Iowa Sleep Blog

May is Better Sleep Month, so we’ve decided to explore some common myths about sleeping: MYTH: If I can’t fall asleep, I should stay in bed until I do. While this is how we are trained when we are younger, it doesn’t hold true as adults. If you find yourself lying in bed for more than 20 minutes trying to fall asleep, get up and out of bed. If you can, go sit somewhere with low lighting and…

The end of the semester and school year can be stressful, as students rush to finish projects, study for exams and write papers. Students get so busy during this time, sleep frequently gets pushed aside in order to stay up for a few extra hours to stay on top of their to-do lists. It should come as no surprise that students are one of the most sleep deprived demographics in our…

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…

There is nothing more frustrating than lying awake at night, unable to sleep. It’s even more frustrating when your body experiences aches and pains that are keeping you awake, such as pains from Fibromyalgia or Parkinson’s disease. Fibromyalgia Fibromyalgia is the widespread pain and stiffness in muscles and joints that can be uncomfortable when trying to sleep or relax. This tends to…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…