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. 

Here on the Sleep Better, Live Better Blog, we're hosting a series of guest posts to talk about alternatives to CPAP therapy for those who won't or can't use this method to treat their sleep apnea. Last week, we looked at a surgical alternative, bimaxillary advancement surgery.

This week, we're looking at an innovative procedure that aims to prevent the the airway closing up using electrical impulses like those used in pacemakers. Read on to learn more about Upper Airway Stimulation!

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a serious medical concern. It is caused by the buildup of fat in liver cells and is commonly found in obese people and those with high cholesterol. It afflicts up to 25% of adults in the United States. It can lead to swelling of the liver, damage, and eventually liver failure--which is serious becuase it has no cure. 

On top of that, liver damage is connected to another common, serious health condition--sleep apnea. Studies show that this sleep disorder can worsen or even cause liver damage and fatty liver disease.

Many patients ask their doctors (and us) about alternatives to PAP therapy for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). While PAP is the gold-standard for treating OSA, there are many patients who can’t tolerate it, refuse to use PAP every night or are looking for an occasional alternative to using PAP every night.

In this blog series, we will ask experts to explain alternative therapies. Each expert will detail how the therapy works, who is a good candidate (and who isn’t) and where to go for more information.

What if there were a one-time procedure that could cure your sleep apnea for good, no mask required? Bimaxillary advacement surgery--a complicated term for moving both the upper and lower jaw forward--attempts to do just that. 

You know about the causes and negative symptoms of sleep apnea. But what are the direct physical causes of this sleep disorder? What happens when you experience an apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when soft tissue in the throat blocks off the airway, partially or completely preventing oxygen from entering the body. For this blog post, we’re going to take a closer look at what causes this obstruction, what physical characteristics make you more likely to develop sleep apnea, and how the closing of the throat can be prevented.

Do you remember having braces when you were little? Or have you ever had to wear a retainer at night? Then it will be easy for you to picture this type of sleep apnea treatment!

Dental devices are appliances that are worn in the mouth during sleep to help you breathe better. Can a simple oral piece really prevent the effects of sleep apnea?

If you're at all familiar with sleep disorders, you've heard the term OSA, standing for obstructive sleep apnea. In fact, OSA is often used interchangeably with "sleep apnea". But they're not the same thing. OSA is only a certain type of sleep apnea, which can be caused by multiple factors. This article will teach you more about the different types and causes of sleep apnea. 

What do sleep apnea and heart disease have in common? More than you might think. The symptoms of sleep apnea put strain on the heart and body, and there is a demonstrated connection between the two conditions.

Have you ever been trying to sleep in the same room with someone who snores like a freight train? It can be about as easy as sleeping on a bed of gravel. But unfortunately, that snoring could indicate deeper issues than a need for earplugs. 

In fact, snoring is one of the most visible symptoms of sleep apnea, as well as gasping, choking, or cessation of breathing during the night. That's why oftentimes bed partners are the first ones to notice that their loved ones have a sleep disorder. Read on to figure out what to keep an eye out for in your partner.