The last thing you would think that could help people, especially the weight-gaining pregnant women would be sleep. We know that the reason for weight gain is linked to their added fetus inside and also the food intake as well as vitamins and minerals that help the mother and her unborn child healthy. But now, some people are saying that sleep can help them get back their actual frame.

A new study done by Kaiser Permanente in California finds sleep may be just as important as diet and exercise for shedding baby weight. One study has found that new moms who slept five or fewer hours a day, six months after giving birth, were three times as likely to hold onto those extra pounds as were women who got seven or more hours of sleep.

This seems interesting and should be a good guide for pregnant mommies out there. So if you are worried about getting back your original figure, this little study should more or less be a great reference and hope for you after you give birth.

(Source) ABC

a

For people who are worrying about the degree of seriousness of their sleep apnea problems, here is a device that can ultimately help you determine the level or condition of your sleep apnea episodes. Dr. Shanon Takaoka of Kaiser Permanente’s Medical Sleep Lab shows off the Watch Pat, a device worn while sleeping that can determine if a patient has sleep apnea. It’s new to Hawaii and a lot less cumbersome than the traditional testing method, where the patient would have to come in to the lab and spend the night in less than ideal conditions.

Dr. Takaoka says the Watch Pat allows for a truer test and gives her the ability to examine more patients.”The promise of something that’s less intrusive, less cumbersome, easier to use and able to be done in the comfort of the home is much more attractive than what we were offering for a long period of time.”

That makes it easier for neighbor island residents, patients with unusual shifts, or those who can’t sleep in a new environment. Dr. Takaoka says anyone who snores and complains of disrupted sleep could have sleep apnea. “People with sleep disorders are less productive, they often have unexplained irritability or depression, it can impact relationships,” says Dr. Takaoka.

(Source) KHON

a

The program being used by Highmark, Aetna and Kaiser Permanente has users think about where their thoughts and beliefs are coming from and reminds them that not all worries are based on facts. The idea is to stop the cycle of negative thoughts and fear about not being able to get to sleep so the mind relaxes. Various programs differ, but they usually last five or six weeks, with users able to access a session of the program once a week.

So if you want to try out something new to help cure your sleep problems, check this out. It may be better than putting you health at risk with these sleeping pills.

(Source) CalorieLab

a