As more Americans experience sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and insomnia, sleep medicine specialists pursue improvements in achieving quality rest. Our team of sleep experts keeps current on research in sleep medicine technology and recognizes that evaluation and treatment of these disorders must be individualized.
How can these advancements affect you? Let’s investigate in this blog.
Do You Have to Use CPAP For Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
For some people, continuous positive airway pressure machines effectively control OSA, the sleep disorder characterized by periods of disrupted breathing, loud snoring, and associated chronic disease conditions, such as diabetes and erectile dysfunction. Used nightly and during naps, CPAP machines deliver a constant flow of air to the back of the throat, keeping the airway open.
However, some people have difficulty with the noise, masks, and awkwardness of CPAP machines. Now, research shows that alternatives, such as oral stimulation therapy and dental appliances, which keep the jaw in a forward position, deliver results comparable to CPAP, all without the inconvenience typical of this kind of treatment. Patients tolerate these less invasive therapies better and therefore use them more consistently for improved therapeutic outcomes.
So, seek the advice of your sleep specialist in Parker County to determine the best treatment options for your obstructive sleep apnea. It may be that you do not need a CPAP machine but can experience symptom relief with a less invasive kind of sleep disorder intervention.
Our sleep team often recommends several at-home strategies, which can reduce the symptoms of many types of sleep disorders or simply help anyone normalize sleep quality and patterns.
These strategies include:
- Losing weight (neck circumference is shown to interfere with patient airways during sleep)
- Avoiding all alcohol and caffeine in the evening hours
- Keeping all work-related activities out of the bedroom (to relieve stress)
- Stopping meals and snacks early in the evening
- Going to bed at the same time each night
- Having a regular bedtime routine, such as washing up, changing into pajamas, and turning lights low before sleeping
Can Blue Light Affect Your Circadian Rhythm?
All animals and human beings experience physical and mental changes within a 24-hour cycle. These circadian rhythms impact sleep and wakefulness and can be disrupted easily by a number of factors, including changes in the seasons, stress, food choices, age, and blue light.
Blue light is given off by electronic screens, such as phones, laptops, and TVs. We spend a lot of time experiencing this light, and it impacts wakefulness, sleep, and other aspects of neurological function.
While people sometimes use blue light-filtering glasses and screen protectors, evidence shows that they have little to no beneficial effect. Instead, sleep medicine experts recommend shutting off all blue-light emitting devices one hour before going to bed for the night.
How Can Age Change The Quality of Your Nightly Sleep?
Most of us know that the senior population has difficulty getting a full night’s sleep. Low levels of the brain chemical called melatonin may be responsible for this insomnia in the elderly, and melatonin supplements may alleviate the problem.
However, did you also know that teens–middle-school aged and up–also have sleep disorders? Studies reveal that this age group requires more quality sleep than children and adults. If the right level of rest is not achieved consistently, school performance drops.
To remedy the situation, many school districts across the nation are changing start times to later in the morning – from 7 to 9 am, for instance. The additional sleep-in time for tweens and teens gives them the extra rest they need to perform better academically.
Your Sleep Experts in Weatherford, TX
At Lung & Sleep Specialists of North Texas, our board-certified sleep medicine physician, Dr. Olusegun Oseni, has helped numerous people consistently sleep better and experience physical vitality and mental sharpness as a result.
If you wish to know more about our innovative sleep method treatments, please call us at (817) 594-9993, or request your visit online. We are here to help you sleep well!