Is it time to upgrade your CPAP?

Alaskans have enjoyed another Summer of the Midnight Sun, but winter is upon us, so here come those dark days. We now have our next challenge to face, Polar Nights. As the bears crawl into their dens for their long winter naps, we would be glad to join them. The sun-driven energy from the summer is gone, and we are up against the health challenges of trying to be awake while it is dark. 

The holiday season has arrived! Not only should you be excited, but there is so much to look forward to. Time with family and friends, shopping, and traveling are all many things that we take part in during the holiday season. However, for patients with mild-to-moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), going untreated while traveling can put them at risk for serious health consequences and, perhaps, ruin their trip as well. Sleep apnea doesn’t take a holiday, so it's important to continue treating it during yours. Here are a few quick tips to make traveling with sleep apnea a little less cumbersome.

An extra hour of sleep can welcome a short period of rest for many people. However, it can also disrupt normal sleep patterns, which puts strain on the body. The schedule change can throw off the body's internal clock, or circadian rhythm. It is great to have the extra hour of sleep, but a few days later that can lead to worse sleep. Continue reading to learn more about the negative effects of daylight savings.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

It’s 5:30 am., and that pesky alarm is going off. If you wake up feeling like you didn’t get a wink of sleep, you are not alone. Nearly half of Americans struggle with getting a good night’s sleep. Although the cause of sleep deprivation may be medically complicated, some behavioral patterns also may be contributing. What if you could follow a simple formula that could help you wake up feeling refreshed and ready for the day ahead? Following this 5-step formula, you will set yourself up for a successful night’s sleep. Continue reading to learn more. 

Is it time to upgrade your CPAP?

Is your CPAP machine noisy?  Is it keeping you and/or your partner awake at night?  If your CPAP is three years old or older, there’s a good chance that it is. There are new CPAP machines that are quieter, lighter and auto-titrating. Meaning they automatically adjust to the optimal pressure settings. 

Are you or a loved one a CPAP user? They can change your life, but up to 50% of people stop using them within one year. Why? Because most find the maintenance of their equipment daunting. At first it might seem overwhelming but understand with time it will become as routine as brushing your teeth. 

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) is a waxing and waning disease characterized by diarrhea, abdominal pain and weight loss. IBD, which include Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, affects as many as 1.6 million Americans, most of whom are diagnosed before age 30. Since there is no cure to these diseases, patients are relieved when they go into remission.

It’s not surprising that the week of Thanksgiving was chosen as GERD awareness week, especially with our tendency to indulge in a little too much of everything!  GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) is a common disease that affects millions of Americans.