Whether it be a candle or a lightbulb, humans have historically found a multitude of ways to get around the darkness that nighttime brings. And now, we have more distractions than ever before that bring light into the night, from cars driving past our windows to phone and laptop screens. We may be more productive, but we’re also sleeping less: in 1910, most people slept 9 hours per night; now, one-third of Americans are getting less than 7 hours of sleep on a regular basis.

Your sleep is absolutely essential for your health, so it’s important to protect. However, many times that’s easier said than done with distractions abounding at seemingly every turn, whether they come from work, family, or just life in general. But setting boundaries and maintaining good sleep habits is more important now than ever, as we all face some uncertainty with the current situation and many find restful sleep harder to come by. Here are our top tips for maintaining strong and consistent “sleep boundaries.”

The immune system is pretty much your body’s superhero — it recognizes viruses, bacteria and parasites that are harmful to your body and fights them. And just like any superhero, your immune system must remain healthy to effectively fight off the invaders. So, keeping your immune system as healthy as possible is certainly in your best interest. But how do you do it? One of the easiest, yet oft-overlooked contributors to an optimal immune system: good ol’ quality sleep! 

This year, daylight saving time (DST) is happening on Sunday, March 8th. We will be “springing forward” — meaning we’re losing an hour of sleep, much to everyone’s chagrin. Whether you’re a person who is already dreading the time change or thinks it’s no big deal, the reality is that springing forward does have effects on your body. Fortunately, with a little know-how, you can ensure that you’re well-rested at every time of the year, regardless of what the clock says.

Sleep apnea is a serious condition, but thankfully, treatment options like oral appliance therapy can significantly lessen symptoms and help patients live full, healthy lives. But can sleep apnea ever be cured for good? Is it possible for a person with sleep apnea to no longer have it? 

You’re lying in bed one night and your partner is sound asleep. How can you tell? The loud, persistent sound of their snoring. It keeps you up every single night, and you don’t know what to do about it other than go sleep somewhere else. While snoring might seem harmless (if irritating) on the surface, it could actually be the indication of a much more serious condition called sleep apnea, which can be very damaging to both a person’s sleep and long-term health.

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It’s well-recognized in medical circles that obstructive sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes are connected. In fact, one study published in Family Medicine found that people with type 2 diabetes have a nearly 50 percent chance of also having this sleep disorder.

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One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is people promising themselves, or their loved ones, that they will finally quit smoking. And it’s a commendable endeavor, as we have all heard about the health risks of smoking, including heart disease and lung cancer. But did you know that smoking is a risk factor for sleep apnea, too? 

When you’re feeling sluggish, the first thought is often “Looks like I need to go to bed early tonight.” And while more sleep is always a good thing, a study recently published by the University of Sydney challenges the assumption that the amount of hours spent asleep is the sole determiner in how rested you feel.

Sleep plays a vital role in mental and physical health. Most of us know that getting too little sleep is bad — after a night of poor rest, we feel how sleep deprivation affects our mood and performance the next day. And there is plenty of research out there to back this up, with the general consensus being that the optimal amount of sleep is 7-8 hours. The preliminary results from the world’s largest sleep study fall in line with previous research results, but with a surprising twist: that sleeping more than 7-8 hours is just as harmful as sleeping less than that time. How are those who get less than or more than 7-8 hours of sleep affected?

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