Iowa Sleep Blog

How Sleep Affects Your Job Performance

Thursday, May 07, 2015
Sleep is one of the most important ways to take care of your body and your overall fitness. So why do so many people overlook a good night’s rest? Today’s work environment features an increase of globalized work that has made it harder for managers and employees to turn off work at night. The average business executive sleeps less than six hours each night. From downing caffeine to stay…

Sleep Around the World

Monday, April 27, 2015
We all know sleep is important, and we should aim to get eight hours of uninterrupted shut-eye each night. But what you may not know, is how sleep is approached by other individuals across the globe. Each country has different sleep habits and traditions that are based in years and history. For example, did you know that in Japan, it is common for most workers partake in inemuri, or…

Dealing with Insomnia

Monday, April 13, 2015
How to Deal with Insomnia With nearly half of all Americans reporting they experience symptoms of insomnia, this sleep problem most likely is something you’ve heard of before – or even experienced yourself. Insomnia is the persistent inability to fall and stay asleep at night, usually awaking the next morning feeling unrefreshed and groggy. Symptoms also include waking up frequently…

Shift Work and Sleep Patterns

Monday, April 06, 2015
While many of us are preparing for bed at 9 p.m. each night, others are just starting their workday. With the demands of our 24 hour-global society, shift workers have been critical to production and customer service for companies worldwide. Individuals who work what’s called the “third shift,” or hours outside the standard nine to five working day, are considered shift workers. Some of…

How the Brain Works During Sleep

Wednesday, April 01, 2015
While we are relaxing and preparing ourselves for a peaceful night of sleep, our brains are getting ready to go to work. Even though we don’t know it’s happening, our brains are very active when our eyes are closed. The brain uses this “quiet” time to perform necessary tasks that help keep our brain functioning smoothly. Without this time to allow our brain to work, we can start to feel…

Tips for Traveling with CPAP Equipment

Monday, March 30, 2015
Spring and summer vacations are right around the corner, but don’t let packing your CPAP machine slow you down. CPAP, which stands for continuous positive airway pressure, is a popular way to treat obstructive sleep apneas- and over 28 million people suffer from OSA each night. These machines are usually compact in size and feature a hose that runs to a mask that the sleeper wears to…

2015 Sleep in America Poll Results

Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Two weeks ago, the National Sleep Foundation released the results from their annual poll, Sleep in America, which surveys the sleep health and behaviors of Americans. The 2015 poll found that pain is a key factor in sleep loss for a whopping 57 percent of Americans suffering from chronic or acute pain. After pain, stress and poor health were the next related concerns. The survey…

Adjusting for Daylight Saving Time

Wednesday, March 04, 2015
With the month of March just beginning, many of us have begun dreaming of spring and with that comes the beginning of Daylight Saving Time, when clocks are adjusted one hour ahead. Daylight Saving Time was officially instituted in the U.S. in 1942, starting the second Sunday in March and ending the first Sunday in November, to better utilize the natural daylight by moving one hour from…

Obesity's Effects on Sleep

Monday, March 02, 2015
Obesity's effects on sleep   Today, over 65% of Americans are overweight or considered obese, with those numbers growing among both children and adults. This increase can be linked to our more sedative lifestyles, change in diets and heredity traits over time. Adults are not the only ones affected by obesity, as the number of children who are considered obese has also risen. According the…

How Sleep Restores the Body

Monday, February 23, 2015
Although researchers aren’t exactly sure why different species have different sleep needs, we have learned there are many important things that happen in the body during rest. Each of the unique body systems perform tasks while we sleep that are essential to proper functioning. When you don’t get enough sleep, these jobs are not completed, making your body unable to operate at its highest…