Over 20 million Americans struggle with sleep apnea each night and each morning when they wake up feeling exhausted. And among them, one unlucky group’s days usually start with a headache and stiff/painful jaw as well.

While it might just seem like bad luck, sleep apnea and TMJ pain can actually have a strong connection, with one condition leading to the other. If you find yourself in this situation, what should you do?

Our genes influence everything from the color of our hair and eyes to our height and even our personality. They are often linked to an increased or lowered risk of developing certain health conditions as well, which raises a simple question: What role do genes play when it comes to sleep apnea? Is there a sleep apnea gene? Are you doomed to struggle with the condition because of an unfortunate hand dealt by nature? Fortunately, there is more nuance to the answer than this, and you don’t have to let your genes stand in the way of getting a good night’s rest.

Within the health community, sleep apnea is frequently referred to as a “growing problem.” That’s because the number of people with the condition is increasing each year (affecting around 30 million Americans), and it’s also closely tied to the obesity rate. In short, as more people become obese, more have sleep apnea. Researchers have discovered that either condition can lead to the other, so if you’re dealing with both issues, which one should you address first?

Everyone has an evening ritual. For some, it’s a long hot shower before reading a book in bed, and for others, it’s nodding off on the couch with their beloved pet. Many look forward all day to having an alcoholic beverage to soothe their nerves and make it easy for them to fall asleep. Unfortunately, unlike the previous two examples, this last one can wreck someone’s rest, especially if they have sleep apnea. Is your nighttime cocktail making your mornings worse?

Millions of Americans are diagnosed as prediabetic each year, and with it comes tons of advice from doctors, loved ones, and of course, the internet. Amidst the repeated calls for people to improve their diet and lose weight, one suggestion is often overlooked: getting better sleep. For prediabetics, particularly those with sleep apnea, it could be the lynchpin for all the other changes that get more attention.

The current estimate is that over 20 million Americans are struggling with sleep apnea, but every major healthcare organization agrees that the real number is likely much larger because roughly 80% of cases go undiagnosed. While it’s well-documented that sleep apnea is terrible for your health, can it actually kill you? The answer is actually quite nuanced and shows that being tired all the time isn’t the worst thing the condition can cause.

A 2019 study from the European Respiratory Journal uncovered an unnerving discovery—compared to men with sleep apnea, women with the disorder were shown to develop cancer two to three times more. This is despite the fact that men have sleep apnea at a much higher rate. So what is causing this correlation? Is there something women can do that could both reduce their sleep problems and keep them protected from cancer?

When you think of sleep apnea, you may often envision loud snoring, restless nights, and daytime fatigue. But did you know that sleep apnea could also be linked to something as mundane as drooling? There’s no need to panic if you do this occasionally, but if it’s a frequent occurrence, you might want to see your dentist. But what does drooling have to do with sleep apnea, exactly? Continue reading to find out.

In the past few years, CBD oil has become a popular over-the-counter method to address pain, reduce cancer symptoms, and much more. There have been numerous claims that the use of CBD oil can help those who are experiencing sleep problems, including insomnia and sleep apnea, but are these claims something that you can trust? Continue reading to learn more about CBD, its effects on sleep apnea, and what you should do.

You already know about the negative effects that smoking has on your body, but did you know that it can affect the people around you as well? Secondhand smoke can have all sorts of dangerous side effects – especially for younger children. In fact, secondhand smoke may increase children’s risk of obstructive sleep apnea. This disorder keeps them from getting the quality sleep they need to thrive. Continue reading to learn more about obstructive sleep apnea and how secondhand smoke plays a role.