WHY IS SLEEP IMPORTANT? Although scientists are still learning exactly what is happening in our bodies when we sleep, the evidence is clear: Adequate Sleep is CRITICAL for short and long term physical and mental health. In the short term, Sleep improves: Our Learning and Memory. Sleep performs three critical functions for learning and memory: INFORMATION TRANSFER: Information you’ve just learned is stored in the hippocampus (your brain’s short term “filing cabinet”). During sleep, information transfers from the hippocampus to the brain’s Cortex (your long term “hard drive” for memory storage ..read more

HOW DOES SLEEP CHANGE OVER THE LIFESPAN? “She sleeps like a baby”; “my teenager is lazy, he sleeps till noon”; “now that I’m 65 I’m up 2 or 3 times a night and can’t fall back asleep!”. These are all common commentary around sleep, and each holds some truth to it. But what happens to our sleep, and how do our sleep needs change, over our life? BABIES Prior to birth (in utero), and in our early life, we spend most of our time in REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. In fact, over the first two years of our lives, we spend over 50% of our sleep time in REM (vs. ~20% for adults). As anyone with a newbo ..read more

HOW CAN I IMRPOVE MY SLEEP? In today's world, we are constantly bombarded with reasons NOT to sleep. Work, family, children's activities, television, email, social lives - all can present obstacles to sleep. If you feel like you are not getting adequate sleep, you should consult your Doctor, as you may have a sleep disorder that requires treatment. However, there are also things you can do TONIGHT to help improve your sleep hygiene. The tips below, practiced consistently, can help you fall asleep faster and sleep deeper. Try them this month and you may just have the best sleep you've had in a ..read more

"CPAP" is often used as a catch-all term for PAP Therapy; however, not all PAP therapy is the same. It's important for you, your Doctor, and your PAP Therapy provider to be knowledgeable about the various PAP therapies and the advantages and disadvantages of each. PAP stands for Positive Airway Pressure, and is delivered via a Therapy Device (PAP Machine), Tubing, and Mask. Positive Airway Pressure acts like a splint to keep your airway open throughout the night, preventing obstructions, apnea events, and snoring. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, or "CPAP", delivers a continuous press ..read more

ResMed's newest Nasal Pillows CPAP Mask, the AirFit P30i, has raised the bar for CPAP mask comfort and seal. We've tested it out ourselves and spoken with our customers, and the overall consensus is that the AirFit P30i is one heck of a CPAP mask! FIT The most important component of any CPAP mask is the Fit. By that we mean, does it seal well? Does it stay securely in place while you move around on your pillow at night? The AirFit P30i utilizes a patented SpringFit frame that adjusts to the contours of your head and hair, making for a more snug and personalized fit. The dual-wall pillows (simi ..read more

Experienced CPAP users know the struggle of taking their CPAP machine travelling with them. Whether it’s lugging it through airport security, setting it up in an airplane or hotel room, or bringing it along camping, the fact is that traditional CPAP machines are just not optimal for travel. Unfortunately, your Sleep Apnea still exists when you leave your home, and so bringing your CPAP therapy on the road with you is essential to your health. Fortunately recent technological advances have made this easier with Travel CPAP Machines designed for use on the road. We’re often asked: “What is the b ..read more

March 15th is World Sleep Day - a day to focus on sleep health, and the critical role proper sleep plays in our overall health and quality of life. We are constantly reminded of the importance of Diet and Exercise in a healthy life; however, when was the last time your doctor asked about your sleep? We believe Sleep, Diet, and Exercise are the three pillars of health. Sleep has the ability to rejuvenate and prevent health problems such as high blood pressure, cardiac events, depression, weight gain, motor vehicle collisions, and more. It’s time to take sleep seriously. How much sleep do I need ..read more

Regularly cleaning your CPAP equipment - including CPAP Mask, Tubing, and Water Chamber - is absolutely critical to maintaining effective and healthy therapy. CPAP masks and tubing can be a breeding ground for bacteria, and neglecting regular cleaning will lead to sore throats, runny noses, flu-like symptoms, etc.  The most cost-effective way to clean your CPAP equipment is to wash with pure soap and warm water (do not use soap that contains bleach, chlorine, alcohol, moisturizers, scents or antibacterial agents, as they may damage the mask). Ideally this should be done every day, or every oth ..read more

You’ve heard of it, and likely know people who suffer from it. Untreated, it makes you 2-4x as likely to be involved in a car accident1, 3.7x as likely to suffer a stroke2, and 50% more likely to suffer psychological distress3. Roughly 25% of Canadian adults suffer from some form of Sleep Apnea, and yet only 20% of sufferers have been diagnosed5. So what’s happening with this common but under-recognized condition? Understanding Sleep Apnea While awake, our throat muscles act to keep our airway open, making breathing easy and natural. During sleep, our muscles - including those in our throat ..read more

Most of us intuitively know that sleep is good for us. If you have a night without good rest, you’ll feel lethargic. String a few nights of poor sleep together and you’ll feel down right terrible. Conversely, we know that feeling of waking up refreshed and ready to take on the world! Although we spend over 25% of our lives doing it, humans are still not entirely sure WHY we sleep. Research over the years has concluded that sleep plays a critical role in many vital functions, including: Immune Function: It is natural for people to go to bed when sick. Substances produced by the immune system to ..read more