Who cares if you didn’t get enough sleep? There’s always coffee, right?

 

If only it were that easy! As we mentioned in an earlier blog this month, a lack of sleep can be downright deadly. However, rather than talking about all the BAD things that will happen when you don’t get enough Zs, today we’re going to talk about the positive side effects of a good night’s rest:

 

• It can improve memory- your mind is surprisingly busy while you snooze. During sleep you strengthen memories or “practice” skills learned while you were awake.

 

• It can help you live longer- too little sleep is bad, but so is too much sleep. Strike a balance.

 

• It curbs inflammation- research indicates that people who get less sleep—six or fewer hours a night—have higher blood levels of inflammatory proteins than those who get more.

 

• It spurs creativity- researchers at Harvard University and Boston College found that people seem to strengthen the emotional components of memory during sleep, which may help spur the creative process.

 

• It sharpens your attention span- a lack of sleep can result in ADHD-like symptoms in kids (and some adults).

 

• It helps you maintain a healthy weight- researchers at the University of Chicago found that dieters who were well rested lost more fat—56 percent of their weight loss—than those who were sleep deprived, who lost more muscle mass.

 

• It lowers stress- sleep can definitely reduce levels of stress, and with that people can have better control of their blood pressure.

 

• It can help you avoid accidents -the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that being tired accounts for the highest number of fatal single-car run-off-the-road crashes due to the driver’s performance — even more than alcohol!

 

• It reduces depression- a good night’s sleep can really help a moody person decrease their anxiety. You get more emotional stability with good sleep.

 

If you have untreated sleep apnea, getting a good night’s sleep may be impossible. Talk to your doctor about a sleep test. Should you be diagnosed with sleep apnea, CPAP Central is here for you. We carry all the CPAP equipment you need in our online catalog.

Are you groggy? Drinking more coffee than you should? Wishing for a nap? Bottom line: you’re tired and you need more or better quality sleep.

 

That may sound simple, but for many people, getting the right sleep is almost impossible. As we mentioned in earlier blogs this month, inadequate sleep can lead to some of the diseases that are the top killers of men in the United States! That’s why for today’s blog, we’re going to talk about tricks and techniques to getting the right amount of quality sleep. This is what’s known as good sleep hygiene:

 

• Make sleep a priority by keeping a consistent bedtime and wake schedule including
  weekends.
• Create a bedtime routine that is relaxing. Experts recommend reading a book, listening to soothing music or soaking in a hot bath.
• Avoid eating, drinking alcohol, and using nicotine and caffeine close to bedtime. These can lead to poor sleep, keep you awake or disrupt sleep later in the night.
• Create a room that is dark, quiet, comfortable and cool for the best possible sleep.
• Keep work materials, computers and televisions out of the bedroom.
• Exercise regularly, but complete workouts at least one to two hours before bedtime.

 

If you try those things and still wake up throughout the night and are tired in the morning, you may have untreated sleep apnea. Sleep apnea has many negative health effects, the most basic of which is being tired throughout the day. What can you do? Talk to your housemates, kids or bed partner. Ask them if you snore or startle when you sleep. They see things you don’t. Ask them to record you on their phone if necessary.

If you suspect you might have sleep apnea, talk to your family doctor. They can help you get a sleep test. It’s painless and may change your life. If you are diagnosed, you’re doctor can prescribe several options including a CPAP or BiPAP machine. CPAP Central is an expert in all things CPAP and BiPAP. Visit our online catalog and find the key to getting a better night’s sleep.

We’ve all seen the Blondie cartoon where Dagwood is sleeping on the couch, the comical “SNNNKK” indicating that he’s snoring loudly. Maybe the joke around your house is that Dad is Dagwood because of all the noises that he makes at night, or that he’s dreaming that he’s a motorcycle or a chainsaw.

Jokes aside, snoring is no laughing matter. All too often, snoring is a direct result of sleep apnea, a disease that can become deadly if left untreated. As we mentioned in last week’s blog, June is Men’s Health Month, and the CDC listed more sleep as the number 1 way men can live healthier.

It’s no wonder the CDC would say that—as we mentioned before, inadequate sleep has been linked with a number of top killers of males in the United States, including heart disease, diabetes and accidents. However, we think there may be another reason why the CDC flagged bad sleep as a top health concern for men—men are twice as likely to have sleep apnea as women.

Men can often be reluctant to go to the doctor, but when it comes to sleep apnea, they shouldn’t avoid having a sleep test done. Besides snoring, other symptoms include persistent daytime sleepiness, mood changes, forgetfulness, insomnia, headaches and high blood pressure. If you or a loved one are experiencing a combination of these signs, it might be time to have a talk with your doctor.

Luckily, sleep apnea is treatable through CPAP treatment. We here at CPAP Central specialize in sleep apnea therapy treatments. We carry the top brands in CPAP machines, CPAP masks and CPAP supplies. Additionally, our Education and Resource Center is filled with helpful information to help guide you through a sleep apnea diagnosis. If you have any other questions, we are always happy to help. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us today!

Here at CPAP Central, we’re all about helping people live healthier, happier and more productive lives. That’s why we want to focus today’s blog on Men’s Heath Month.

It’s no surprise that the CDC lists getting a good night’s sleep as the top way that men can keep themselves healthy. Inadequate sleep is associated with a number of diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity and depression. Poor sleep can also lead to vehicle and on-the-job accidents.

Of the things listed above, three of them—cardiovascular disease, diabetes and accidents—are among the top 10 killers of men in the United States. That makes lack of sleep one of the deadliest conditions to have!

Besides getting a good night’s rest, the CDC also recommends men stop smoking (kudos to you if this doesn’t apply to you), get more exercise, eat healthier, cut back on stress and see the doctor regularly. Easier said than done, right?

So, start with the top thing the CDC recommended: getting a good night’s sleep. This can be accomplished through good sleep hygiene practices, such as:

• Avoiding caffeine at least six hours before bedtime.
• Avoiding alcohol at least two hours before bedtime.
• Turning off all screens (cell phones, laptops, TVs) an hour before bedtime.
• Avoiding tobacco an hour before bedtime.
• Keeping a cool temperature in your room
• Keeping your room completely dark—face digital clocks away from you, and charge your cell phones in another room.

However, if you have sleep apnea, even these practices won’t guarantee you a good night’s sleep. That’s where CPAP Central comes in. We specialize in connecting you with the right CPAP and BiPAP equipment, including CPAP masks, CPAP machines, CPAP supplies and more. You can even order some supplies even if you don’t have a prescription! View our full catalog here.