For those who have sleep apnea or who snore, a new product has just been introduced to the public: SnoreSling.

SnoreSling uses lightweight, breathable material that slings the head and chin, possibly more comfortably than the  plastic mask of a CPAP machine.

Take it from one who knows: the mask and tubing of a CPAP machine can be cumbersome, although the CPAP works by forcing air into the nose of the patient, encouraging their continuous breathing throughout the night.  If you need this prescription-based product for a good night’s rest, the SnoreSling may not be for you.

However, some people with sleep apnea may benefit from this product, which reminds me of the slings used for patients of plastic surgery.

It may be worth a try.

Photo Credit: DrSleepGood

How about this as a remedy for a baby’s uninterrupted sleep: swaddling clothes.

It’s an ancient one, really, dating back to biblical times. Native Americans are known for it, too.

Swaddling – wrapping an infant tightly in a blanket to promote sleep – is making a comeback, as several new children’s wear companies are now offering high-tech swaddling for today’s child. If a baby is sleeping soundly, chances are the parents are getting a little rest, too.

GoGo Wrap is a new product designed to allow the baby to be wrapped in swaddling, then moved from crib to car to playpen without the need for unwrapping. This can let the baby sleep without interruption. And we all know how important uninterrupted sleep is for a baby, but especially her parents.

Seattle, Washington-based SwaddleDesigns  makes swaddling blankets and other products  soft enough for baby to feel warm and secure – just what swaddling is meant to do. Plus they’re Made in the USA.

You know that safe and secure feeling you get when you’re wrapped in a favorite down comforter, drifting off to sleep – on a good night? Well, that’s the thought behind swaddling.

How long will it take for one of these companies to offer swaddling in adult sizes, do you think? The least we could do it ask, right?

Photo Credit: SwaddleDesigns

sleeping bats

Sometimes when I want to crank my brain power up to high, I’ll change my work schedule. For instance, I’m definitely a morning person. But if I’m in a creative rut, I’ll take a project that requires me to work at night. Even overnight.

It’s a risk I’m willing to take, for a short amount of time. Very short.

In the past, the strategy has given my creativity a little wake-up call, so to speak. Of course, it also blows up my sleep schedule, too.

But sometimes this could be  good thing.

Ever hear of polyphasic sleep? Some people go to sleep more than once in a 24-hour period, taking incredibly short naps in order to actually get more time awake. Babies do it, older people do it. It can be a great strategy for people confronted with extreme situations, such as fighting in a war.

A few bloggers have been known to do it, just to blog about it.

You won’t know how your system reacts to it unless you try it. Most likely, you won’t want to make a lifestyle out of it, but it can be helpful in situations where you can’t avoid sleep deprivation.

Photo Credit:  YuvalH

Michael Jackson's autograph

Today, Michael Jackson is laid to rest after his untimely death on June 25, 2009.

I, for one, hope he can rest in peace. His magnificent career as an entertainer earned him the title of King of Pop – in fact, his innovation and creativity catapulted an entire industry to new heights.

I also hope the fact that he popped pills – and worse – doesn’t give insomniacs any bright ideas about outrageous methods of self-treatment.

The Michael Jackson tragedy shines a light on use of the I.V. anesthetic drug Diprivan as a treatment for insomnia. The drug is not approved for use in treating sleep disorders – my goodness, it can actually render a person unconscious, to undergo surgery. Doctors watch the patient constantly, monitoring their breathing.

Read the writing on the autograph, people. The King of Pop is dead. Long live the King.

His creative mind may have considered a dangerous solution for alleviating his insomnia. If you can’t sleep, use your own creativity to find an effective – and safe – way of getting a good night’s rest.

Photo Credit:  Alan Light

Blog Note: Some of you have asked about the schedule to update this blog and its frequency. My plan is to post blog updates twice a week; generally on Tuesday and Thursday.

In addition to writing about sleep, I also write about wellness for iHealthBlogs. While writing about the sense of smell and memory, I came across an article about how scents can improve memory during a good night’s sleep.

Not only can scent help to improve memory, but Robert Stickgold, a Harvard University psychiatrist interviewed in the article, comments that a recent study “shows not only that sleep is important for declarative memory, but also allows us to look at exactly when and how this process might happen.”

Researchers used the scent of rose in this particular study, which the participants had no memory of smelling, interestingly. Their memory recall scores were near perfect after they smelled roses during sleep; not so effective before sleep.

Perhaps not so effective during sleep, either.

What’s up with the scent of rose? Could a lavender scent have contributed to the same result? No information is shared about why the researchers chose a rose scent.

However, the scent of rose is apparently associated with improving memory, especially when used during key periods of sleep. Yet some research does support the proper use of any scent during sleep to improve memory.

There’s the rub (pun intended, I guess). How do you get the right burst of scent at the right time while you’re sleeping? Seems like a job for pillow designers, n’est pas?

In any case, if you want to improve your memory, try doing it in your sleep. And a little scent of rose on your pillow may help.

Photo Credit: Nieve44/La Luz

Recently I was reading an article from United Press International about the findings of a study conducted by the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) exploring the effect of blue light on a person’s circadian  rhythms, and how it relates to better sleep.

RPI is located in Troy, NY. I used to live in that area. Guess I was first attracted to the “Troy, NY” locater on the story. Little did I know how age affects the way our eyes see light, enough to possibly cause changes in the quality of our sleep.

The researchers used a “personal light-treatment device” to shine a particular blue light in the study participants’ eyes – for 90 minutes at a time.

I don’t know. Would you do all that work for a better night’s sleep?

I have sleep apnea and wear a mask attached to a machine to help me keep breathing at night. Whenever I move, I also have to move the mask, and the tube around me, so I’m not laying on top of it. I drag the entire contraption on airplanes with me; anywhere I go, it goes. Guess it’s a little work for a good night’s sleep.

So a 90-minute light therapy session – before bed – wouldn’t be all that bad.

But who knew we had something called “nocturnal melatonin?”

They didn’t tell me that after my sleep studies.

Anyway, if you’re older or have a sedentary lifestyle and don’t get enough exposure to this kind of light, who knows. A personal blue light stimulus device could help with sleep.

Photo Credit: Quique López

Earlier in my career, I won a creative award for a television promotion spot I wrote and produced for WPIX-TV in New York, New York. It advertises a special set of sci-fi movies airing in primetime during the month of October. The copy went something like this:

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Watch Shocktober Spot on YouTube

“Last night, I had a dream. I dreamed of people and stories … curious stories. The unusual. And something changed October … SHOCK-TOBER!… But it made sense, it made perfect sense because it was a movie station. New York’s Movie Station! Maybe it isn’t a dream at all … maybe it’s real … SHOCK-TOBER!”

Doug Paul, esteemed voiceover talent, really did my copy proud (miss you, man.).

In any event, last night I had a dream … about my boss during the time I produced this spot. For the life of me, I can’t remember what went on in dreamland; only a feeling of warmth and good fortune remain. But the dream was so vivid-and in color-that I had to write my old boss an email. Find out how he’s doing.

I hope he’s doing well.

Experts say that REM sleep can cause vivid dreams. I admit, I was having some of the best sleep I’ve had in a long time last night. Not sure why … it could be that I’ve gotten back on my exercise routine and feeling much better for it.

Anyway, dream on.

We’ve all heard it before: naps can help those who have trouble sleeping at night to feel refreshed and more rested during the day.

Yet a recent article on Medical News Today sings the praises of naps for helping you solve everyday problems more creatively.

How do you like that?

According to the article, researchers at  the University of California San Diego suggest that “REM (rapid eye movement) sleep directly enhances creative processes more than any other sleep or wakeful state.”

REM sleep is a stage of healthy sleep, and it can indeed be arrived at during a nap. So, if you’re working on a new project or challenge, a little shuteye during the process may help you come up with more creative ways of addressing it. According to these researchers, “REM sleep stimulates associative networks helping the brain to make new and useful connections between unrelated ideas, the key to creativity.”

My husband is an avid nap-taker. He wakes very early in the morning. After a couple of hours doing something, he’ll lay down on the couch or the bed for a little rest. His naps usually last for 20 minutes or so. Not long. But he’s much more clear-minded afterward.

I know this is not very scientific, but whatever works, works for me.

Photo Credit: Steve Weaver

I have sleep apnea and I treat it with the help of a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine.

It’s brilliant, really. The machine forces air into your nose to keep the airway open during sleep. Your doctor actually “prescribes” the amount of pressure for you, based on the data gathered from your sleep study.

Of course, one uses a mask to do this. Which could be uncomfortable at best.

My own mask does not cover my mouth. I’ve been using it for a little over five years. The masks come in different sizes; even the petite one I buy is a touch too large for my face. This causes gaps during the night.

Noisy. I can snore. Or whine, like wind through a small tunnel. Or gurgle.

Drives my husband crazy.

I’m due for a visit to the doctor, to review my CPAP’s prescription. But I’m also going to check out what’s new out there for me in terms of masks. Perhaps if my mouth were also covered, I wouldn’t drive my husband quite so crazy.

Plus the whole contraption may work more efficiently in helping me to get my precious sleep.

Photo Credit: ~Twon~

The expression, “sleep like a baby” must have been created by someone who exercises.

Really. I mean, just yesterday I spent several hours gardening – planting, watering, weeding, cleaning up. And I enjoyed a great night’s sleep. At least I thought so when I awoke this morning, refreshed and ready to go!

Engaging in physical activity is a great way to help get quality rest during the night. It doesn’t need to be for long. Take the dog for a walk, clean the bathroom, go to the gym, run in place. Getting the heart pumping for at least 20 minutes can actually help you wind down at bedtime, enough so that you can rest comfortably.

Without pills. It’s nature’s remedy.

Photo Credit: sean mcgee