Iowa Sleep Blog

Common Things that Aggravate Obstructive Sleep Apnea without You Realizing It

Monday, November 30, 2015
It doesn’t matter if you’ve suffered from obstructive sleep apnea for years or a couple weeks, there are many things, large and small that can affect OSA. In fact, there are more than 22 million Americans who suffer from sleep apnea each night. But, did you know that some of these sneaky but common things could also be aggravating your OSA? Check out Iowa Sleep’s list below: Foods –…

I've Been Diagnosed with OSA--Now What?

Monday, October 19, 2015
 If you’ve ever been told you snore, or suddenly stop breathing during your sleep, you may be experiencing obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a common disorder where a sleeper experience one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths because of excess skin blocking the airway the throat while they are asleep. These pauses can last anywhere from a couple seconds to more than 30…

The Link Between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Depression

Monday, October 05, 2015
During Iowa’s colder months or periods during of stressful events in our lives, it’s natural to occasionally feel sad or “down in the dumps.” However, when that feeling seems to linger for longer periods of time, it could be a sign of depression. How does this relate to sleep? Well, individuals who experience depression are also more likely to have symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea. OSA…

Sleep Apnea Support Groups

Monday, September 14, 2015
Even though sleep is something that is seen as a universal, it can be hard to admit that you’re having problems with falling or staying asleep at night. Support groups are a popular method of education and support for a variety of health and wellness related topics, one in particular being sleep apnea. For many with sleep disorders, attending support groups and connecting…

Obesity's Effects on Sleep

Monday, March 02, 2015
Obesity's effects on sleep   Today, over 65% of Americans are overweight or considered obese, with those numbers growing among both children and adults. This increase can be linked to our more sedative lifestyles, change in diets and heredity traits over time. Adults are not the only ones affected by obesity, as the number of children who are considered obese has also risen. According the…

ADHD or OSA?

Monday, January 19, 2015
Many are quick to call a child’s hyperactivity or lack of focus in the classroom Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. In fact, 11 percent of children ages 4-17 have been diagnosed with ADHD since 2011. If your child is having a hard time staying focused during the day, the real problem may be what happens at night. While obstructive sleep apneas seem like a sleep problem only for…

Sleep Well, Be Well

Monday, November 24, 2014
Promising to get more sleep each night is a popular New Year’s resolution, but that doesn’t mean you have to wait until January to start. There are many small lifestyle changes that you can make now to improve your sleep habits. The National Healthy Sleep Awareness Project began in 2013 by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research…

Take On Our Better Sleep Month Challenge

Monday, May 05, 2014
It’s time to celebrate, but we’re not blowing up balloons or baking a cake. Instead, we’re planning our May schedules in a way that will allow us to get a full seven to eight hours of sleep every night in honor of Better Sleep Month. The Better Sleep Council designated May as Better Sleep Month in 1985 with the original goal of selling more mattresses. A good mattress is certainly important to…

What Would You Give Up in Exchange for a Good Night's Sleep?

Monday, April 21, 2014
About one in five adults fail to get enough sleep, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, which recommends adults get seven to eight hours of sleep each night to feel alert and well rested. If you’re not getting enough sleep on a regular basis, you’re likely to experience excessive daytime sleepiness, as well as negative moods, fatigue, forgetfulness, drowsy driving and even…

How Sleep Conditions Can Impact Diabetes

Monday, March 17, 2014
Many people are unable to sleep because they experience insomnia, snoring or waking up throughout the night. Problems sleeping can negatively impact health and various diseases, including diabetes. Recent studies have shown that up to 70 percent of people with diabetes have a sleep condition involving one or more of these side effects, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).  OSA is a sleep…