TRAVELING WITH SLEEP APNEA

With the annual Spring Break vacations right around the corner, the staff at the Alaska Sleep Clinic sees an influx of patients coming in asking questions such as “how do I travel when I have sleep apnea?”

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, active duty military personnel have a high prevalence of sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, insomnia, and short sleep duration. Results also show that these sleep disorders lead to medical issues, such as depression, anxiety, and more.  With sleep research growing for active duty military personnel, many are getting the help they need through professional sleep clinics.

Written by Cammi Balleck, CTN, ANCB Board Certified Naturopath

Did you know that sleep is an essential part of optimal health?

If you are suffering from sleep troubles at night or experiencing troubles staying awake during the day, there is a good chance that you could have a sleep disorder.

Sleep disorders are medical conditions that can affect people's sleep patterns and habits. Many sleep disorders can also cause complications to your health and general well being if left untreated. The best way to get to the bottom of your sleep troubles is to have a sleep study performed, which can help diagnose your disorder and lead to proper treatment options.

But what exactly is a sleep study? How are they performed? What can they tell you about your sleep? And how do you go about getting one?

Here we walk you through all of the important steps from when you should get a sleep study to complying with your recommended treatment.

Most likely you’re overworked.  You’re stressed out, you haven’t had a vacation in a while, and you’re sleeping less.  You’re waking up earlier and going to bed later in an effort to get more done.  According to a recent NPR story, Americans are even taking less vacation to accomplish more.  Some are even doing significant work while on vacation.  And there is a ton of research that shows how Americans are sleeping less and less, year over year.