent and serious. 

So we've created a new resource: one place where you can find everything you need to know, just about sleep apnea. 

Everyone knows that the colors we're surrounded by can affect our moods. Rooms with lots of soft yellow are often perceived as warm and welcoming, for example, while gray rooms are often cool and neutral. From the pastels in your kitchen to the shades in your workplace, colors affect how we interpret the ambiance of a room and can constantly affect us while we're awake.

But can the color of a room affect our mood while we're asleep too? 

In a country where a full 1/5 of adults do not get enough sleep, being tired sounds like the norm! In our last post, we talked about the dangers of sleep deprivation. But what if you're still tired despite the fact that you're sleeping enough, or even more than normal? This condition of being constantly sleepy and perhaps sleeping excessively is called hypersomnia. 

We're pretty sure you don't need us to tell you about the causes of sleep deprivation. Not getting enough sleep is a prevalent, nationwide problem. Everyone has felt sleep-deprived at one point, and 1 in 5 adults regularly does not receive enough sleep¹. 

But what are the real effects, to your body and mind, of not getting the recommended amount of sleep? You may be tempted to brush off a lack of sleep, thinking that it's nothing a cup of coffee won't cure. But the effects of sleep deprivation are nothing to yawn at.  

You've crawled into bed ready for a good night's sleep. You begin to nod off, but haven't completely fallen asleep yet. That's when you sense something in the room near your bed. Despite your fright, you can't cry out, run, or scream. You're frozen with fear. This experience is known as sleep paralysis. 

Stress is the enemy of a good night's sleep. Whether you're worried about your upcoming review at work, your car is making a funny noise, or you're having problems with your family, stress can keep you up later than you'd like and rob you of what little rest your sleep should be giving you.

One solution to dealing with stress, and getting a fuller, more restful night's sleep, is performing some relaxing yoga poses before bed!

There are several different opinions about which sleep position is "best" for a good night's sleep and overall health. Is it true that one sleep position is really better than all the others? 

In short, the answer is not black-and-white. Each sleep position (back, front, and side) has benefits and drawbacks. Here's our breakdown of each sleep position so you can decide which one works for you. 

There are few things more annoying than waking up at night, warm and comfortable in your bed, with the overhwelming need to use the restroom. By the time you get back to bed, after stumbling to the bathroom, turning on the lights, and flushing the toilet, there's no chance of you getting back to sleep. 

Experiences like these, if they occur frequently, can actually seriously disrupt your sleep schedule and harm your overall health. But did you know that having to urinate frequently at night is related to another sleep disorder--sleep apnea? 

There are currently 5.3 million Americans living with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia. In fact, every 67 seconds, someone develops the disease. Many people don't realize that Alzheimer's is the third leading cause of death in our country, and the only disease in the top 10 that cannot be prevented, cured, or even slowed. Much of today's research is focusing on prevention--and it turns out that treating sleep disorders like sleep apnea is an important component. 

You know what a smart phone is...but what about a smart CPAP machine?

On the most basic level, a PAP (positive airway pressure) machine is a medical device that blows pressurized air through the airway to prevent the throat closing during sleep apnea. But increasingly advanced technology in these machines is leading to all sorts of capabilities, including air pressure that is perfectly adjusted to your needs and the ability to track your CPAP compliance.