February 7, 2012

Sleep Problems Affect Prostate Cancer Risks

Can sleep problems really be linked to prostate cancer risk? According to a study done in Iceland, men with the most trouble sleeping were twice as likely to develop prostate cancer as those without any sleep disruptions. The study primarily dealt with severe insomnia. This is not the first study to look at the relationship between sleep disruption and cancer. […]
January 27, 2012

Sleep Problems Raise Heart and Obesity Risks

Common sleep problems like difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or even sleeping too much increase the risk of heart disease and obesity. A study reported in the Journal of Sleep Research looked at almost 140,000 people. Those that reported sleep disturbance three nights out of the week were more likely to experience obesity, heart attack and heart disease. When the […]
January 18, 2012

Sleep Apnea In Women Diagnosed Less

Sleep apnea may be diagnosed less in women because women’s symptoms may be different from a mans. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disorder that causes people to stop breathing during sleep. Usually loud snoring, gasping for breath and daytime fatigue are symptoms. Apnea events are counted when the breathing stops or slows for at least 10 seconds at a […]
January 11, 2012

Changing Health Trends for 2012

Health trends for 2012 will be changing. The Values Institute at DGWB, a national research group,  determined the following are going to be hot in 2012: Natural energy drinks – Instead of Red Bull and Monster consumers will be looking for an energy boost from more natural ingredients like vitamins and tea extracts. Sleep – Study after study confirms the […]
January 9, 2012

Poor Sleep May Increase Fibromyalgia Risk

A study from Norway suggests that poor sleep habits may increase the risk of fibromyalgia in women. Fibromyalgia is a syndrome with symptoms including long term pain throughout the body with increased muscle and joint tenderness. The risk of developing fibromyalgia increased with more severe sleep problems. The connection appears stronger among women who were past middle age as compared […]
December 13, 2011

Cherry Juice May Improve Sleep Problems

Sleep problems affect about one-third of Americans. Some, such as obstructive sleep apnea, are serious and may be life threatening.  But many more people suffer from problems such as insomnia or waking throughout the night. No matter what the cause, poor sleep quality can lead to serious medical problems over time. A study in the European Journal of Nutrition showed […]
July 6, 2011

Lack of Sleep Linked to More Pain

Poor quality sleep or not enough sleep may increase the perception of pain. A study from Harvard Medical School looked at health care workers and their length and quality of sleep. Sleep deficient was defined as sleeping less than six hours, feeling tired upon waking or experiencing insomnia (trouble falling asleep or waking up in the middle of the night). […]
June 29, 2011

People with Sleep Problems Use More Healthcare

Findings presented at the Associated Professional Sleep Societies 25th Annual Meeting showed that sleep problems are linked to increased utilization of health care and work absenteeism. The findings come from a review of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2005-2006. Compared with good sleepers, people who have trouble sleeping were more likely to have had […]
June 14, 2011

Sleep Apnea and Pregnancy

A research abstract presented at a recent meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies showed that women with severe sleep apnea had a higher incidence of gestational diabetes and early preterm birth. The sleep disorder has been linked to heart disease and stroke in non-pregnant people but very few studies have looked at how sleep apnea affects women (and their […]
May 25, 2011

What is Sleep Apnea?

When people talk about sleep apnea they are usually referring to obstructive sleep apnea or OSA. Obstructive sleep apnea is a chronic condition that occurs during sleep when the muscles in the throat relax, blocking the flow of air.The sleeper stops breathing for periods of 10 seconds or longer.  This causes the amount of oxygen in the blood to drop […]
May 17, 2011

Add Impotence to List of OSA Symptoms

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has now been linked to erectile dysfunction. Researchers at Mount Sinai in New York conducted a study of 870 men. The average age was in the late 40’s and their body mass index average was in the obese range. Sixty-three percent of the men had OSA and once the researchers adjusted for other health issues and […]
April 28, 2011

Sleep Difficulties Linked to Metabolic Syndrome

Snoring, trouble falling asleep and feeling tired upon waking are all signs that may predict the development of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a medical condition linked to weight gain, heart disease and stroke. According to a study published a few months ago in the journal Sleep loud snoring was associated with more than twice the risk of developing metabolic […]
April 13, 2011

Summertime Sleep Issues

Summer will be here before we know it – even if it did feel like Winter would never end! Summer tends to bring changes in our regular routines. The kids are out of school, your favorite shows are off for the summer or maybe you like the summer replacements better, and there is always vacation time. These changes all add […]
April 6, 2011

Sleep Apnea Especially Dangerous for Diabetics

A study from the University of Birmingham in the UK reported that people with obstructive sleep apnea that also have Type 2 diabetes have a higher risk of losing their sight and increased foot problems. The study looked at a group of people who had type 2 diabetes, out of that group more than half also had obstructive sleep apnea. […]
March 17, 2011

Could Be Sleep Apnea Waking You Up, Not Prostate

A study completed by Ben-Gurion University has shown that many patients that blame enlarged prostates for their nighttime awakenings may actually be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. The study compared randomly selected men between 55 and 75 years of age who were diagnosed with benign prostate enlargement and reported waking to use the toilet at least once per night. They […]
March 11, 2011

Spring Forward Time Change Makes Me Tired

Daylight Savings Time is set to return again – along with the annual  sleep disruptions that most of us experience following the changing of the clocks. The National Sleep Foundation suggests several steps to reduce the sleep loss and the grumpiness that “losing” that one hour of sleep brings for most Americans. The first step to any easy transition – […]
March 4, 2011

Dear Abby Readers Want Info on Snoring

A recent Dear Abby column printed a letter from “Seeking Slumber in Santa Barbara” who complained about one spouse’s snoring keeping the other spouse from a good night’s sleep. This writer was begging for solutions to her problem. The columnist rightly suggested visiting his or her physician to discover the cause of the snoring rather than relying on suggestions passed […]
March 3, 2011

Sleep Apnea Can't Be Treated Over the Internet

The L.A. Times recently had an article about treating sleep apnea with oral appliances instead of surgery or CPAP therapy. The article outlines the two options for oral appliances that are on the market – prescription devices that are obtained from a specially trained dentist or mass-market items purchased from the internet. The prescription devices which are designed to move […]
February 25, 2011

Getting Diagnosed – Is It Really Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea is very common but most people suffering from the disease have not been diagnosed. New studies are proving that anyone, including children, can have sleep apnea. So how do you know if you have sleep apnea? Most people discover their disease because their bed partner complains about their loud snoring and gasping noises all night long. This […]
February 16, 2011

Snorers in the Majority

Three out of every four Americans snore or suffer from some other form of sleep disorder. Depression, heart disease, fatigue, high blood pressure and weight gain are common effects. For the partner that lives with the snoring the lack of sleep is almost equally dangerous to their health. Most people don’t realize that loud snoring can be a sign of […]