Iowa Sleep Blog

Many are quick to call a child’s hyperactivity or lack of focus in the classroom Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. In fact, 11 percent of children ages 4-17 have been diagnosed with ADHD since 2011. If your child is having a hard time staying focused during the day, the real problem may be what happens at night. While obstructive sleep apneas seem like a sleep problem only for…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

Promising to get more sleep each night is a popular New Year’s resolution, but that doesn’t mean you have to wait until January to start. There are many small lifestyle changes that you can make now to improve your sleep habits. The National Healthy Sleep Awareness Project began in 2013 by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research…

Individuals with diabetes know the key to keeping their diabetes in check is to stay on top of their blood sugar with frequent monitoring and adjustments. An overlooked component of keeping blood sugar levels in check is to make sure you are getting adequate amounts of sleep.  When you don’t get enough sleep at night, you are building up a “sleep debt” which effects the body in many ways. The…

Snoring is one of the most common sleep problems, affecting people of all ages and both genders. In fact, almost 37 million Americans on average report that they snore. Snoring commonly occurs when the air flowing past relaxed tissues in your throat vibrates, causing those annoying and hoarse sounds. Snoring not only negatively affects your sleep, but it can affect your partner’s sleep as well. …

Sleeping isn’t for the Streets! Help Us Honor Drowsy Driving Prevention Week Did you know, 100,000 crashes in the U.S. each year are caused by fatigued drivers, and 55 percent of them are under the age of 25? November 2-9 marks Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, sponsored by the National Sleep Foundation. If you will be traveling with your family during the upcoming holiday season, make sure…

How to Deal with Halloween Night Mares and Night Terrors While Halloween is a favorite holiday amongst children of all ages, it can often be a stressful time for parents. During Halloween season, children can be exposed to scary and sometimes disturbing costumes, causing them to become scared or alarmed. In some cases, this fear can be brought out while a child is sleeping, causing a parasomnia…