Sleep Health

Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer. This summer, more people want to hit the road in an RV. It’s no surprise why. Overall, people love to camp to relax, escape the stress and reconnect with friends and family. Because more RVs today are lighter and smaller, more people are RVing for the first time!

Americans are in the midst of a sleep epidemic. Currently, Americans average 6.8  hours of sleep a night, and 40% of Americans get six hours or less. 37.9% of people report unintentionally falling asleep during the day at least once in the preceding month.

Somewhere between 18 to 22 million Americans suffer from some type of sleep apnea, yet the condition remains largely undiagnosed in our nation. Most people assume only overweight men suffer from sleep apnea, but in reality, sleep apnea can affect anyone. Before you commit to a polysomnography, film yourself sleeping to see if you're struggling to breathe at night.

Some may think that Sleepytime tea can be a natural way to induce sleep, but is this true? Most Sleepytime teas contain chamomile, a medicinal herb used for its calming properties. Chamomile has been used to relieve stress and fatigue, and it may help relax you in preparation for a good night's sleep.

Anyone who has used a CPAP machine long enough to go through a seasonal change is fully aware that the weather has a direct effect on the temperature and humidity. When the weather changes from warmer to colder, the humidity may be low, but in the tubing of your CPAP machine it is high, especially if you use a heated humidifier with your CPAP machine.

Sleep apnea is something we have all heard of but many think that it isn’t a big deal and that there aren’t any consequences to leaving it untreated. Many of you will remember American college and professional football player Reggie White. His sudden death in 2004 was not the direct effect of sleep apnea, but his sleep apnea adversely affected other illnesses he had and was a large contributor to his death.

Adhering to CPAP therapy can be challenging at first, but once a patient has the hang of it, the benefits are not only very obvious, but long lasting with continued therapy. As with any other important decision making process, it helps to have a list of pros and cons and what to expect when you start CPAP Therapy. So what is it that patients tend to dislike (and like) so much about CPAP therapy?

If you have been on CPAP treatment for a year or more you have probably started wondering 'how often should you be tested for sleep apnea?'  Because we are all different, there isn’t a set answer but there are signs to look out for that will help indicate when it is time for you to do a new sleep study.  For many patients, it will depend on your doctor’s preferences as to when you should retest.  Some physicians may require an annual test, and others may prefer a test every five years.

Are you dragging yourself through your day by chugging caffeinated beverage after caffeinated beverage or driving with the radio blaring to keep you from nodding off? Does your work day seem longer today than it did yesterday? Are you finding it harder and harder to make it through the work week?