Give Snoring a Rest

Snoring can be a minor annoyance, or it can put your health and relationship at risk. Here’s the basic info on what causes snoring and ways to treat the noisy condition.

Snoring can range from an occasional gentle rumble to a persistent, wall-shaking racket. The cause, however, is always the same: “Tissue vibration as air fights to get through the airway,” says Rochelle Goldberg, MD, president of the American Sleep Apnea Society. “Think of a flag snapping on a windy ...

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Overcoming Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Treatment for obstructive sleep apnea usually includes continuous positive airway pressure devices. These appliances keep the airway open so the body can retain normal blood oxygen levels and avoid serious conditions related to sleep apnea.

If you wake up feeling groggy or lethargic, or your spouse or partner complains that you snore, you may be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Millions of Americans have this condition. The National Institutes of Health breaks down the numbers further, showing that sleep apnea ...

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What You Need to Know About Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea doesn’t necessarily affect overweight patients exclusively — anyone with a family history is susceptible. Other sleep apnea risk factors include high blood pressure and smoking.

Maybe your sleeping partner says your snoring sounds like a 747 landing in the next room; maybe you just don’t wake up refreshed after what you thought was a good night’s sleep and feel tired during the day. These are two signs of sleep apnea — brief periods when you stop breathing while sleeping ...

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Screening for Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea affects 12 million Americans. Learn how doctors diagnose the condition and which sleep apnea treatment is right for you.

Sleep apnea is a common condition — it affects at least 12 million Americans, although many of those cases go undiagnosed. If you snore loudly, wake up feeling groggy even though you think you’ve gotten a good night’s sleep, or feel sleepy and irritable during the day, sleep apnea may be the cause.

People with sleep apnea briefly stop breathing ...

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Yawning May Cool the Brain When Needed

Study also found sinuses act like a bellows, help keep brain the right temperature.

Yawning helps keep the brain cool, and the sinuses play a role in that process by acting as bellows, a new report suggests.

Yawning isn’t triggered because you’re bored, tired or need oxygen. Rather, yawning helps regulate the brain’s temperature, according to Gary Hack, of the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, and Andrew Gallup, of Princeton University.

“The brain is exquisitely sensitive to temperature changes and therefore must ...

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Americans’ Sleep Habits: Losing by Not Snoozing, Says the CDC

More than one-third of Americans sleep less than seven hours a night, and many pay for it the next day. Are you among the walking bleary? Try one of these tricks to get the rest your body craves.

Too many Americans aren’t getting enough sleep — and their minds and bodies are paying the price, according to two new surveys released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). More than one-third of American adults clocked in seven or fewer ...

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New Research on Sleep and Memory

Sleep plays a critical role in how we learn and how we remember. Learn about the latest studies involving the brain, memory, and how much sleep you need.

It is well-known that a good night’s sleep is critical for a healthy body. Now recent research has shown that sleep is even more important when it comes to learning and memory than previously thought.

“If you shorten sleep both short-term (one night) or long-term (more than two weeks), the ability to ...

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An Afternoon Nap Might Make You Smarter

Sure, cozying up for a midday siesta sounds relaxing. But it may be even healthier for you than you think.

Want to ace that next test? Try taking a mid-afternoon siesta.

While the findings are preliminary, new research raises the prospect that sleep, specifically a lengthy afternoon nap, prepares the brain to remember things. Think of it as similar to rebooting a computer to get it to work more smoothly.

“Sleep is not just for the body. It’s very much for ...

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Your Internal Sleep Clock

Circadian rhythm isn’t a new type of dance step; it has to do with our internal sleep clock. Learn about how your sleep clock works.

Your pattern of sleep and waking is run by the body’s internal sleep clock. Governed by light, your internal sleep clock tells you when it’s time to fall asleep and wake up. Your internal sleep clock, otherwise known as the circadian rhythm, runs on a 24-hour cycle. Disruptions to the circadian rhythm and your internal sleep ...

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How Much Sleep Do You Need?

The number of hours of sleep you need to stay healthy and alert differs according to your gender and age.

Sleep is key to your physical health and emotional vitality, but just how many hours of sleep you need depends on your age, your stage of development, and your gender.

“Sleep is important for mental function: alertness, memory consolidation, mood regulation, and physical health,” says Phyllis C. Zee, MD, PhD, professor of neurology and director of the Sleep Disorders Center at ...

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