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The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) is a scale that can measure daytime sleepiness based off of your total score on a questionnaire. The questionnaire is made up of eight possible situations, each of which you give a score of 0-3 based on your likelihood to fall asleep in the particular situation, with zero being “no…

A strong immune system is necessary for excellent health and well-being. With the coronavirus global health crisis, its never been more critical. What is the immune system? Our body has a vigorous natural defense mechanism. Our immune system keeps us alive. But in some cases, it is ill-prepared to deal with new substances swirling in…

We all know that restorative sleep is important for physical and mental well-being. Yet millions of Americans suffer from sleep disorders that prevent normal, healthy sleep. Two pervasive sleep disorders are insomnia and sleep apnea. Let’s discuss their differences. What is insomnia? Insomnia is a sleep disorder where individuals may have a hard time falling…

A considerable body of research has suggested that patients with untreated obstructive sleep (OSA) apnea are at a higher risk for a multitude of mental conditions including memory problems. Last year, researches measured a specific type of memory; autobiographical memory. Autobiographical memory is the term scientists and psychologists use to define the memory of personal…

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that influences many people. Those most at risk are older males and obese individuals. Common symptoms of sleep apnea are snoring, fatigue as a result of poor sleep patterns, and mental health conditions like depression or anxiety. People who suspect they have a sleep disorder can order an…

Sleep apnea is a sleep impairment characterized by the patient’s breathing being temporarily disrupted. This is due to an obstructed airway in the back of the throat. The episodes of breathing cessation can last more than twenty seconds. Nearly 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, and more than half of cases go undiagnosed. It seems…

What is sleep apnea? Sleep apnea is a malady where you have frequent, recurring pauses in breathing while sleeping. These lapses can last for up to 60 seconds. They are caused by soft tissue in the back of the throat that relaxes and cuts off the airway. When the brain is not getting enough oxygen…

What is a CPAP machine? CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) is a piece of equipment that individuals with sleep apnea use when they sleep. It is designed to ensure that the patient breathes continuously throughout the night, eliminating interruptions and irregular breathing patterns. What is sleep apnea? Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep condition…

Life in Houston, like other places in Texas and around the country, is relentlessly fast-paced. In the course of a day, each of us makes thousands of quick decisions. Many of these are trivial: “Boxers or briefs?”, “White or wheat?”, “Paper or plastic?”, or “Call or text?”. However, some split-second judgments have significant consequences; “I…