If you're reading this blog, odds are, you're looking for more information about sleep and sleep disorders. That's good news for you, because the goal of this blog post is to give you an answer to ALL of your questions relating to sleep apnea, sleep studies, and the treatment that you can get afterwards. 

(Seriously, we've answered so many questions that they won't all fit in this blog post. Read on!)

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!

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?

Sleep apnea is a very prevalent condition--in fact, an estimated 1 in 5 American adults has the sleep disorder. 

By that number, we should all be able to name at least a handful of people with sleep apnea. But in fact, 80% of sleep apnea cases go untreated and most people don't even know they have it.  Those with sleep apnea don't usually remember waking up during the night and might brush off their symptoms as just being tired. And the only way to know for sure if you have the condition is to be tested for it. 

So here are our top 5 reasons why you should have a sleep study--and the benefits that could result from taking back your restful sleep.

Does your child toss and turn frequently during the night? Does he or she often wake up with headaches or a dry throat, or exhibit problematic behavior during the day? If so, you might not be aware that your child could be suffering from the sleep disorder obstructive sleep apnea.

Many parents might never consider that their children have OSA because of the misleading stereotype of a sleep apnea patient as a middle-aged man. In fact, an estimated 2-3% of children suffer from childhood sleep apnea. However, the causes—and, thus, the treatment—for kids can be very different than for adults. Read on to learn how to recognize your child’s symptoms, and what you can do to return them to a peaceful and restful night’s sleep.

Sleep apnea results in decreased oxygen flow to the body, poor sleep, and an elevated heart rate. It can lead to higher blood sugar levels and increases the risk of serious cardiovascular complications. Do these symptoms sound familiar? Unfortunately, it could be because these factors are also closely related to type 2 diabetes. This connection is not just hypothetical; in fact, a recent study has found evidence linking sleep apnea and heightened risk of diabetes. 

New Year 2015 is coming up—which means that you’re probably already compiling your list of behaviors that you want to change in the coming year. But what if your New Year’s resolution was a single action that could lead to you feeling more energetic and alert, improving your memory, decreasing your risk for heart disease and other serious conditions, and being able to enjoy a good night’s sleep? That resolution is having a sleep study to test for sleep apnea—and 2015 is the time to finally get the sleep you deserve.