Mediflow - Blog

As Easy As Changing Your Pillow

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 06:39:00 -0900

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that somewhere between 50 and 70 million adults in the United States have chronic sleep and wakefulness disorders.

Not surprisingly, approximately one-third of adults are sleeping fewer than 7 hours each night – the National Sleep Foundation recommends 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night for most adults.

According to the National Institutes of Health, sleep disorders account for approximately $16 billion in annual health care costs, and Cornell University psychologist and sleep expert James Maas estimates that sleep deprivation and sleep disorders cost the American economy at least $150 billion a year!

If these stats don’t worry you, maybe these CDC findings will. Sleep deprivation is not only costly, but dangerous too. After a review of national behavioral health data, the federal agency found:

• More than 1 in 3 adults (37.9%) said they unintentionally fell asleep during the day at least once in 30 days.
• Nearly 1 in 20 adults (4.7%) reported nodding off or falling asleep while driving at least once in 30 days.

Most recently, a study by researchers at Scripps Clinic Viterbi Family Sleep Centre in San Diego has linked hypnotic sleeping pills to a 4.6 percent greater risk of death and a 35 percent increased risk of cancer among regular pill users.

What many people do not realize is that getting a better night’s sleep may be as simple (and as safe) as changing their pillows. According to the Johns Hopkins Hospital Neck-Pain and Quality-of-Sleep Study published in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, proper selection of a pillow can significantly reduce neck pain and improve quality of sleep. In this same study, the Mediflow Waterbase pillow was shown to improve the quality of sleep (and reduce neck pain) best, over all pillows tested.

The Johns Hopkins study examined four factors: (1) How quickly subjects fell asleep, (2) How few times subjects woke up, (3) Perceptions of sleep compared to normal, and (4) Overall quality of sleep. Mediflow’s water-based pillow ranked “Best” in all four categories when compared to the others tested.

Before turning to pharmaceuticals or other more drastic measures, you should make sure to examine the factors that might be contributing to your sleep problems. The answer to your insomnia may be simpler than you think.

What Your Mom Knows About Sleep

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:39:00 -0900

When I was a child, my older relatives attempted to deter me from staying up past my bedtime by warning me that I would get sick if I didn’t get enough sleep.

Of course, I never listened. Considering this expert health advice was coming from the same people who insisted I would drown unless I waited a full hour to swim after eating and that if I swallowed my chewing gum it would stay in my stomach for seven years, my lack of adherence was not unfounded.

But it turns out, my mom’s claims were not without medical merit.

A 2009 study challenged conventional theories of sleep evolution when it compared the sleep durations of numerous mammals to the species’ susceptibility to infection. The study found that sleep does influence immunity, as the species that slept the longest suffered substantially reduced levels of parasitic infection.

Studies in humans have proven that lack of sleep negatively affects your immune system. Lack of sleep increases the production of inflammatory cytokines in your body. Cytokines, which are infection-fighting proteins, interact with cells of the immune system in order to regulate the body's response to disease and infection. When your body overproduces these proteins, you will feel the effects of the sickness your body normally would be fighting.

Furthermore, sleep deprivation not only plays a role in whether we come down with illnesses; it also influences how we fight illnesses once we are sick.

So I guess I have to admit that my mom was right on this one. As for that chewing gum, well, there might still be some inside of me somewhere – you never know.

Need help getting more sleep? Watch Mediflow’s Top Ten Sleep Tips video.

The Dangers of Being a Text Addict

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:07:00 -0900

Lately, a multitude of articles discussing a recently coined ailment affectionately referred to as “text neck” have been occupying a lot of space in my Google alerts. “Text neck” refers to head, neck and shoulder pain resulting from excessive mobile device usage. Evidently, the unnatural, hunched over position most of us adopt while using technology is not at all healthy for our spine.

Some experts are estimating that tens of thousands of people in the U.S. alone are affected by some degree of text neck.

And, while it seems somewhat contradictory, one Florida chiropractor has even gone as far as to develop a mobile phone app that helps alert users of a posture problem while texting. Using the angle your phone is being held at as an indicator, a green light in the corner of the screen means proper posture, while a red light means the opposite.

Of course all of this raises a big question: is our addiction to technology bad for our health?

I know I am extremely guilty of phone lust, though I prefer the less accusatory description of myself as “tech savvy.” Between texting, checking work emails, updating my Facebook status, becoming a super mayor on Foursquare and tweeting things I find hilarious, my phone feels like it is part of me. I try to blame it on my career choice (Social Media Coordinator) but the truth is, I’m addicted – not to my phone (I hate every phone I try) but to the constant contact it gives me with my family, friends and outside universe.

But it makes sense that anything you spend a significant amount of time doing can be harmful if it puts your body in an unnatural position. Even something as seemingly harmless as sleeping, when improperly executed, can cause discomfort due to the fact that we spend so much of our lives doing it. If you sleep with an overly stuffed pillow, for example, you can force your spine out of alignment and put your neck in a position it’s not meant to be in. If done on a nightly basis, this will most likely lead to pain and even lasting injury.

The answer is not to give up on sleep or technology, but rather to be more aware that anything done repetitively has the potential to cause harm if we are not vigilant. I’m happy to report though, so far I’m “text-neck” injury free. But I do sleep on a Mediflow pillow (with my phone underneath it) every night, just in case.

Top 5 Reasons Why a Mediflow Pillow Should be on Your Black Friday List

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 10:41:00 -0900

Beyond the fact that Mediflow Waterbase pillows are clinically proven to improve your sleep quality and reduce neck pain AND that they are customizable to suit your personal pillow needs, there are five crucial reasons to include them in your retail game plan:

5) Buying a Mediflow pillow does not involve a 4 am wakeup call.
4) Buying a Mediflow pillow does not require you going out into the cold, or even getting out of bed if your laptop is close.
3) Buying a Mediflow pillow does not involve waiting in lines, or fighting angry consumer mobs.
2) Buying a Mediflow pillow as a gift pretty much makes you the coolest gift-giver ever.

And the number one reason why you should buy a Mediflow pillow on Black Friday:

1) You don’t have to put pants on to buy yourself a pillow!

So there you have it, no early wakeups, no going out in the cold, no lines, no fights, no disappointments and NO PANTS.

Disclaimer: If you already sleeping on a Mediflow pillow, you most likely will be sleeping so soundly and comfortably that your 4 am Black Friday alarm may be ignored. We apologize for any inconvenience, and any damaging effects this may have on the economy.

Don’t Worry, the Devil isn’t at Your Bedside

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 10:59:00 -0900

We’ve all heard people tell harrowing nighttime tales of alien abductions, visits from ghosts and even demonic possessions. Maybe you’ve even experienced an episode yourself. Well, good news – that most likely was NOT Lucifer at your bedside.

The scientific explanation is sleep paralysis – a short period of time during which voluntary muscle movement is inhibited, but ocular and respiratory movements remain intact. In other words, you can see your surroundings, and sometimes even feel or see a presence in the room with you (enter: aliens, devils, Elvis etc.) but you cannot move your body. Essentially, your mind is awake, but your body and muscles are still in REM sleep.

A recent study published in Sleep Medicine Reviews examined thirty-five different studies discussing lifetime incidents of sleep paralysis. The most interesting conclusion was that while the odds of sleep paralysis occurring in the general population are less than eight percent, the chances of incident are higher among both college students and psychiatric patients.

While I’m sure there is a joke to be made about the similarities between psych patients and college kids, the one thing they definitely have in common is a strong likelihood for disrupted sleep. Those with poor or irregular sleep patterns, including sleep disorder sufferers, are more likely to experience sleep paralysis.

So what can you do to protect yourself from nighttime demonic possessions? Do your best to avoid irregular sleep patterns and get as much QUALITY sleep as possible. Mediflow waterbase pillows are clinically shown to improve sleep quality – you will fall asleep faster and experience less tossing and turning. The less you disturb your REM sleep, the less vulnerable you become to sleep paralysis. Your body…and soul will thank you!

Athletes Up To Their Necks In Pain

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 06:31:00 -0900

Unfortunately, not a day goes by without an athlete making headlines due to a neck injury. Whether it’s the Colt’s Peyton Manning, the Eagle’s Michael Vick, the Twin’s Joe Mauer, the PGA’ s Steve Stricker, or the Red Sox’s Adrian Gonzalez – sports seem to be unequivocally…a pain in the neck.

Statistics are as high as to say that 2/3 of all adults will suffer from neck pain at some point in their lives – and if you are an athlete, the likelihood of injury increases.

When you consider an injury that can be caused by something as minor as sending too many text messages, yes, it makes sense that guys who play 160 ball games a year, or have 350-lb linemen slamming into them on a weekly basis might end up with some neck pain. In the wake of the NFL lockout, the injury risk to players was heavily discussed, especially the surge of brain and neck-related injuries.

The neck is an extremely vulnerable part of the body. Because the head, neck and spine are so closely connected, damage to one part often leads to pain in other parts. When a neck injury occurs, it is not uncommon for the patient to be simultaneously suffering from multiple injuries.

Perhaps the problem is that athletes aren’t taking initial neck injuries seriously enough. Whereas no athlete would even consider playing with a torn ACL or a broken bone, the inclination to play through a seemingly minor neck injury is much greater. The danger of this, however, is that a minor neck injury affects other parts of the spine and nervous system and before you know it, the athlete is sidelined with a serious neck injury.

What many might learn the hard way is that it is important to take ALL neck pains seriously. Whether it’s stretching, icing, or just plain old-fashioned rest, heed your doctor’s advice. And while you are resting, make sure your head, neck and spine are in a normal, healthy position by using a waterbase pillow that will adjust to your movements and keep your head (and your neck) in the game.

Finding the Pillow of Your Dreams

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 10:15:00 -0900

A funny thing always happens to me when I go to sleep after excessive exercise: my dreams revolve around drinking copious amounts of beverages. I've dreamed of opening the refrigerator and drinking dozens of consecutive Gatorades, knocking over a vending machine and drinking everything inside and sitting down at the kitchen table and finishing an entire gallon of orange juice.

Riveting, I know. While the plot line is pretty lame, what makes these dreams interesting is that they show a clear link between how I'm feeling physically (very dehydrated) and what is going on in my mental dream state.

Dreams are difficult entities to study because of their subjectivity. You can't scientifically determine exactly what someone is dreaming, and thus interpretation can be biased by the interpreter. Dreams are also personal – the same dream might mean one thing to one person and something entirely different to another. Countless sleep studies, however, have sought out (and found) connections between physical factors and dreams.

For example, room temperature and body temperature can affect the quality of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, which is the sleep stage during which you dream. Elevated body temperature has been found to potentially increase nightmares. Additionally, several studies have found that the introduction of sounds while sleeping can also influence dreams.

Perhaps most interesting is that several studies have even found connections between sleep positions and dreams. One study, for example found that left side sleepers have more nightmares.

The good news about study findings suggesting that dreaming and sleep quality may be affected by factors such as temperature, noise and body posture, is that these are all factors that we can control. Start by getting yourself a brand new water pillow, which will adjust its waterbase as you move to keep your neck and spine in a normal, healthy position – eliminating pain and discomfort while sleeping.

While it doesn't seem possible to ever be in complete control of your dreams (which is part of their charm) if you make yourself as physically and emotionally comfortable as possible – eliminating as much physical and mental stress as you can – odds are, you are setting the stage for sweeter (and maybe less thirsty) dreams.

Falling Asleep: As Simple As Watching Paint Dry

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 06:49:00 -0900

We’ve all read countless articles and studies about how physical factors can affect your sleep. Light, noise, temperature and even your diet can contribute to insomnia (this just in, washing down a pizza with a six pack of beer and passing out in your clothes with the music blaring does NOT contribute to restful slumber).

However, there is overwhelming evidence that emotional and mental factors can also affect sleep. And because colors have been shown to impact people’s mood, it makes sense that the colors you choose for your sheets, curtains and walls in your bedroom can influence your sleep.

Red, for example, appears to be the worst possible color to add to your bedroom. Red is often associated with intensity, blood and violence. Psychological testing has shown that when subjects are exposed to the color red, blood pressure rises and the heartbeat speeds up. These physiological changes can stimulate appetite (red is often used in restaurants) and further exacerbate nervousness and tension (which could affect your ability to perform in academic situations). Therefore, your red bedroom walls could potentially leave you tired, overweight and even less intelligent!

Blue, on the other hand, has been shown to lower blood pressure and stimulate the pituitary gland, which regulates and controls the release of adrenaline into our system. Psychologically, most people associate the color blue with the coolness and calm of night. Green has a similar effect, stimulating relaxing thoughts of nature and renewal. Thus, a bedroom with cool shades of blue and green has the most potential in terms of helping you sleep.

If you are one of millions of Americans struggling to sleep at night, before turning to pricey doctors and sleep aids, why not try giving your bedroom an inexpensive makeover? A fresh coat of paint, a new pair of sheets and of course, a soothing new . water pillow . to enable stress-free, uninterrupted sleep – and you might be surprised at how slightly altering you mental state helps improve your physical well-being.

Sources:
http://insomniacuredjs.com/how_colors_can_affect_your_sleep.php
http://thesleepsecretebook.com/blog/tag/pituitary-gland
http://www.colourlovers.com/blog/2008/04/25/avoid-before-exams-can-a-color-make-you-dumber

Impending Alien Invasions and Other Good Reasons to Not Sleep

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 11:02:00 -0900

I’m the first to admit, if I wake up in the middle of the night and roll over, I almost always pick up my cell phone and quick scan my texts and emails. I’m not quite sure what I think I could possibly be missing at 4 am – other than maybe a nonsensical text about deep fried pickles from my drunken friend or a chain-letter email from my aunt alerting me to my forthcoming ownership of an unclaimed diamond mine in Nigeria – and yet, I still feel compelled to look. In all fairness, if aliens landed on earth and someone chose to warn me via text in the middle of the night, I’d almost definitely get the message….and I can sleep easy knowing that.

Or not. Apparently, sleeping with technology is not always easy. Modern day technology has invaded every corner of our lives, including our bedrooms. It is no surprise that cell phones, video games and laptops are leading to less sleep. In fact, besides the physical distraction, experts at Harvard Medical School claim that exposure to artificial light before going to bed (aka playing video games, texting, using a computer) can increase alertness and suppress the release of melatonin.

Bedrooms weren’t always a communication hub – but they weren’t just for sleeping either. In the 19th century, mothers gave birth in their own bedrooms, and on the other end of the spectrum, most people died in their own beds as well. The 19th century bedroom also served as a bathroom. Most had washstands that held a water pitcher, a basin and a washcloth. At night or in cold weather when getting to the outhouse was too difficult, every bed had a chamber pot underneath.

It would seem though, with the advent of convenient perks such as indoor plumbing and hospitals, we would have learned to appreciate the simple sanctity of our bedrooms – as a place for sleeping. But our never ending quest to keep pace with everything going on around us (and to stay on high alert for alien invasions) seems to be getting the best of us.

If you are one of millions of American’s struggling to sleep, here are ten simple sleep tips from medical professionals…but only if you PROMISE not to watch them on your laptop at night in your bedroom....

Sources:
http://www.state-journal.com/news/article/4639250
http://inventors.about.com/od/bstartinventions/a/bed.htm
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/07/us-sleep-technology-idUSTRE7260RH20110307

Sleepwalking 101: Your Loved One Isn’t a Zombie

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 11:25:00 -0900

You have to admit, they are kind of similar: Mindless bodies roaming the halls at nighttime, with no awareness of their actions. So maybe your spouse doesn’t have an insatiable appetite for brains and human flesh, but it IS possible that he or she will walk into the kitchen and unknowingly prepare a sandwich.

Sleepwalking, or Somnambulism (not to be confused with Solanum virus, which is what turns people into Zombies), is a sleep disorder which causes people to get up and walk during the deep stages of sleep. The sleepwalker is usually unable to respond during the event and also does not remember the incident later.

It is estimated that 18% of people suffer from reoccurring somnambulism, and the condition is more common in men than women.

Unlike their zombie friends, sleepwalkers have a heightened sense of balance and touch that actually enables them to do things in their sleep that they might not even attempt in their waking world. Because they do not have a waking awareness of the situation, they may also show unusual courage.

A famous 1987 murder trial involved a Canadian man named Kenneth Parks, who drove 14 miles to his in-laws’ house, strangled his father-in-law until the man passed out, beat his mother-in-law with a tire iron and then stabbed them both with a kitchen knife. The woman died; the man barely survived. Parks then arrived at a police station. Police said he seemed confused about what had transpired, and they noted that Parks appeared oblivious to the fact that he'd severed tendons in both his hands during the attack. That obliviousness to pain, along with other factors, including a strong family history of parasomnia, led experts to testify that Parks had been sleepwalking during the attack. He was found not guilty.

There are many theorized causes and suggested remedies for sleepwalking (the prognosis is far more grim for zombies). A Canadian sleep studied determined that when sleep deprived, sleep walkers are more likely to sleepwalk. Experts suggest that reducing stress and making sure to get enough sleep can help reduce incidents of Somnambulism. It is also recommended that sufferers avoid sedative agents, such as alcohol, as these can trigger sleepwalking events.

So next time your partner takes a nighttime stroll, don’t cry zombie. You are most likely safe. But, just in case, keep your Mediflow pillow as close as possible – zombies HATE water.

Sources:
http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/sleep/articles/2009/05/08/7-criminal-cases-that-invoked-the-sleepwalking-defense
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/features/5_steps_stopping_sleepwalker
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/sleepwalking-facts.html
http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2009/03/09/strange-facts-about-sleepwalking/