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.

Topics: sleep study, apnea, sleep problems

 

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. 

Topics: sleep disorders, apnea, napping, environment

Just as there are lots of fish in the sea, so it is with CPAP masks, and here at the Alaska Sleep Clinic, we want to match you with the mask that will be the best fit for you.

Topics: CPAP Masks, apnea, CPAP

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Two new facemasks are just now available to the United States this quarter: the ResMed AirFit N20 nasal mask and the F20 full-face mask for positive airway pressure (PAP) treatment of sleep apnea. 

According to ResMed, these masks are now designed to fit nearly everyone. Testing showed that the N20 fit 99 percent of patients tested, and the F20 fit 97 perfect – regardless of facial structure, gender or age. The website says that the mask is a culmination of 3 years of research and development.

Topics: CPAP Masks, apnea, CPAP, technology

 

It’s no secret we’re sleeping less.  Our fast-paced lives demand more time, and often that comes at the expense of our sleep.  It also should be no surprise that there is a strong correlation between the amount, and more importantly, the quality of sleep we get, and the effect it has on our bodies. 

Topics: Sleep, sleep disorders, apnea, treatment, health, stress, sleep deprivation

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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.

Topics: Sleep, insomnia, sleep disorders, apnea, Family, Spouse, Military

 

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?”

Topics: Sleep, apnea, CPAP, travel

An estimated 18 million Americans suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), with many of those cases undiagnosed. OSA can come with serious side effects and consequences including fatigue, obesity, and an increased risk of heart attack, stroke and diabetes.

Topics: CPAP Masks, sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea, sleep disorders, apnea, CPAP, oral appliance

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which a child’s breathing stops and starts during sleep. Child OSA is most commonly found in children between the ages of 2 and 6, but can occur at any age.

There are a variety of treatments for OSA. Some of the most common devices to help are a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine (CPAP), mouth appliances, and specially designed pillows. Dentofacial orthopedics is another option for early treatment and even prevention of OSA. These orthopedics can open the airway 10mm or more by developing a facial profile to an optimum situation, which is a process to increase the airway space. Treatment can be started as young as 2 years old, and can help your child to reach the maximum sleep potential by reducing problems with breathing, swallowing, and sleeping.

Other oral treatments include a Mandibular Repositioning device and a Tongue Retaining device. These devices open your airway by bringing your lower jaw forward during sleep. They are acrylic and fit inside your mouth, much like an athletic mouth guard. Others may fit around your head and chin to adjust the position of your lower jaw as well.

Dental devices are only effective for mild to moderate sleep apnea. There are also a number of possible troubling side effects from using the dental the devices to include soreness, saliva build-up, nausea, and damage or permanent change in position of the jaw, teeth, and mouth.

It is very important to get fitted by a dentist specializing in sleep apnea. Also, see your dentist on a regular basis for any dental problems that may occur, and check with your sleep specialist to see if you are a proper candidate for OSA.

Topics: CPAP success, CPAP Masks, alaska sleep clinic, Sleep, sleep disorders, apnea, oral appliance

For children, sleep problems tend to get progressively worse overtime if not treated. For instance, night terrors as a toddler might lead to a child who sleepwalks in the future. There are generally two different types of sleep problems; behavioral and physiological. At this point, a sleep study would be assigned to gather additional information for a diagnosis. Parents will also spend the night in the same room but in a different bed during the study.

Topics: CPAP Masks, alaska sleep clinic, sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea, trouble sleeping, sleep study, apnea, children, oral appliance, sleep and children