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As the Covid pandemic continues, we’re finally getting studies about how obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects Covid-19. The short answer is “very badly.” A recent study from scientists in Iceland has clarified the link between OSA and severe Covid-19 outcomes. Until now, it’s been hard to be sure how much OSA affects Covid-19 outcomes because […]

We’re often most concerned about our obese patients in the dental and medical fields. Obesity can be related to a host of dangerous medical conditions, including sleep apnea. It’s also easy to spot; the patients or their parents often realize it’s a problem and are working toward solutions. Underweight patients often get overlooked, especially since […]

A new study from researchers in Australia suggests that, contrary to current medical practices, a sleep lab may not always be the best way to accurately diagnose obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The scientists from Flinders University studied the sleep test results of over 62,000 adults. For the study, adults used a non-invasive sleep home sleep […]

Good sleep is essential for mental health, and it can be especially important for teens. As teens grow and cope with stress, the emotional regulation provided by REM sleep, which tends to occur closer to wake-up time, allows our teens to grow and thrive. Now, researchers from McGill University in Canada have found that teens […]

Cortisol is a hormone produced and released by the adrenal glands in response to stress. It plays an important role in regulating many bodily functions, the chief of which is your body’s stress response.  When your body experiences stress, it releases adrenaline, your “fight or flight” hormone. Then, it releases cortisol so you remain on […]

Australian researchers have published an exciting new paper about oral appliance therapy (OAT) for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).   Oral appliances for sleep apnea are a less invasive, more comfortable way of reducing a person’s apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). They work by moving the lower jaw forward to keep the airway from collapsing and the tongue from […]

In a preliminary study from the University of Cincinnati, teenage boys with ADHD showed lasting improvements in behavior, mental health, executive function, and academic achievement after completing a cognitive behavior program aimed at improving sleep. The program, Transdiagnostic Sleep and Circadian Intervention for Youth (TranS-C), was a series of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) sessions and exercises. After […]

A recent study looked at the link between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), type 2 diabetes, and financial status in a group of 209 patients. The study, published in the journal Chronic Illness, found that financial hardship associated with managing these conditions had a large impact on the overall quality of sleep. The researchers wanted to […]

Yet another study (this one from the UK) has found a strong link between sleep quality and blood sugar control. The researchers fed subjects standardized meals to study how lifestyle and time of day affect metabolism. The meals included a balanced meal, a high-carb meal, a high-fat meal, and a high-protein meal. Sleep affects how […]

How do you feel when you don’t get a good night’s sleep? Maybe the kids were sick or a neighbor had a loud party, and now you’re running on four to six hours of sleep instead of your usual eight.  How do you feel the next day? Do you have trouble paying attention? Are you […]