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

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~

Ever since Daylight Saving Time ended in many parts of the country, my sleep pattern got interrupted. Now I’m going to bed later at night and waking up way too early in the morning.

Some would say I’m waking up in the middle of the night. And I’m functioning all day. Barely. I find that I’m particularly weepy in this state. I allow my mind to conjure up all sorts of negative scenarios–something that’s pretty detrimental to the way I view my future, especially in these tough economic times.

Let’s just say I started having a good cry each day at the beginning of October, and I haven’t stopped since. Reminds me a little of the movie, “Broadcast News,” when actor Holly Hunter would start her day with a little cry, only I’ve figured out real things to cry about.

And after November 4, it only got worse. I ache a lot more. Takes longer for me to stretch out tight muscles. I feel hungry at off times, not like any routine I’ve ever had.I worry more, can’t seem to come up with solutions for things. Give up too easily. Get annoyed with loved ones and co-workers more often.

Just this morning, I was out of bed at 3:30 A.M. Trying to send large documents by email to someone. The files were too large. Not something a person should be doing on less sleep.I’m pretty sure the only thing a person can do on less sleep is merely survive.

Janet Muniz

(photo credit: hiromy)

I read this poetic description of insomnia in a recent article in Spirituality & Health magazine. In “Finding Sleep,” author Edward Readicker-Henderson explains how he simply can’t avoid taking his own mind with him to bed. Interesting visual there.

He’s followed suggestions from the experts, taken sleeping pills of all kinds–even consulted the Bible–”Pity I can’t just take my brain out and leave it in a jar in the living room before I go to bed,” he says. Ditto on the interesting visual.

Not to mention the video of his trip from the living room to the bedroom and back. Worried about everything from the day’s events to the safety of his family, Edward describes his newest plan to finally let go: “allowing sleep to carry me off, like the final trace of perfume in a room.” We’re back to the sweetest of visuals here.

Edward’s article appears in the March/April 2009 issue of Spirituality & Health. If you visit the web site, you’ll see that the article archives are being converted to online format. So I’m including Edward’s beautiful nighttime ritual here, in his words, so you can share this visual, too:

“Each night, I stand outside, letting the dark come down around me, as the bats flit past for their dinner. I try–some nights more successfully than others–to trust the care of my loved ones to the universe. And I remove the stimuli of the day, watching the bats flit until I do not see them anymore do not see anything but the moon, calling me to sleep.”

Janet Muniz

(photo credit: meredithfarmer)

Lately I’ve been seeing commercials on television for Advil PM. They’re a mock “sleep study” between the product and its competitor, Tylenol PM.

Clearly some advertising agency writer has been doing their homework, identifying the buzz words of their target audience with this one. I find it interesting that the spots use a camping motif as their lab.

Who gets the best shuteye sleeping on a cot, anyway?

Anyhow, I’ve had good results with Tylenol PM as a sleep aid. I stay away from ibuprofen (NSAID) because of my high blood pressure, so I don’t consider Advil PM. Especially when my body aches from too much exertion or just my arthritis acting up, or I’m so stressed my shoulders feel like a cement weight on my back, I take the required dosage of Tylenol PM. All the aches and pains relax and I can relax my mind, too. And sleep comes more easily.

Hey, Advil is great for pain. I know of a few video cameramen and directors who pop ibuprofen during those long television shoots to keep their joints “lubricated,” they say. Perhaps Advil PM would help for sleep time in the same way.

Either way, it’s just as important to research over the counter medications as prescribed drugs, so take the time to check out both Advil PM and Tylenol PM before you conduct your own sleep study.

Janet Muniz

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The business of treating sleep disorders is booming these days, possibly because of all the press that sleep deprivation is getting. Not to mention the nearly epidemic proportions that people are diagnosed with some form of shuteye challenges.

Children are not immune to sleep disorders, either. From infants and toddlers to tweens and teens, the health of a child’s sleep quality is also getting the full court press from doctors and researchers alike.

Disrupted sleep in babies and toddlers can clue parents in on the possibility of a sleep disorder. A snoring child may be cute like a kitten, but can affect the child’s ability to learn, for instance. Even bed wetting can actually be caused by a sleep disorder.

Cute like a kitten. Hmmm. One of my friends recently left a voicemail message for me about her snoring cat. “I just love a cat that snores,” she says. At the time, her Kitty was snoring loudly–apparently having a dream, twitching a little bit, being the cute kitten that he is.

And all I could think about was getting him to a kitty sleep study. Perhaps this is what happens when your kids are kitty-kids, I don’t know. But I think I can relate to parents who have the same worry about their human kid.

.Janet Muniz

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(photo credit: tina keller)

I remember discovering Origins products. I worked in New York City. Not quite flush with cash, but dreaming big in Bloomingdale’s at least once a week, I came upon this natural skin care line way before its time. At the beginning, you could only find Origins in places like Bloomie’s as no free-standing stores even existed (neither did the Internet as we know it today). Also for sale were these beautiful photo albums, made from hand-crafted paper that had actual dried flowers embedded in it. Loved those; I gifted many of them.

Origins products converted me. The natural ingredients in the make-up with great names like “Underwear for Lashes” and in all their wares appealed to my sense of being one with the Earth.

Now, of course, the renowned Dr. Andrew Weil develops products for Origins. His newest line is called Night Health. Since I’ve had luck with other Origins sleep potions, I went to the mall and checked out Night Health. I was prompted by an email I continue to receive from the company with “Sleep better FREE*” in the subject line.

You don’t have to go to the store to check it out. At their web site, you can get a fair amount of questions answered all from the privacy of your own home. As Dr. Weil says, “Sleep is the great healer – vital to our physical and emotional well-being and our skins healthy appearance.” Right on! You can even watch videos about the origins of sleep issues (no pun intended) and more.

What you can’t do online is experience it how the product works its magic: through the sense of smell. The chamomile, lavender and mandarin aromas blend together to relax you, simply, as those wonderful scents are meant to.The nose knows, they say. With Night Health, it certainly helps.

Janet Muniz

(photo credit: danw)

I’m about to spend several nights in different hotels while traveling and I really need to make sure I’m rested and ready for even more travel the next day.

What better tipster can there be but an airplane pilot?

Pilot Paul has three words for you: white noise machine. I’ve had luck with white noise machines for a number of different reasons. I never thought to take one with me while traveling, though. I could see the application easily, especially if you use one at home.

His suggestion to carry clothespins in your bag is a simple yet effective one. You know how the curtains never close up tight, letting light in from all directions. A simple tweak of a clothespin can do the trip–I mean trick.

I’ve tried to sleep on a lot of uncomfortable beds in my time. Not only is the mattress to blame, but sometimes it’s the sheets. Yes I like a tidy, neat bed where the sheets are tucked in and stay tucked. Too often the sheets simply can’t stay tucked because they’re too small or something. In this case, I try to sleep on top of the sheets, using a blanket as a sheet, if it’s soft.

Basically, I try and make the hotel environment as close to my home environment as possible. I get bothered by the wrong smells, so I carry my favorite fragrant candles with me and give my hotel room as little spa treatment. The candles are housed in little metal containers for safety. Products like Febeeze are helpful, too.

Janet Muniz

(photo credit: bizzzarro)