The National Sleep Foundation is celebrating its annual Sleep Awareness Week ^© March 6th through March 13th, to raise awareness of the health benefits of sleep and its importance to safety and productivity. We've compiled a list of ten of the most important things you should know about sleep. Learn more and spread awareness about sleep health with your family, friends and colleagues.

Sleep apnea can be frightening for the people who experience it as well as their partners, who watch as their slumbering companions suddenly stop breathing, choke and wake, sometimes dozens of times an hour. The worry is well-founded, because sleep apnea is more than a disturbance at night. Studies have shown that obstructive sleep apnea increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, hypertension and even death due to cardiac arrest.

Were you recently diagnosed with sleep apnea or have a family member who just started using a CPAP device? You're not alone. In addition to an estimated 20 million Americans who have sleep apnea, there are lots of celebrities (both men and women) who have also publicly shared their struggles with the disease. Who do you know on this list of 20 celebrities?

You’ve probably heard about the physical side effects of sleep apnea, like high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes. But obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can take as big a toll on the brain as it does on the heart. Changes in brain matter and damage to neurons caused by sleep deprivation can lead to memory loss and other complications. Recent studies have shown that sleep apnea also changes the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain. What does this mean? The good news is, this damage may be reversible.

Out-of-network services: a nasty surprise ($150 vs $1,200)

A study from the Kaiser Family Foundation of Americans who had trouble paying their medical bills found that 32% received care from an out-of-network provider that insurance wouldn't fully cover and 21% of respondents did not know that their provider was out of network. 

Why is it important to choose an in-network provider?

If you've received a new PAP device to treat your sleep apnea in the past 12-18 months, you likely have a device that can be enabled to wireless transmit your usage data to your smartphone, your physician, your medical equipment provider and even your health insurance company.

Why? How? What does this mean for patients and their privacy? What are the benefits for patients and their healthcare providers?

Cost of Missed Appointments

At Advanced Sleep Medicine Services, like most healthcare providers, we go through a lot of work (data entry, insurance verification, scheduling, assigning staff) before each patient appointment. It kills us when the patient makes it all the way through this process and then no-shows to her appointment.

We could focus on attracting a new patients to make up for the missed appointments, or we can look for ways to ensure that as many patients as possible arrive, as scheduled, to complete their appointments so that they can receive the diagnosis and treatment they need and we can bill (and get paid) for the service. In the past three years as reimbursement has dropped, we’ve tried different strategies. In this blog post we outline our most recent attempts, what we’ve learned from them and finally, what’s working now.

Sleep disorders, such as snoring and apnea, are more than just a nuisance - they can be related to many health risks. This is why effective and timely treatment is vital. Constant Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) still remains the most successful treatment for sleep apnea. While patients often complain about its inconvenience, it helps them breathe through the night and get the rest they need. 

The good news is that with the year 2016 fast approaching, the technology of sleep aid does not stand still either. Our hope is that technological advances will help eliminate the discomfort of using CPAP masks, while keeping the benefits of the therapy.

Today we would like to highlight some of the revolutionary sleep aid gadgets to be released in the near future. As always, it is important to consult a doctor before starting or switching to a new treatment. With physician's approval, these inventions could significantly improve the lives of people with sleep disorders. 

Silent Partner – tackling snoring from a new angle.

Snoring can be caused by a range of factors, from temporary, such as a sinus infection or alcohol consumption, to more serious issue such as sleep apnea.

Always remember to consult your doctor about your sleep issues. If you are certain that your snoring bears no futher health risks other than what your sleepy and angry partner could do to you in your sleep, Silent Partner is the solution for you.

Image from http://www.silent-partner.co

Sleep apnea has been dubbed “a silent killer”: a sleep disorder that is often overlooked or unrecognized, it incurs increased risk of road accidents due to drowsiness, fatal heart disease, as well as a range of other serious health issues.

Fifteen years ago, Fred was clueless to the cause of his chronic fatigue, until his concerned wife sent him to a sleep study. Had it not been for his timely treatment of sleep apnea, Fred’s life could have been shortened by the associated health risks, just like his forefathers'.

In his own words: “I wouldn’t be surprised if the last four generations of my family had gone through sleep apnea. They didn’t have the equipment I have now. It’s possible that sleep apnea shortened the lives of my ancestors.”

Today Fred L., 66, from Ojai, Ca. shares with us his story of the trials and benefits of treating sleep apnea.

Until now, research has suggested that sleeping with your pets is disruptive and should be avoided. A new study released December 2015 finds that sleeping with your pet may help you feel more secure, reduce anxiety and even sleep better!