A series of recent studies has given sleep scientists a new source of optimism about the future of sleep, and that source is children. One of the most difficult factors to overcome in our national (and international) struggle with sleep is the fact that people simply do not give the research enough credence. They may read it with interest and even be willing to try out getting a couple of extra hours of sleep to see whether it makes them feel better or work more efficiently, but when push comes to shove, sleep is still one of the very first things that people are willing to sacrifice in the face of social opportunities, work deadlines, and even a video game or really compelling novel. Continue reading →

A new study conducted by Dr. Amit Chopra, M.D. of the Albany Medical Center in New York has revealed a possible link between suffering from sleep apnea and hearing loss. The research, which was presented at a recent conference of the American Thoracic Society, determined that out of nearly 14,000 participants from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos, at least ten percent exhibited sleep apnea, and of those nearly one third had an increased risk of high frequency hearing loss and a 90 percent increased risk of low frequency hearing loss. There was a 38 percent increased risk of combined hearing loss in people with sleep apnea. The study did control for other potential causes of hearing loss, as well as for age and gender. Continue reading →

Americans are becoming increasingly aware of the need for sleep, and what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have referred to as the “epidemic of sleep deprivation.” One of the many results of this growing awareness is that more people are paying attention to their own symptoms and seeking medical diagnosis and treatment, and this includes America’s veterans. A recent government survey has revealed a 150% increase in the number of veterans who have submitted claims for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, a serious condition whose treatment classifies those vets who have been diagnosed with it at 50% disabled. This level of disability qualifies for one of the highest levels of monthly compensation. Continue reading →

Early in the year 2014, at an event known as CES 2014, Sleep Number made a big splash by rolling out its latest product: smart beds. Combining the best of their original design with the newest technology that is being used in a number of sleep monitoring applications and devices, the beds had built-in sensors that would provide the consumer with feedback about their vitals, the temperature in the room, the amount of movement that was being registered in the bed over the course of an evening, all with an eye to providing valuable information about the quality of sleep that was being experienced and what kind of improvements might be made. Unfortunately, the technology was accompanied by a hefty price tag, with the X12 model coming in at $6,000. Understandably, a lot of consumers that may have been interested in the bells and whistles were turned off by the price.

Now Sleep Number has announced that they are producing a more basic level of the X12 technology that will have a price of just $1,000. Although that is still a relatively high number for a mattress, it is well within the realm of what high quality mattresses are selling for in the United States, and considering the technology that the mattress offers, it may prove to be appealing for consumers who are growing increasingly concerned about getting the rest that they need, as well as the biophysical feedback that is becoming more and more popular. Continue reading →

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have called sleep deprivation a health epidemic, and there are countless articles written by experts decrying the national tendency to place work, social life, and even video games and movie-watching ahead of sleep as a priority. Though that is certainly happening in a large number of American households, there are also plenty of homes where people who are unable to get to sleep would gladly trade places with those people who are actually making the conscious not to.  Continue reading →