Iowa Sleep Blog

Idiopathic Hypersomnia

Tuesday, July 26, 2016
In my clinical work as a sleep specialist, I am confronted with tired/sleepy patients (hypersomnia patients) that do not have a diagnosis of Sleep Apnea or any problem with Sleep disordered breathing in general. The evaluation of the patient, utilizing an overnight sleep study and subsequent nap tests (MSLT) - shows no evidence of Narcolepsy but exceptional fatigue and tiredness that we…

What Is Narcolepsy?

Monday, August 31, 2015
Many people wake up some mornings feeling tired, but others wake up every day feeling that way, and it persists throughout their day. Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder that involves poor control of a person’s sleep and wake cycles. People who suffer from this sleep disorder find it difficult to stay awake for long periods of time, regardless of where they are or what they’re doing. It…

Take On Our Better Sleep Month Challenge

Monday, May 05, 2014
It’s time to celebrate, but we’re not blowing up balloons or baking a cake. Instead, we’re planning our May schedules in a way that will allow us to get a full seven to eight hours of sleep every night in honor of Better Sleep Month. The Better Sleep Council designated May as Better Sleep Month in 1985 with the original goal of selling more mattresses. A good mattress is certainly important to…

Narcolepsy...a Brief Overview

Wednesday, May 29, 2013
I think many of us have seen fainting goats or the you tube video of the cute dog having a fainting attack and assume that is what describes narcolepsy.  However, narcolepsy is a condition with a vast array of symptoms.  Not every individual with narcolepsy has those "fainting attacks" also known as cataplexy.  Narcolepsy is actually as common as being diagnosed with Parkinsons or MS. Narcolepsy…