Iowa Sleep Blog

The Importance of Sleep for Athletes

Monday, March 16, 2015
To be one of the best athletes in the world we know you need to train hard and eat a balanced diet. But if you’re also not sleeping well, all this hard work is going to waste. For the world’s top athletes, one night of bad sleep could be the difference between a win and a loss. Sleep and athletic performance is especially critical this time of year, as the NCAA March Madness college…

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…

Presidential Sleep Habits

Monday, February 16, 2015
Sleep Habits of Past Presidents Being the President of the United States is one of the most stressful jobs in the world. With the long hours, constant travel and tense situations, paired with busy schedules, many presidents choose to forgo sleep or sleep very little each night in order to get everything done. This President’s Day, learn about the poor sleep habits of these past…

Valentine's Day Gift of Good Sleep

Monday, February 09, 2015
 The Valentine’s Day gift of good sleep February is arguably the busiest month of the year, as many industries are starting their sales pushes and tax season approaches. This busy time can mean long hours at the offices, high stress levels and hours of lost sleep. When you aren’t sleeping well, it can affect almost every aspect of your body, such as your mood, diet, energy levels,…

Signs It’s Time to See a Sleep Doctor

Thursday, January 22, 2015
Signs it’s time to see a sleep doctor Sleeping is a natural function of the body, so it can be hard to tell when your “simple” sleep troubles are actually more complicated sleep disorders. Many don’t even realize their poor sleep can affect other aspects of their health such as their overall heart health, managing diabetes and controlling body weight. Many times, these sleep disorders…

Technology that Can Help Your New Year’s Sleep Resolutions

Tuesday, January 06, 2015
On average, 45 percent of Americans usually make New Year’s resolutions, and one of the most popular is to sleep more or set a better sleep schedule. Many start out motivated in January, but find themselves losing steam by February and March. Set yourself up for success by using an app to help track your progress and keep yourself motivated when things get tough. Here are some of…

How to Deal with Seasonal Affective Disorder and Saying Goodbye to the “Winter Blues”

Monday, December 08, 2014
With dropping temperatures and shorter days, it can be hard to feel cheerful and jolly during the cold winter months. If you (or someone you know) seem to drop into a funk you just can’t shake around this time each year, you may be suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD is a type of depression that occurs during the changing of seasons each year, usually beginning in the fall,…

A Sleep Consultation at Iowa Sleep

Monday, December 01, 2014
Sleeping is one of the few conditions of the body that is naturally recurring – indeed, no one needs to be taught to fall asleep. That said, sometimes we do need to be taught how to best fall asleep. Yet, taking action and asking for help when sleep doesn’t come easy isn’t always, well, easy. The doctors and specialists at Iowa Sleep want you to know you are not alone. According to the National…

Why Sleep Is So Important

Wednesday, November 26, 2014
It may not seem like a big deal if you lose a couple hours of sleep over the weekend. And it’s true: recovering from one night of poor or little sleep isn’t so bad. However, when you’re regularly sleeping less than the recommended amount a night (7-8 hours), things can go downhill fast.  Sleep is a major part of your overall health. Your body needs restorative sleep to clear toxins from the…