Sleep Better Georgia Dental Sleep Medicine Blog

Approximately 65% of American households own a pet, with the favorites of course being cats and dogs. If you look at the science, having a pet offers a litany of benefits, from companionship to security to reduced stress and more. We love our furry friends so much that we even share bedtime with them. While this might sound warm and cuddly at first glance, is it smart to sleep with a pet if you have an issue like sleep apnea? It turns out that the issue isn’t so cut and dry, but knowing more about it can help you make the best decision for yourself and your pet.

(more…)

Life for people with Type 2 diabetes can be pretty complicated. They have to be very diligent about their diet, take their insulin regularly, and stay in constant communication with their doctor. It’s well documented that it can have negative effects on cardiovascular health, but did you know it can exacerbate problems like sleep apnea as well? These two conditions actually influence each other more than people think, and seeing how the rates of both are currently skyrocketing, those with either one need to keep these three connections in mind.

(more…)

According to SleepFoundation.org, approximately 32% of Americans snore, and chances are that you know at least one of them. Whether it’s yourself or a loved one, snoring can be extremely annoying, but there is a more serious side as well. It’s one of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea, a condition that is known to cause daily exhaustion as well as drastically increase someone’s risk of being in a motor vehicle accident or suffering a heart attack or stroke. While snoring and sleep apnea are definitely connected, they are not one in the same, and being able to spot the differences can have a big impact on someone’s overall health.

(more…)

With travel returning to pre-pandemic levels, many Americans are booking hotel rooms and Airbnbs to take off on vacations around the globe. But what does this mean for our sleep health?

Turns out, we may sleep better in an Airbnb than a hotel, and some even report sleeping better in one compared to their own home. Why is this the case? New research has shed some light on the subject so we can all get more Zs whether we’re at home or on our dream trip.

(more…)

The “Sunday scaries” describe the common worry about returning to work on Monday morning, and it can unfortunately affect the sleep health of many Americans.

The “Sunday scaries” can be psychological, but they can also manifest physically, causing a heightened heartbeat, sweating, difficulty breathing, trembling, upset stomach, and more.

Stress and anxiety that is work-related can often cause a loss of sleep, which can lead to harmful health consequences. While “Sunday scaries” is a term associated with younger generations, Gen Z’ers and Millennials aren’t the only ones impacted by this stress.

(more…)

Regular exercise is one of the best things you can do for your health. It can reduce your risk of heart disease, support mental and emotional wellness, offer opportunities for socialization, and more. It can even help you sleep better! In fact, research suggests that a regular routine of physical activity can do much to reduce symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea.

(more…)

We know that there are many benefits to a 15-minute power nap, but what happens when our napping becomes too frequent?

Recent research suggests that napping on a regular basis can be associated with a higher risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Those suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can also be at a heightened risk for heart conditions, drawing a parallel between OSA, sleep deprivation, and napping. OSA is a sleep condition that causes breathing to stop during sleep, often resulting in daytime sleepiness, snoring, and/or morning headaches. Typically, people with sleep apnea rely on napping to catch up on their rest, but as this study highlights, this may be a sign of a serious problem.

(more…)

Insomnia plagues many Americans, but it has also been found that “painsomnia” affects many adults as well, considering around 25% of U.S. adults experience chronic pain. Painsomnia is a form of insomnia caused by chronic pain.

This can mean extremely poor quality sleep for those who experience both painsomnia and obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder that causes disrupted breathing throughout the night, resulting in daytime sleepiness, and often snoring. Dealing with either of these conditions, or even both, can prove to be challenging.

(more…)

While climate change is happening all around us, we often think of it as having impacts on the weather or atmosphere. What we don’t think about as much is the impact it may have on our health, and in this case, our sleep health.

It turns out that rising temperatures due to climate change have an effect on the way we sleep and can lead to negative overall health outcomes.

But what does this mean for those who suffer from sleep apnea? Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes disrupted breathing throughout the night, resulting in daytime sleepiness, and often snoring. What does research say about how this record-breaking weather is changing our sleep, and what can we do to stay cool so we can get the rest we need?

(more…)

Many of us associate sound machines with baby showers and toddlers at bedtime, but recent research suggests that these sounds may also benefit older adults.

Sleep quality tends to decline with age, but scientists have found that “pink noise” can help calm brain activity during sleep for older adults.

Pink noise can include sounds such as a flowing river, soft rain, ocean waves, or rustling leaves. Similar to white noise, it covers all frequencies that humans can hear, though it emphasizes lower frequencies. Could it be the key to helping you sleep as well as you did decades ago?

(more…)