Iowa Sleep Blog

As Iowans, we are no stranger to seeing presidential hopefuls eat a variety of fried foods at the State Fair, have a cup of coffee at Smokey Row or search for the best tenderloin in the city. Many joke that the way to the White House starts in Iowa. But, spending so much time on the road, sometimes up to weeks at time, can be tiring for even the most seasoned road warrior. Here are some sleep  ..

More than 18 million American adults have sleep apnea, but many more let it go untreated. Last week, we discussed what happens when OSA goes untreated (http://www.iowasleep.com/blog/obstructive-sleep-apnea-before-treatment-1-of-2) on our blog, and the health concerns that can arise if it is left untreated. Like many other health issues, the risks associated with this sleep problem significantl ..

Obstructive sleep apnea, otherwise referred to as OSA, is a sleep-related breathing disorder that involves a decrease or complete halt in airflow, despite an ongoing effort to breathe. While sleep apnea affects more men than women, anyone can experience OSA. Learn more about the different types of OSA (http://www.iowasleep.com/common-problems/obstructive-sleep-apnea-osa). During sleep ..

Getting ready for bed each night should be something you look forward to after a long day. But for many people, getting ready for bed means tossing and turning while sleep eludes them. In fact, 48 percent of Americans report occasional insomnia, while 22 percent experience insomnia every, or almost every night, and women are twice more likely to experience insomnia than men. To combat ins ..

Many things have changed as time has progressed – technology, fashion and lifestyles. But one thing that has stuck around is sleep. No matter what else changes, our bodies need sleep to keep us functioning at our highest level. While we sleep, our bodies repair themselves, preserve memories and clean out the brain for the next day. Although the need for quality sleep each night has not ch ..

Have you been struggling with your obstructive sleep apnea because you find it hard (or annoying) to sleep with your Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) mask on? We’re here to tell you there are other options to sleeping well each night with OSA, besides using a CPAP. We’ve listed some of them below. * CPAP is still considered the gold standard for treating OSA, there are other options. ..

Who knew, right? If your New Year’s resolution is get back into shape and maybe lose a few of those extra pounds in the process, the simple act of sleeping more can help aid in your weight loss and fitness journey. Sleep does more than just energize you for the day – it also does a multitude of other things, like: Allows muscles to repair themselves – When you sleep, the body is busy r ..

From young children to students to adults, our days are busy, stressful and, quite frankly, tiring! The need (or requirement) to be accessible and plugged in 24/7 is taking a toll on our sleeping habits, making it harder to fall or stay asleep. Many electronics, like TVs, tablets, computers and phones emit a blue light that disrupts our body’s natural sleep cycle, keeping us awake whe ..

We’ve all seen it in the movies. A sleeping character is suddenly standing up and walking around while sound asleep. The character is sleepwalking, and when they awake, they usually have no clue what they had been doing. While it may seem like something for the movies, sleepwalking affects anywhere between 1-15 percent of the U.S. population each year. About sleepwalking Formally ..

In the U.S., 45 percent of adults experience some sort of snoring each night. But the person who is snoring is not always the only one affected by the snoring. This means that far more than 45 percent of U.S. adults could actually be impacted by snoring. Snoring occurs when a sleeper experiences a blocked or narrow airway passage, which causes the soft palate and uvula at the back of the  ..