Sleep apnea affects approximately 20 million Americans—nearly one out of every 16 people—and estimates show that sleep disorders affect over 40 million people in the United States alone. Sufferers are unable to achieve restful sleep, no matter how long they spend in bed. As a result, people with sleep apnea suffer from many negative health effects and conditions as a result of the strain on their body and mind. When left untreated, sleep apnea can significantly reduce a person’s health and quality of life.

There are effective treatments for sleep apnea that are FDA approved and easily available; however, these therapies are challenging to use or prohibitively expensive. As a result, there are many alternative therapies that are gaining popularity as new research and technology are making them more effective. One such potential therapy is derived from a controversial substance: marijuana.

According to research, exposure to artificial light at night can disrupt our sleep. Blue wavelength light, the kind that comes from TVs, iPads, and smartphones, is especially harmful to circadian rhythm function. 

So, what are we do to about this? In this blog post, we explain the top reasons why you should consider wearing a pair of these dashing glasses tonight.

It’s well known that there’s a correlation between sleeping patterns and marijuana usage. Research shows that there are some strains that work better at inducing sleepiness or lowering pain and stress symptoms. This alone makes marijuana an appealing alternative or last resort when nothing else works. 

Those who are turning towards marijuana to cure insomnia, though, should be aware of the problems associated with consuming it as it can certainly be tempting to use it for purposes other than as a  sleeping aid. One common problem, for instance, is that people are now smoking marijuana and getting behind the wheel.  Some may think that one puff won’t affect them enough to fall asleep while driving, but the problem goes beyond that. There’s a bigger picture to consider.

The facts about driving drowsy versus driving drunk are well known, but what about driving drunk versus driving high?

Impaired driving is the most common cause of fatal car crashes in both Canada and the USA. Driving under the influence of alcohol can be easily determined and regulated, but when it comes to driving under the influence of marijuana, we have a problem!

Sleep Apnea in Pets

You may be surprised to learn that dogs, like humans, can suffer from sleep disorders, including sleep apnea.  While snoring is sometimes just innocuous nighttime noise, it can also be a warning sign for an underlying problem. Sleep apnea can be pretty serious for your pooch. The most severe cases can result in death, but even a mild instance can disrupt your dog's sleep.

Symptoms include:

• Loud and frequent snoring
• Gasping or choking while sleeping
• Sleeping during the day
• Tiredness
• Irritability

Common causes of sleep apnea in dogs include allergies, being overweight, and obstructions in the dog's airway and nasal passages.

1. The older you get, the fewer hours of sleep you need.

Sleep experts recommend a range of seven to nine hours of sleep for the average adult. While sleep patterns change as we age, the amount of sleep we need generally does not. Older people may wake more frequently through the night and may actually get less nighttime sleep, but their sleep need is no less than younger adults. Because they may sleep less during the night, older people tend to sleep more during the day. Naps planned as part of a regular daily routine can be useful in promoting wakefulness after the person awakens. Learn more about recommended sleep duration guidelines by age group here.

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.

A recent segment on NPR’s All Things Considered came on and caught my interest when I heard the terms “sleep quality” and “sleep deprivation”. I was even more interested when I heard that the interviewee was conducting research in India on the relationship between poor sleep quality and poverty.

We’re constantly revisiting reasons why sleep is important to health on our blog, our website, etc., so drawing a connection between poor sleep and poverty sounded pretty compelling. Read on! 

Many patients find the idea of having to wear a mask to sleep every night to be daunting. Fortunately, the field of sleep medicine is changing quickly, in ways that are making treatment more accessible, convenient, and patient-friendly. Most excitingly, better and more comfortable treatment options are being developed that could replace CPAP entirely--even as soon as the next couple years. 

It is the time of the year when kids don their best spooky apparel and go out for some mischief and sweets.

With all this excitement, it could be hard for your kids to keep their sleep.

We have previously posted on two sleeping problems that can be prevented with the right approach:

NIGHTMARES, which can be caused by something as minor as a stimulating bedtime snack to the more serious sleep disorders, such as restless leg syndrome and sleep apnea. Read the article to find out more about the causes and ways of addressing nightmares.

SLEEP PARALYSIS - a condition in which a person is mentally conscious but physically unable to move. This can be accompanied by the spooky feeling that there is someone else in the room - sure to raise some hairs on your little one! Read on to find out ways to help prevent sleep paralysis.

So how do you keep your kids from having sleep problems around Halloween? Here are some important tips.

Sleep apnea can occur in any demographic, but this condition, in which sufferers involuntarily cease to breathe is particularly prevalent among professional football players. Did you know that up to 1/3 of NFL players have sleep apnea? Unfortunately, the very size and strength that allows pro football players to excel at their sport, increases the risk for compromised health off the field. Notably, Reggie White, who played for both the Green Bay Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles died in his early forties. His premature demise was reportedly due, in part, to complications of sleep apnea.

A recent study, conducted by The New England Journal of Medicine recently tested "fifty-two professional players from eight randomly selected NFL teams." The study concluded that obstructive sleep apnea was approximately five times higher in these subjects than in similarly aged adults undergoing the same testing.

This is a significant study because it shows high body mass and thick necks make these athletes more susceptible to sleep apnea. That, in turn, indicates that others with the same characteristics are also at a higher risk for this life-threatening condition.