According to an article on ESPN Boston, Red Sox first baseman Mike Napoli will undergo surgery in early November to treat his sleep apnea. The decision is yet another call to action for public discourse on the seriousness of
sleep apnea and the ongoing struggle roughly 18 million Americans have
with this potentially life threatening disorder, characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep. The procedure Napoli will undergo is called bimaxillary advancement surgery, which separates the
front portions of the lower and upper jaw and moves them forward to allow more room behind the tongue, reducing the chances of obstruction. Carol Ash, DO, Director of Sleep Medicine for Meridian Health, had this to say during a recent interview with CBS This Morning: "When we go to sleep at night, our muscles lose tone and our airways
start to narrow. This is true of all of us, but we can continue to
breathe." "But in people with sleep apnea, when they lose that muscle
tone, their airway collapses all the way down. Airflow is
compromised and oxygen can't get in." Bimaxillary advancement surgery is just one of a range of treatment options used to treat sleep apnea, which include Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). CPAP utilizes an air splint,
which blows air to the back of the throat, splinting the airway open so
it can't collapse. During the interview, Dr. Ash discussed another potentially game changing advancement in sleep technology, currently awaiting FDA approval, called a pulse
generator. By sensing the body's effort to breathe, the device stimulates nerves in the neck contriving the muscles that keep the airway open. "When you look at the range sleep disorders, and how we are just not getting enough sleep,
this is the biggest public health issue facing society today," Ash says.
It's no secret that lack of sleep can prove physically, mentally and emotionally detrimental. But financially? A recent article on the Advisory Boardcites research from the University of California-San Diego concluding that — for the sleep-deprived — adding an hour to the average amount of sleep per night increased wages by 16%. Lack of sleep diminishes the capacity of cognitive strengths in high demand by employers, including:
Creative thinking
Adapting to change
Attention to detail
Ability to multitask
With the recommended eight hours of sleep every night, we improve in areas employers value most - and are willing to pay for.
He likes it cold; she likes it hot. She's a mover and a shaker; he's down for the count. Opposites may attract, but when it's time to call it a night, some differences come at a cost. It sounds extreme, but on an episode of "The Doctors," Dr. Carol Ash discussed how sleeping separately from your partner could provide a healthier night's sleep all around. Dr. Ash discussed findings from a study that found people who sleep alone tend to get a better night's sleep - as over 50% of those surveyed blamed their mates for their sleep disturbances. Researchers add that relationships and overall health can improve dramatically when couples opt to sleep separately. So what does Dr. Ash have to say? Is "divide and conquer" an option worth considering for couples not getting adequate sleep? "We think of sleeping apart as taboo and something we should never do," Ash says. "But the truth of the matter is, sleep is so important, if that is what you have to do to get a good night's sleep, then, yes, it is." Watch the full segment below and decide for yourself.
We've all had those types of dreams. Whether funny, creepy or just plain bizarre, they're the dreams we can't seem to shake, at least until we get an answer to "What did that mean??" On FOX News' "While You Were Sleeping" segment, Dr. Carol Ash took on that very question and offered insight into the body's slumber responses and how to go about "decoding the mysteries of your mind and unlocking the meaning from your dreams." "You have to remember that the brain is taking in all the old information and new information and processing it in new patterns to help you come up with solutions to the problems of the day," Ash says. "Dreaming allows you to work through all those negative emotions and solve them in a safe environment, your bedroom." Watch the full segment below to hear Dr. Ash's interpretation of dream scenarios such as losing control of a vehicle, being chased, being lost and having your teeth fall out (which is more common than you think.)
Carol Ash, DO, Director of Sleep Medicine for Meridian Health, had this to say during a recent interview with CBS This Morning: 
