Sleep Dunwoody Blog

We’ve all likely heard before that winding down at the end of a long day with a bath can help your sleep. But how exactly does the science behind that work? What is it about a warm bath that helps our bodies relax and get ready for bed? 

In June 2018, Barnes & Noble reported that book sales related to anxiety had gone up 26% when compared to the previous year. Whether nationwide anxiety is actually increasing or whether we’re just more aware of it, it’s definitely a prevalent issue. Who hasn’t felt anxious from time to time? But for some, anxiety is an always-present condition, and, as it turns out, anxiety and sleep are closely related. Recently, a group of scientists shared their findings on the relationship between the two, which may prove helpful for those curious about how to improve both anxiety and sleep deprivation.

Insomnia is one of the most prevalent sleep disorders, affecting one in four Americans every year. Characterized by difficulty falling asleep and/or staying asleep, all of us have probably experienced insomnia at least a time or two — and in fact, 75% of those who develop insomnia recover without experiencing persistent sleep issues. But for some, insomnia is chronic and lasting, affecting daily life. It’s a serious issue that should be addressed, and its effects on the body are no joke. 

The recommended amount of sleep for adults is 7-9 hours per night, and yet, if you’re like many, you receive less than this amount on a regular basis — and are therefore clinically qualified as “sleep-deprived.” And sleep deprivation is a health condition with serious concerns if left unchecked. Still, you probably don’t blink at an hour (or several hours) of lost sleep during the week… because it can just be made up on the weekend, right? As it turns out, this “common sense” approach may not be so sensible at all, leaving you susceptible to the very consequences of sleep deprivation that you’re hoping your Saturday/Sunday snoozefest will help you avoid. Oof!

When most people think of loud snorers, an image of a man typically comes to mind. And there is evidence to back this up: men are more frequently diagnosed with sleep apnea, a condition often characterized by loud, persistent snoring, than women. But as it turns out, the reason that men are more frequently diagnosed with this condition is complicated. Why is the science and perception of sleep apnea and snoring in women so out of sync? And how can women find out if they have this condition and get the treatment they need?

We all feel better, and more ourselves, when we get a solid night’s sleep. But for a lot of us, that fact alone isn’t enough to change our habits. Despite feeling noticeably more focused and alert when we’ve rested well the night before, we still relentlessly do the very things that disrupt our sleep: checking emails right before we shut our eyes, drinking alcohol late at night, and keeping pets in our bedroom while we sleep.

It’s officially summertime! As we usher in more sunshine and longer days, our bodies take on an adjusted circadian rhythm (the natural, internal process that regulates our sleep/wake cycles). In the summer, it’s likely that you won’t feel tired until later in the day (particularly when compared to winter) and that as a result, you may find waking up in the morning a bit more difficult.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, snoring affects approximately 90 million Americans. Although it is common among both genders, men are at a higher risk, particularly if they are overweight. Further, the adverse health effects that result from snoring can increase in severity with age.

If you’ve ever had a new baby (or know a close friend or relative who has) you know that sleep deprivation is an all-too-real issue. As babies adjust to the world around them, their parents have to do some re-adjusting as well, which means, among other things, disrupted sleep schedules. It can leave any parent a little nutty and sleep-deprived!

All of us have experienced some level of inflammation throughout our lives. It’s part of the body’s natural response to stressors, including a sore throat or a scraped knee. Those two examples lead to the onset of what’s called acute inflammation – but chronic inflammation is something far different, lingering for a long period of time in the body and causing a host of issues. What’s the difference between the two, and how does inflammation tie into sleep apnea?