Today, we will look at how STOP-Bang can help identify sleep apnea patterns and problems. When the muscles in the back of your throat relax too much, they do not allow for normal breathing. The muscles support your mouth roof (soft palate), the hanging tissue from the soft palate (uvula), the tongue, and the tonsils.

When these muscles are relaxed, the airway narrows as you breathe which lowers the level of oxygen in your blood causing a buildup of carbon dioxide. Your brain is triggered by the impairment in breathing which rouses you from sleep. Snorting, choking, or gasping is correcting the problem with a few deep breaths.

“This pattern can repeat itself five to 30 times or more each hour, all night long. These disruptions impair your ability to reach the desired deep, restful phases of sleep, and you'll probably feel sleepy during your waking hours.”

Did you know there are various colors outside white noise? Finding a good balance for your ear will be important when searching for bedroom noise.

Scientists have linked scent and long term memory in a study conducted by the American Psychological Review. A simple scent like buttery popcorn can remind us of a movie theatre or passing a woman with a certain fragrance makes us remember a childhood memory of our mother or grandmother. Each whiff provides a link to a memory. A certain combination of smells can become a link to recall the scent of your bedroom at bedtime.

Finding the right mix of scents is what creates better slumber. A study in 2019 found that bad odors and good odors (like the smell of flowers) exist in the olfactory system in our brains. A bad odor (like tobacco smoke) can actually deter a restless sleep while good scents provide more energy when we wake up. The study in the Journal of Post-traumatic Stress even found that good scents provide deeper sleep and healthier dreams.