Get Some ZZZZ's -Living with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

CPAP Wipes

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 01:35:00 +0000

As bad as it, I have to admit that don't clean my CPAP as often as I should. We can explore the list of why you should in another post! I did find these mask wipes that on mornings when I am being lazy I can grab and quick wipe off the silicone parts of the mask. I have even used it to scrub the head straps. These are carried by my CPAP supplier but I actually got my on Amazon.com for less money.

Nice to have handy for lazy days or travel.

Odd Side-Effect from My CPAP mask

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 03:43:00 +0000

I am not particular about too many things in my appearance - meaning I don't need to have the trendiest outfits or name brand clothes. One of my favorite things to fuss over, however, is my hair. Several months ago I switched hair dressers because no matter how I asked to have my hair cut, it seemed like it always ended up looking the same after a couple weeks. So I tried a new gal and really like how she cut my hair. Eventually, I started thinking the same thing about her - why does my hair always end up looking the same after a couple weeks?

I was lamenting my frustrations to a friend one evening over wine and she thought this crazy thought that maybe my CPAP head strap was breaking off my hair leading to my hair always feeling like it was cut the same way. So we came up with the idea for me to sleep with a night cap on under my CPAP head gear. I found one on-line for a few bucks and thought - hey why not!

I am several weeks into my hair cut and have been wearing the night cap every night. I finally am feeling like I am getting my hair to grow past my temples and into a nice smooth bob! Maybe it is all in my head, but for a few bucks worth a try if you want to give your hair a little protection from those head gear straps!!

Supply Quality

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 02:40:00 +0000

Quality CPAP supplies are essential to good therapy. About 6 months ago the sleep center where I get my supplies changed to a different manufacturer for the tubing that goes from the power unit to the mask. The tube was much lighter weight and felt quite flimsy. The first time I got this replacement tubing it developed a hole in the plastic after a couple weeks of use. I had to order a replacement.
Last month I began feeling very tired during the day. I just thought work was maybe a little more stressful than normal and didn't think too much about it. After about a week I noticed that I could hear more air flowing through the tubing than normal. Upon closer inspection, I could see that the tubing had been stretched at a certain point along the tubing and the plastic had little pin holes along the wire coil of the tubing. Knowing that I would have to call the next day for a replacement, I pulled an old length of tubing out of a closet that I had kept as a "just-in-case" something happened my current tubing (very foresightful of me!!). It was the old thicker tubing that had been in use before the sleep center changed suppliers.
After 2 days, of using the old tubing that didn't have wholes, I could tell I slept better at night as was less tired during the day. When I called in to order my new tubing, I asked the sleep center if I could order the old tubing. Yes! It was possible, it just wasn't part of their normal stock and would cost me a few extra dollars to order in.
I have the new tubing. I have asked the sleep center to mark my chart that I only want the brand of the heavier duty tubing. It may cost a little more, but I think it will hold up much better than the flimsier new brand of tubing. I have had several good nights of sleep!
Your CPAP supplier may not be as accommodating as mine. However, this is a good reminder to monitor the quality of the supplies you are receiving. If the goods are inferior, ask for a different brand or maybe even switch suppliers. A few extra bucks, no problem - because your life really does depend on it!

A-Fib in sleep apnea

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 03:00:00 +0000

Now that I get sleep with my CPAP machine, I notice nights when, for whatever reason, I didn't get a good night of therapy. I may feel dehydrated upon waking, have a headache, and sometimes if I overdo it during the day my heart feels a little flippy. I ran across this interesting Q&A and thought I would share here:

Q: I have atrial fibrillation and have been shocked twice to get me back to normal rhythm. However, in each case, I went back into atrial fibrillation within a few weeks. I do snore and my doctor recommends a sleep test. He says if I have sleep apnea, that could be why I go back into the abnormal rhythm.

A: Your doctor is probably correct. The incidence of recurrent atrial fibrillation in untreated sleep apnea is probably four to five times normal. There are several reasons. First, during the apnea the heart and especially the atria are stretched like a rubber band. Oxygen levels drop and pressure in the arteries leading out of the heart increases severely. This combination of factors leads to electrical instability and can results in atrial fibrillation. Therefore, it is very important that you get tested for aleep apnea. If you do indeed have sleep apnea, with treatment you might be able to stay out of atrial fibrillation.

http://azdailysun.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/columnists/sleep-well-cpap-machines-adjust-for-altitude/article_45d183e8-04b1-5e7e-a95c-a2fba2da0935.html

Helpful Website

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 22:42:00 +0000

This website has really great review information of various sleep apnea masks on the marker, plus helpful hints for dealing with leaks!

Consumer">http://www.cpaphelpdesk.com/">Consumer Guide to CPAP Masks - CPAP Full Face Mask, Nasal Mask & Nasal Pillows.

get some zzz's - No. 5 Herb Tea

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 00:07:00 +0000

A wondeful, wonderful tea before bed. You can find on Amazon or many other web sites. One of my favorites! Valerian is a very nice sleep aid.

Long-term Sleep Apnea Symptoms

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 03:35:00 +0000

http://sleepapnearevealed.net/sleep-apnea-symptoms-to-watch

Sleep Disorders

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 03:07:00 +0000

There are several sleep disorders, the most common includes:

Bruxism, which is involuntarily grinding or clenching of the teeth while sleeping.
Delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS) is the inability to awaken and fall asleep at socially acceptable times but no problem with sleep maintenance, a disorder of circadian rhythms. Other such disorders are advanced sleep phase syndrome (ASPS) and Non-24-hour sleep-wake syndrome (Non-24), both much less common than DSPS.
Hypopnea syndrome is an abnormally shallow breathing or slow respiratory rate while sleeping.
Narcolepsy is the condition of falling asleep spontaneously and unwillingly at inappropriate times.
Night terror, Pavor nocturnus, sleep terror disorder are variations of abrupt awakening from sleep with behavior consistent with terror.
Parasomnias include a variety of disruptive sleep-related events.
Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) is the sudden involuntary movement of arms and/or legs during sleep, for example kicking the legs. Also known as nocturnal myoclonus. See also Hypnic jerk, which is not a disorder.
Rapid eye movement behavior disorder (RBD) involves acting out violent or dramatic dreams while in REM sleep.
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is the irresistible urge to move legs. RLS sufferers often also have PLMD.
Shift work sleep disorder (SWSD), a situational circadian rhythm sleep disorder
Obstructive sleep apnea, involves an obstruction of the airway during sleep, causing lack of sufficient deep sleep; often accompanied by snoring. Central sleep apnea is less common.
Sleep paralysis is characterized by temporary paralysis of the body shortly before or after sleep. Sleep paralysis may be accompanied by visual, auditory or tactile hallucinations. Not a disorder unless severe.
Sleepwalking or somnambulism is engaging in activities that are normally associated with wakefulness (such as eating or dressing), which may include walking, without the conscious knowledge of the subject.

Here Are Foods To Help You Get Some Zzz's

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 03:10:00 +0000

Carbohydrate-rich foods can enhance sleep. That's because they trigger the brain to release a neurotransmitter known as serotonin, which produces a feeling of relaxation. Graham crackers with honey, a slice of toast with jam or low-fat popcorn are serotonin-enhancing snacks. Tryptophan, an amino acid found in turkey, chicken and dairy foods, also promotes the secretion of serotonin, and, according to Judith Wurtman, a nutrition researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, combining tryptophan-containing foods with starches is even more effective. The proverbial glass of warm milk contains tryptophan, and the warm liquid is soothing, which also may encourage sleep.

My CPAP Mask

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 12:27:00 +0000

After trying a couple different styles, this is the CPAP mask that I ended up with. I have to have something for my nose and mouth because I open my mouth when I sleep and if air was being flowed through my nose, it would just come out of my mouth. It looks intimidating! But actually the seal is great and I don't get as much leakage, therefore I get a better nights sleep.

You may have to try several styles before you find one that fits you best. My advice is keep trying until you find something that is comfortable, doesn't leak and you will wear all night.

American Academy of Sleep Medicine

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 12:29:00 +0000

The following is from an on-line article from the AASM:
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) reminds all Americans of another deterrent to cardiovascular disease: a good night’s sleep.
According to Lawrence Epstein, MD, AASM past president, medical director of Sleep HealthCenters and instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, treating sleep disorders and getting an adequate amount of sleep are pillars of good cardiovascular health.
“Sleep apnea is a known risk factor for the development of hypertension, heart disease and stroke,” said Epstein. “Also, chronic sleep deprivation has been shown to change metabolic function in a way that promotes weight gain and diabetes, two risk factors for heart disease.”
Dr. Epstein’s remarks support recent studies that link sleep apnea to cardiovascular disease.
A study showed that daytime sleepiness brought on by obstructive sleep apnea may subtly impair cardiac function. Patients with OSA commonly complain of daytime sleepiness because of the fact that OSA causes your body to stop breathing during sleep the night before and can disturb your sleep numerous times. Further, data from the “Sleep Heart Health Study” show that people with sleep apnea have a 45 percent greater risk for hypertension, a major predictor for cardiovascular disease, than people without the sleep disorder.
Ralph Downey III, PhD, of the Sleep Disorders Center at Loma Linda University Medical Center says he is amazed at the high percentage of patients who have both sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease. Research has built a compelling case that those with sleep-disordered breathing are at increased risk for hypertension, said Downey, adding that there is also a well-established connection between sleep apnea and heart failure.
“It makes not only scientific sense that such a relationship exists, but common sense as well,” said Downey. “If someone were to suffocate you with a pillow several hundred times a night, you would call the police. In the case of patients with sleep apnea, the airway blocks off due to obstruction and they stop breathing for 10 seconds to a minute, which is repeated hundreds of times in a night. The body, in essence, is being assaulted by the damage done from intermittent lack of oxygen to the heart, brain and other important organ systems, and yet such an assault goes unreported. That is, patients who have these symptoms don't always have their sleep apnea corrected. Perhaps in the light of a metaphor such as the one of being assaulted by our own sleep disorder, people would take more care of their sleep. Their hearts will thank them.”
Dennis H. Nicholson, MD, medical director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center notes that a good night’s sleep is critical to maintaining good health.

Cleaning your CPAP supplies.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 20:02:00 +0000

Eliminate the risk of shock by unplugging your CPAP machine from the electrical outlet. Start by wiping your machine's exterior surface with a clean, damp cloth to remove dust and small debris.
Remove the filter. Fill a basin with clean water and gentle dish-washing liquid ( I like basic Dawn). Soak the filter for one hour, rinse well and air dry. Clean your filter once a week. Some CPAP machines make use of disposable filters. If this is the case with yours, change the same day you clean your regular filter.
Remove all the tubing from the CPAP machine. Rinse the tubing under running water for about 10 minutes to remove any accumulated particles and molds. Soak the tubing in a basin filled with dish-washing liquid and water for 30 minutes. Rinse it well and hang it to air dry.
Clean the humidifier water chamber. I have seen directions to: add one cup of vinegar to two cups of dwater and pour the mixture into the chamber. Leave the mixture in the chamber for 30 minutes. Then rinse it well under running water and let it air dry. However, I ususally just soak it in water with dish-washing liquid.
Clean the CPAP mask. Place its parts in a clean basin filled with water and antibacterial dish-washing liquid. Leave the parts in the basin for 15 minutes, and then rinse them well under water and let them air dry

"As a nation, we are sick because we don't sleep."

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 02:21:00 +0000

"As a nation, we are sick because we don't sleep." Bent Formby, PhD

Where you sleep less than you were created to, melatonin { a GREAT antioxidant } isn't the only hormone affected. There are at least 10 hormones related to appetite, fertility, mental and cardiac health suffer from the effects of not allowing our body a full nights sleep. When we don't sleep in sync with season variations (living in too much artifical light in the winter and not heading to bed when the sun goes down) we alter our natural balance.

Let's look at some of those out-of-balance hormones:
Prolactin is a survival hormone that controls appetite and affect leptin which controls our carb cravings. We only secrete porlactin after we fall asleep. So if we are cutting our nights short, our bodies is still producing prolactin (remember hormones have to run a cycle during the night) which suppresses leptin and makes us crave carbs upon waking in the morning.

Stress increases cortisol levels causes high levels of serotonin. Serotonin is convereted to melotonin when we sleep. If we don't sleep enough to let our bodies convert all the serotonin to melotonin we end up with elevated levels of serotonin still upon waking. High levels of serotonin during the day lead to depression.

Insulin is produced only when your body senses sugar, from eating carbohydrates, or stress, from too much cortisol from being in the light too long every day. We have too much carbohydrate and too much stress in our lives, thus we have high levels of insulin. "Excess insulin makes you fat by causing fat to enter fat cells, your brain to tell you that you are hungry, and your liver to make fat from extra calories. It causes strokes and heart attacks by causing clots, raising triglycerides and lowering the good HDL cholesterol. Insulin promotes oxidation that converts the bad LDL cholesterol to oxidized LDL that forms plaques in arteries. High levels of insulin cause your kidneys to retain salt and raise blood pressure." states Gabe Mirkin, M.D.

In order to control our appetite for carbs and loose weight, we must raise our leptin levels and bring our insulin levels down, WE MUST GET MORE SLEEP!

Less sleep = less melatonin (antioxidant) and less leptin (carb craving supressor) and more insulin
More sleep = serotonin used up to make melatonin (antioxidant) and more leptin to curb carb cravings and lower levels of insulin

Sleep apnea sufferes, why are we overweight? Part of it is we haven't been really sleeping for possibly years! Get your CPAP, stick with your treatment! This is essential to hormone balance and everything they regulate in your body is absolutely dependent on a good-nights-sleep.

Internal Clock

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 19:39:00 +0000

Our Carcadian Rhythm changes over a person's lifetime due to hormones, stress, aging process, ect. It is very important to a Sleep Apnea sufferer to work at keeping the "internal clock" ticking away and sleeping well while we have our designated sleep hours.
Things that help us to keep our internal clocks set:

Light - the rising and setting of the sun and the affect the light we see helps to trigger proper hormones needed to combat stress and metabolize carbohydrates
Time Cues- looking at the clock we note the passage of time and eat and sleep according to that clock
Melatonin - this hormone is released in the evening after the sun goes down to induce drowsiness that triggers a whole cascade of hormone pathways that affect stress management and carbohydrate metabolism

Keep consistent evening routines and be aware of how much sleep your body needs in the summer vs the winter. This efforts will help your Carcadian Rhythm and be a benefit to those suffering from Sleep Apnea.

Bedtime Bliss

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 01:18:00 +0000

I typically don't have too much trouble falling asleep at night. Many nights I do go to bed shortly after running around trying to get lots done and my mind is going a hundred miles an hour. I put a few drops of this Essential Oil on a cotton ball by my bed and it helps soothe me into slumberland! I get my Essential Oils from this company. A mom-n-pop shop, great service and great product! Essential Oils are such a nice natural alternative to melatonin tabs or sleep aids.

Birch Hill Happenings

Falling Back

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 01:02:00 +0000

The time change has me so messed up with my sleep habits. It caused me to pause and look over some of my Sleep Apnea resources. Daylight savings gets us out of sync with natural seasonal variations by making it lighter/darker at times when our bodies weren't expecting it and don't have time to adjust to the change. When we aren't in sync with natural seasonal variations, our melatonin gets off balance. So what - you ask? Well, melatonin is the start of very, very important hormonal balance in our bodies. The fading of the light in the evening triggers the release of melatonin in our bodies. With about 30 -45 minutes after melatonin surges when the sun goes down, our body naturally wants us to lay down and go to sleep. But most of us don't go to bed in North Dakota by 6pm which is a hole hour after it gets dark outside.

Melatonin triggers Prolactin to be produced in our bodies while we sleep. Both are strong antioxidants and have a cycle that runs in the night while we sleep. They help to protect our immune system. Prolactin also has a hugely more important job to do...

Prolactin suppresses Leptin as it cycles into the wee hours of the morning. Leptin is a hormone that is involved with driving humans to look for foods that have carbs because as animals, we need to eat high amounts of carbs in the summer to store fat for winter. Prolactin regulates Leptin. When Prolactin is at its highlight levels during the night, it "turns-off" or suppresses Leptin and this decrease our body's desire for carbs.

By not following our bodies natural rhythm of surging Melatonin and with-in 30-45 minutes going to bed so that proper Prolactin production can start, we prolong the cycle of Prolactin. Prolactin needs about 8 hours to run through its cycle in the body. If we don't start Prolactin production until 10pm and get up at 5am - then Prolactin hasn't had a chance to works its full magic on Leptin. Leptin therefore is still elevated in the morning when we wake and so we want CARBS and usually eat them for breakfast! Because Leptin is still elevated in the morning and we end up eating too many carbs for breakfast, this leads to interruption with our insulin levels and this leads to weight gain.

Here's a parting thought - when we were cavemen, it got darker earlier and earlier in the fall and winter. Melatonin triggered us to get sleepy and since we couldn't see much we let Melatonin lull us to sleep let the production of Prolactin begin. We slept a whole long night and let Prolactin run its full course and fully suppress Leptin. We woke with no carb cravings in the morning...which was a good thing because back then, there weren't too many handy carbs for breakfast in the middle of winter. Probably just some dried venison wrapped in a pouch!

This begins my foray into how interrupted sleep wrecks havoc on our hormones and how those hormones lead to imbalances in insulin and weight gain. It helps me to me talk through the process and understand that my sleep apnea has affected me in very many physical ways and that getting therapy for proper sleep is essential to healthy living for me.

REM Rebound

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 22:18:00 +0000

When a sleep deprived person finally gets some sleep, they pass quickly through the early stages of sleep and spend more time inn the deep sleep - suggesting the deeper sleep is the restorative portions we need to feel rested. This is known as REM Rebound. You do have to sleep more to repay a sleep debt once you begin CPAP therapy and can finally get good quality sleep. It is not a one to one ratio of pay back however, and thank goodness!! It may only take weeks or if you have severe sleep apnea and have live that way for many years, it may take several months to repay your sleep debt. Experts feel the payback does not have to be a one to one ratio because of the lengthened time the body spends in REM to healing from so many years of sleep debt.

I felt I needed MORE sleep after I first started using my CPAP. It was like my body was hungry for this type of sleep and now could finally get it. Deep sleep is restorative for your mind and body. Deep sleep is where you dream and dreams are perhaps used to clean out the irrelevant info that bombards us daily.

How do you know when you are finally getting enough sleep?

When you find it easy to get out of bed
You are not sleepy during the day
You don't have as much trouble concentrating on daily tasks or in meetings
Generally, you're in a good mood

Take a Sleep IQ Quiz

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 02:52:00 +0000

Click here to take Sleep IQ Quiz

Nodding off

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 02:33:00 +0000

Lack of sleep can lead to an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, obesity, headaches, stomach problems, heart burn, acid reflex, sore joints, ect. Most people feel poor sleep is not a medical problem and don't report it to their doctors.

Cumulative Sleep Debt = when you regularly get less than 8 hours of sleep at night, you begin to accumulate sleep debt. Besides the health problems listed above, there are other sleep deprived dangers. Such as:
1. Microsleep = brief episdoes of sleep that occur during wakeful activity (2-15 seconds). I was horrible with this! At work I would rest my chin on my chest and fall asleep, yet hear what was going on around me. I don't think my boss ever caught on, thankfully!
2. Automatic Behavior = several minutes or more where a person is awake and performing routine duties, but not fully aware of surroundings. DRIVING!! I got to the point where I would not drive on road trips, it was too easy to all asleep or go into this trance like state.

Treatment for sleep apnea might include:
CPAP, oral appliances that can help snoring, surgical proceudres using lasers, radio frequency or plastic splints. CPAP is the most effective in most cases.

Sleep Apnea can strike anyone

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 00:13:00 +0000

There has been information out that links sleep apnea to the death of Reggie White back in 2006. Think of that! He was a tough, in-shape guy! Kind of interesting to read more.... Sleep apnea factor in Reggie White's death

Preparing for a Sleep Study

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 23:45:00 +0000

I did my sleep study at Winmar Sleep Center. www.winmarsleep.com Their website has a good sleep questionaire that I did when I was first suspecting that I had sleep apnea. I scored horribly and knew it was time to get some help!! I was very nervous for my sleep study. For as tired and exhausted as I felt, I only slept about 2 hours! It was however, enough time for them to get good readings on me. I did have to go back for a second night to be fitted with a mask and the air pressure adjusted to my needs. The technician assured me that it was not unusall to have this happen since you are trying to sleep in an unusal place with wires stuck all over you!! You are also videoed to they can monitor your sleep positions, how many times you change position and also to monitor leg activity in-case restless leg syndrome may be an issue. After your sleep study, it if is discovered you are having apneic episodes, you doctor may choose to do prescribe several options: -CPAP (continous positive airway pressue) -Education on good sleep hygiene -Have you try to alter your sleep positions -Loose weight -Fix nasal congestion, possibly with surgery if needed -Encourage you to find daytime stimulation and not take naps to get on a good nighttime sleep cycle If your docotor prescribes a CPAP for you, you will take time with the sleep study staff to have a mask that is fitted to your physical needs. MANY INSURANCES ARE NOW RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD SLEEP AND ARE COVERING COSTS OF SLEEP STUDIES AND CPAP MACHINES, PRIOR AUTHORIZATION IS OFTEN NEEDED AND USUALLY GRANTED!

Sleep Cycles

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 17:54:00 +0000

I have found that learning about the different cycles of sleep it has helped me to understand my symptoms of sleep apnea and to identify when I have or have not been having a good nights sleep. Unfortunately, I believe, that while a CPAP is essential to maintaining your health if you have OSA, it is like so many other conditions that you might have to take medications for - you feel better, but it is not a cure, just management of the disease. There are 5 stages if sleep: Stage 1 is about 5-10% of our sleep time and Stage 2 is about 30-50% of our sleep time. These are the lighter stages of sleep. Stage 3 into 4 is what is considered our deep sleep. it accounts for 20-40% of our sleep time. It is also called our slow wave sleep. There is no rapid eye movement, our heart rate, breathing and blood pressure all decrease. Many experts feel this is the time our body takes to restore itself physically. The last and final stage of sleep is REM sleep or Rapid Eye Movement sleep. It accounts for 20-25% of our sleep time. During this time our brain activity is very intense. Dreams are experienced in REM sleep. Experts are not sure why our brain activity is so intense, but it may the way our body restores our mind or psyche - it's like cleaning out all the bad garbage we don't need. I think of some of the dreams I have had where I finally got to be friends with someone who I had wronged or say goodbye to someone who is no longer living.... I DO believe dreams help us stay sane! The odd thing about REM is even though our brain is intensely active, our bodies are paralyzed. If you have ever been suddenly awakeed from this sleep cycle from a loud sound, like a police siren, you may have noticed that your body feels like a dead weight! You have been like paralyzed and it is hard to get your body to respond quickly to the whatever it was that awakened you! 1 sleep cycles of all 5 stages takes about 90 minutes. So there are about 4-6 cycles per night. As it gets towards morning, we have longer periods of REM than when we first laid down to sleep at night. You also come out of REM quicker as the am hours approach. Since dreaming takes place in REM and REM is longer towards morning, you will sometimes remember your dreams you had right before waking for the day!

Myths or Excuses

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:35:00 +0000

We all have excuses for why we aren't sleeping well or getting enough sleep. Here are some common ones: *You need less sleep as you get older...Wrong!! You still need the same amount of daily sleep. We tend to have more nightly waking episodes as we enter our golden years, so we need to take naps during the day to get our needed amount of sleep. *Alcohol helps you sleep better...Wrong!! Alcohol actually keeps you from getting into a deep sleep. *Snoring is harmless...Wrong!! It may be an indication of an underlying problem of OSA *I can get by on 5-6 hours of sleep...Wrong!! You can for short term buy eventually you will start to aquire SLEEP DEBT and it will affect your daily performance at work or school. *I can learn to get by on less sleep...Wrong!! Same reason as above! *Falling asleep during the day is a sign of laziness...Wrong!! It is a sign of a physiological need for sleep. *Napping is a bad habit...Not Necessarily. Not if we are truly needing sleep and our naps do not interfere with our night time sleep routine. You can't sleep more than your body needs. If you continue to nap, it is because for some reason your body needed it. *How I sleep doesn't affect the rest of my health...Wrong!! Sleep is essential to healthy living as much as diet and exercise!

Gone too long.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:13:00 +0000

It has been almost 6 months since I have posted here. It has been way to long. I started a new job - which was more overwhelming that I ever thought it would be and just when I was getting settled in, Fargo/Moorhead had the worst flooding event of our Red River than we have ever had before. It has taken the many of our friend and even the whole city a while to get back to normal. All I can say is that this is the first week where I feel like I am back to doing the regular things I did before the flood. I am excited to continue the blog. I have been on treatment now for a year for OSA and there are some things to talk about concerning on going treatment. Stay tuned!

Good Video to view on You Tube

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 06:50:00 +0000