Iowa Sleep Blog

At-home Snoring Remedies

Monday, December 14, 2015
In the U.S., 45 percent of adults experience some sort of snoring each night. But the person who is snoring is not always the only one affected by the snoring. This means that far more than 45 percent of U.S. adults could actually be impacted by snoring. Snoring occurs when a sleeper experiences a blocked or narrow airway passage, which causes the soft palate and uvula at…

Holiday Gift Ideas for the Sleeper in Your Life

Monday, December 07, 2015
Still looking for the perfect gift for someone on your list? The best gift you can give a loved one is quality sleep at night, as 70 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders. Use this holiday season to encourage better sleep hygiene with some fun and unique gifts. Here are a few recommendations from the sleep doctors at Iowa Sleep: Aromatherapy: Aromatherapy harnesses the power of…

Common Things that Aggravate Obstructive Sleep Apnea without You Realizing It

Monday, November 30, 2015
It doesn’t matter if you’ve suffered from obstructive sleep apnea for years or a couple weeks, there are many things, large and small that can affect OSA. In fact, there are more than 22 million Americans who suffer from sleep apnea each night. But, did you know that some of these sneaky but common things could also be aggravating your OSA? Check out Iowa Sleep’s list below: Foods –…

Sleeping Well During the Holidays

Monday, November 16, 2015
The holiday season is a joyful time of year, full of family, friends, and giving thanks for the many blessing we each have. But, it can also be stressful between the shopping, parties, events and travel, whether that’s around Des Moines or outside of Iowa. Don’t let the stress of the “most wonderful time of the year” start affecting how you sleep at night. Here are a couple…

Sleep and Studying: Finding the Formula for Success

Monday, November 09, 2015
The upcoming holidays mean final exams are on the way for Iowa high school and college students, which typically means students are staying up late studying or even pulling all-nighters. Students are already known to have poor sleep habits, so adding the stress of exams makes sleep even harder to come by. According to a study done by the Journal of Adolescent Health, more than 70…

I've Been Diagnosed with OSA--Now What?

Monday, October 19, 2015
 If you’ve ever been told you snore, or suddenly stop breathing during your sleep, you may be experiencing obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a common disorder where a sleeper experience one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths because of excess skin blocking the airway the throat while they are asleep. These pauses can last anywhere from a couple seconds to more than 30…

Can You Avoid Nightmares?

Monday, October 12, 2015
If any time of year will trigger nightmares, it’s probably the fall season. Autumn begins with scary movies at Halloween and continues through the stress of back to back to back holidays Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day. It’s not to say that a traditionally happy time of year itself would cause nightmares, but stress can. Other major life events such as marriage, divorce, pregnancy and…

The Link Between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Depression

Monday, October 05, 2015
During Iowa’s colder months or periods during of stressful events in our lives, it’s natural to occasionally feel sad or “down in the dumps.” However, when that feeling seems to linger for longer periods of time, it could be a sign of depression. How does this relate to sleep? Well, individuals who experience depression are also more likely to have symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea. OSA…

Falling Asleep with Insomnia

Monday, September 28, 2015
After a long day, there is nothing better than crawling into bed and letting your head hit the pillow. For many people though, this is not their reality, as they instead spend hours tossing and turning while sleep eludes them. This inability to fall or stay asleep is considered insomnia, and in the U.S., one in three people experience insomnia each night. It can affect almost anyone, but…

Why Sleep Is Important for High School Athletes

Monday, September 21, 2015
No matter what age you are, sleep is important. Making sure you are getting enough shut eye is extremely important for high school students, but it’s even more important for high school athletes. These athletes have a lot on their plates these days – hours of practices, games, training sessions, homework and keeping up with their friends and family. With all this going on, it can be easy…