Sleep Dunwoody Blog

Co-sleeping with a partner can be a controversial topic; some couples say they wouldn’t have it any other way, and some say they would rather sleep in separate beds in order to get quality sleep.

However, researchers recently found that adults who share a bed with their partners generally sleep better than those who sleep alone.

But what does this mean for sleep apnea sufferers? Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder that causes disrupted breathing throughout the night, resulting in daytime sleepiness, and often loud snoring, which can make sleeping next to your partner a challenge.

We know that there are many health issues that can stem from poor sleep health, with obesity and cardiovascular problems being two prominent ones.

But did you know that lack of sleep can also impact the way we eat? Researchers recently learned more about how diet, sleep, and overall health are deeply connected.

With summer approaching, one of the biggest barriers to getting a good night’s sleep is increased temperatures in the bedroom. A 2010 poll by the National Sleep Foundation found that nearly 70% of respondents reported that temperature plays a big role in their sleep quality.

Luckily, there are many ways to cool your bedroom in order to enjoy uninterrupted sleep even throughout the warmest months of the year.

Sleep deprivation can take a toll on our bodies and minds in many ways. From a lack of focus to an increased risk of accidents at work, getting enough sleep is important for properly functioning on a day-to-day basis. But, it turns out that a lack of sleep can impact our perceptions of others as well.

A recent study from Uppsala University discovered that when young adults don’t get enough sleep, they are more likely to evaluate angry facial expressions as less trustworthy in interactions with others. This could have far-reaching implications in regard to the relationship between sleep and mental health.

Daylight Saving Time (DST) impacts the sleep routines of many Americans each spring, but how would our sleep cycles be impacted if we didn’t spring forward every year?

Recently, the U.S. Senate passed legislation to abolish DST, and scientists think it could change the way our bodies adjust to light, improving our overall sleep health.

Many Americans fall asleep with their television on, their phone buzzing on the nightstand next to them, or with no curtains to cover the glow of streetlights outside their windows. A new study published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) suggests that even a moderate amount of light during sleep hours can have negative effects on someone’s cardiovascular and metabolic health.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder that causes breathing to stop throughout the night, resulting in snoring, daytime sleepiness, and more. Related to light exposure at night, untreated sleep apnea has been found to have adverse effects on cardiovascular health as well, specifically heart disease. Together, these two factors can be fatal to one’s health.

Many women know that the transition into menopause means a higher risk of several health issues, from heart disease to osteoporosis and more. However, a new study published by the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) found a link between postmenopausal joint pain and sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts throughout the night, resulting in loud snoring, daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, and more. Sleep apnea can be life-threatening, with ties to heart disease, stroke, cognitive decline, and negative mental health. Additionally, as this study shows, it could be connected to day-to-day joint pain and a loss of mobility.

Trigger warning: suicide, self-harm, mental health issues

Everyone has an off day from time to time, but feelings of depression can often become amplified when you’re sleep deprived, leading to imbalances in your personal life, professional life, and health that can quickly become overwhelming.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disorder that causes breathing to be disrupted during sleep. We often associate OSA with poor sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, snoring, and accelerated weight gain. But what many may not realize is how OSA can impact mental health, with the disorder being tied to depression, thoughts of suicide, and self-harm.

This past June, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), an organization dedicated to advancing sleep care and enhancing sleep health, declared that sleep is a biological necessity.

“It is the position of the AASM that sleep is essential to health, and we are urging educators, health care professionals, government agencies, and employers to prioritize the promotion of healthy sleep,” AASM President, Dr. Kannan Ramar states.

The declaration, which was written by members of the 2020-2021 AASM Board of Directors and has been endorsed by more than 25 relevant organizations, explains that there is a lack of sleep education at the medical-education levels, resulting in sleep being left out of many patient-practitioner conversations.

This is a hazard, not only to public safety, but to personal safety as well. Here’s why.

This past June, one of the biggest producers of CPAP machines, Philips Respironics, recalled millions of devices due to a malfunction: The foam used to reduce sound was found to degrade into chemicals that, according to the FDA, can cause serious and potentially life-threatening injuries.

This left the millions of sleep apnea sufferers impacted by the recall to choose between getting rest at night or using a device that could be harming them—at least until Philips Respironics works through a solution with the FDA. Which, according to Philips, could take a year, minimum.

Thankfully, there is already an effective first line of treatment for mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, and an alternative treatment for severe sleep apnea patients intolerant to CPAP: oral appliance therapy.