Appendix
Resources and Products
Throughout this book, we refer to a number of organizations and products that can be helpful to people who are dealing with a sleep disorder. In this Appendix, we provide contact information for the organizations and companies, along with helpful Web sites where you can discover more about dealing with sleep disorders.
Finding Helpful Information Online
In the past, accessing accurate and reliable information about sleep disorders was fairly difficult for an individual with no medical training or background. Today, the ready availability of information regarding sleep disorders on the Internet has opened a whole new era for people interested in their sleep quality. Even if you don’t have an Internet connection, you can use the computers at your local public library to access these Web sites and the wealth of information they contain. Just make sure the site you’re using is sponsored by a legitimate organization, and don’t put too much faith in “facts” you get from your great Aunt Ditzy’s sleep disorders chatroom.
The following sections suggest some of the most informative sites.
Sleep organization sites
We selected the following sites for their accuracy and scope of information they offer as well as how easy they are to use. Some are clearly labors of love, while others are slick and professional looking, but all provide valuable information. The sites are arranged alphabetically.
Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine
The Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine promotes research on the use of oral appliances and dental surgery for the treatment of sleep-disordered breathing. Its Web site (www.dentalsleepmed.org) provides good information about snoring and sleep apnea (see Chapter 9) and explains how dental appliances can help manage the problem.
To contact the academy, write One Westbrook Corporate Center, Ste. 920, Westchester, IL 60154, call 708-273-9335, or e-mail info@dentalsleepmed.org.
American Academy of Sleep Medicine
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine is a professional organization dedicated to the advancement of sleep medicine and related research. Although its membership is limited to professionals and students in the sleep-medicine field, its Web site (www.aasmnet.org) provides helpful information about sleep disorders. The site includes a sleep quiz (click on the Patient Resources button) that can help you determine if you need to consult a doctor about your sleep problems. Check out the interactive U.S. map that provides a list with contact information for all the sleep labs and sleep centers in your state. Just click on your state to get the information. You can also find links to many other sleep-related sites.
Contact the organization by mail at One Westbrook Corporate Center, Ste. 920, Westchester, IL 60154, or call 708-492-0930.
American Insomnia Association
The American Insomnia Association is a patient-based organization dedicated to helping and providing resources to individuals suffering from insomnia (see Chapter 4). Its Web site (www.americaninsomniaassociation.org) offers tons of information about insomnia, its causes, and current treatment options including medications.
Use the same contact information as the American Academy of Sleep Medicine to contact the American Insomnia Association.
American Sleep Apnea Association
The American Sleep Apnea Association Web site (www.sleepapnea.org) promotes awareness of sleep apnea and offers information and education about the diagnosis and treatment of the disorder, and the effective use of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines (used to help patients with sleep apnea keep their breathing passages open).
Contact the association at 1424 K Street NW, Ste. 302, Washington, DC 20005, call 202-293-3650, or e-mail asaa@sleepapnea.org.
American Sleep Association
The goal of the American Sleep Association is to be a complete source of information about sleep for everyone interested in sleep and sleep disorders. The Web site (www.americansleepassociation.org/about.htm) provides links to sleep labs across the United States and links to articles about many different sleep disorders, books, clinical trials, current research, equipment, products, and resources. Check out the chatroom where people with insomnia can talk to others about what’s keeping them awake.
Contact the association at 614 S. 8th St., Ste. 282, Philadelphia, PA 19147, call 443-593-2285, or e-mail sleep@1sleep.com.
Better Sleep Council
The Better Sleep Council is dedicated to educating the public about the importance of sleep to good health. Check out the Web site (www.bettersleep.org) for a downloadable brochure called Better Sleep Guide as well as information on the relationship between good sleep and good health and selecting the right mattress.
Contact the council at 501 Wythe St., Alexandria, VA 22314-1917, or e-mail rsheridan@sleepproducts.org.
Children and Sleep Disorders
Often referred to as “The Father of Sleep Medicine,” sleep expert Dr. William C. Dement maintains a very helpful Web site for parents worried about the quality of their child’s sleep at www.stanford.edu/~dement/children.html. Parents can find good information about the most common childhood sleep disorders along with links to other informative sites including bulletin boards where parents can discuss their concerns with other parents.
International Sleep Medicine Association
The International Sleep Medicine Association is the international branch of the American Sleep Association. Its mission is to serve as a complete resource for information on sleep and sleep disorders and a link to all people interested in sleep health around the world. The group’s Web site (www.1sleep.com/) includes a listing of worldwide sleep researchers, and an international sleep directory with links to sleep researchers and clinicians all over the world.
Use the same contact information as the American Sleep Association.
Narcolepsy Network
Narcolepsy Network hosts a Web site (www.narcolepsynetwork.org/) to serve as a resource center for people who have narcolepsy (see Chapter 10). Visitors can find information about narcolepsy support groups, educational materials, diagnosis and treatment of narcolepsy, information about patient rights, and ongoing scientific research that may eventually yield a cure or at least more effective treatments.
Contact the Narcolepsy Network at 10921 Reed Hartman Hwy, Ste. 119, Cincinnati, OH 45242. Or you may phone 513-891-3522 or e-mail narnet@narcolepsynetwwork.org.
National Center on Sleep Disorders Research
The National Center on Sleep Disorders Research (www.nhlbi.nih.gov/about/ncsdr/) operates under the auspices of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), which in turn is a branch of the federally funded National Institutes of Health (NIH). Click on the Patient and Public Education tab to take an interactive sleep quiz and access links to other sleep disorders sites.
If you suspect you may have sleep apnea but can’t quite convince your doctor, ask for a free copy of Sleep Apnea: Is Your Patient at Risk?, an excellent booklet written for medical professionals that you can give to your personal physician. This organization also publishes Facts About Sleep Apnea and Facts About Insomnia.
The NCSDR now sponsors a fun and informative page for kids called Star Sleepers at www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/sleep/starslp/index.htm. Your children can play a game that lets kids help Garfield the Cat foil a nefarious plot to rob the world of sleep and discover lots of kid-friendly info about the importance of sleep and things that can interfere with sleep quality, like drinking caffeinated sodas.
To contact the NCSDR, write One Rockledge Centre, Ste. 6022, 6705 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-7993, or call 301-435-0199. If you prefer e-mail, write ncsdr@nih.gov. For general information about sleep apnea and insomnia, as well as medical conditions like heart disease, obesity, and high blood pressure that can be made worse by chronic sleep deprivation, call the NHLBI information line at 301-251-1222.
National Sleep Foundation
The National Sleep Foundation Web site (www.sleepfoundation.org/) provides information about every aspect of sleep, sleepiness, and sleep disorders. The organization promotes awareness about the importance of sleep and the dangers of sleep deprivation to individuals and society. It also conducts research and provides resources for people looking for information about particular sleep disorders. The group is particularly concerned with promoting driver safety and alertness; click on the link to the Drowsy Driving Web site for excellent tips for staying alert while driving.
You can contact the organization at 1522 K St., NW, Ste. 500, Washington, DC 20005, call 202-347-3471, or e-mail: natsleep@erols.com.
Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation
The Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation’s Web site acts as a clearinghouse for information about this unusual condition. Here patients can find information about symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, as well as links to current clinical trials and breaking news. You find information about support groups and online communities, as well as other helpful links.
You may write the Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation at 819 2nd St. SW, Rochester, MN 55902. Call them at 507-287-6465 during weekday business hours, or e-mail rlsfoundation@rls.org.
Sleep Research Society
The Sleep Research Society (www.sleepresearchsociety.org/site/) promotes the scientific investigation of sleep disorders and also fosters professional education and career development in sleep research and academic sleep medicine. It is a branch of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
General information sites
You can log on to several excellent sleep sites geared toward consumers that provide a lot of information not only about sleep disorders, but also about sleep and sleep deprivation in general and how you can improve the quality of the hours you spend in slumber. The following sections mention some of the best sites.
Sleepnet.com
Established in 1995, sleepnet.com was one of the first Internet resources for the sleep deprived. This Web site hosts an online sleep forum where people can discuss their sleep problems with other sleepless souls. The site offers a glossary with more than 400 definitions and abbreviations used in sleep medicine. Check out the link to Medline Plus Drug Information and all the easy-to-find information about various sleep disorders, online forums, and support groups, arranged according to condition.
Sleepquest.com
Stanford University maintains sleepquest.com , an excellent Web site full of information about sleep and sleep disorders. The SleepQuest store is a one-stop shop for any sort of equipment that a person with a sleep disorder may require, from home-monitoring equipment to CPAP machines. The site also hosts a monthly column by Dr. William C. Dement, one of the world’s leading experts on sleep disorders.
Sleep Medicine Home Page
The Sleep Medicine Home Page (www.users.cloud9.net/~thorpy/) lists a variety of links and resources for people interested in sleep disorders, including newsgroups, discussion groups, and information sources. Look up the very helpful alphabetical listing of sleep disorders with clickable links that take you to informative articles on the subject.
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Purchasing Valuable Products
We mention various products that can help you get a better night’s sleep throughout this book. Although we don’t endorse any particular product, there is widespread anecdotal evidence that these products do help some people. The following sections provide the contact information for several of the companies we mention.
Pillow cooler
If you’ve ever been bothered by a “hot” pillow, and you keep flipping your pillow over and over to find the “cool” spot, then you may want to try a Chillow, a non-electric, thermo-regulating comfort device that keeps your pillow cool by deflecting body heat away from your head. For $29.95, you receive one Chillow, a thin, comfortable pillow-sized insert that you can slide between your pillow and pillowcase for nighttime comfort. Order online at www.chillow.com/chillow.htm.
Memory foam mattresses
Memory foam mattresses are a technological breakthrough that provide excellent full body support that contributes to a better night’s sleep because they’re so comfortable. Unlike traditional mattresses, memory foam mattresses don’t have an internal structure of metal springs that can break down. The support in memory foam comes from the unique construction of the material itself, which continuously adjusts to your body’s shape as you turn and move during the night.
NASA developed memory foam to absorb the G-forces that astronauts experience during a rocket launch. It helps to prevent pressure points (areas where blood pools during periods of inactivity) and relieves joint stress and strain. Memory foam mattresses are gaining in popularity, particularly among chiropractors and physical therapists who treat people with back pain. Unlike traditional mattresses that support your body in just a few places, memory foam adapts to support your entire body from head to toe.
You can buy a memory foam mattress topper to fit over your existing bed for $50 to $150, depending upon the size of your bed. Memory foam mattresses range from $400 to $600 for a twin and up to $800 to $1,000 for a king-size mattress. Check them out at www.memoryfoam.com/.
Feather beds
Feather beds are filled either with goose feathers, goose down, or some combination thereof. The higher the percentage of down, the softer and cushier the feather bed and the more expensive it will be. The “bed” is placed on top of an existing mattress to provide a cushioned layer of comfort.
Feather beds have long been associated with comfort and luxury; many people find them to be the most comfortable sleeping surface. However, people who suffer from respiratory allergies probably shouldn’t use them. Prices range from $50 to $200 or more, depending upon bed size and the percentage of down.
Dream pillows
Dream pillows are small sachets filled with herbal blends known to encourage sleep. Jasmine is the scent that is most conducive to sleep, followed by lavender.
Author and expert herbalist Jim Long offers a variety of dream pillows on his Web site (www.longcreekherbs.com/dream.html). Long’s pillows are small sachets covered in a variety of cotton prints that you tuck inside the pillowcase of your regular pillows. They cost just $8.95 each.
If you want something a bit more luxurious, the larger dream pillows available from My Backyard Store at www.mybackyard.com/acatalog/mybackyardShop_Dream_Pillow_38.html are covered in either silk or velvet. They cost $18.99 each.
Jet lag visors and light boxes
Jet lag visors help travelers overcome the effects of jet lag (see Chapter 8) by resetting their internal clocks through the use of bright full-spectrum light. The visor works by shining light indirectly in front of your eyes, allowing your brain to reset your body clock according to the light stimulus. You can order just the visor for $198 from www.sadlight.com/bio-visors.htm or get a complete kit from the manufacturer that includes the jet lag visor along with a booklet with a program to prevent jet lag, along with a jet lag calculator and light-blocking dark glasses, all for $249.
Check out www.biobrite.com for another distributor.
Light boxes employ the same principal as light visors, but are designed as small lamps or portable boxes. Like jet lag visors, you can use them to treat all circadian rhythm disorders. Sunbox and Apollo Light are good brands. Prices for light boxes range from $200 and up, depending upon the size and functionality of the model you select.
The Sunbox Company Web site is www.sunbox.com/ , while Apollo Light’s Web site is www.apollolight.com.
Earplugs
Determined to sleep in the same bed as your snoring spouse? You need some earplugs. Visit www.earplugstore.com for a great selection of affordable earplugs. Their Snoring Relief Kit costs just $17.95 and contains 14 different pairs of earplugs to help you figure out what works best for you.