Sleep is Big Business

The business of sleep is becoming increasingly lucrative. With growing awareness combined with the large number of undiagnosed cases of OSA, it appears that the cash will continue to pour into this industry. An online article from USA Today helped put into perspective the flood of new sleep-related products, advertisements, and marketing tactics that are becoming more commonplace.

According to the article, products that are steadily gaining more revenue off of Americans’ lack of sleep are popping up in the areas of body care, room scents, mood music, and beverages. No doubt, pharmaceutical sleep aid manufacturers are cashing in as well. According to the article, revenue for pharmaceutical sleep aids saw a rise in consumer spending of 29% from 2005 to 2006. Such revenue was in part driven by the large sums of money behind sleep aid advertising. USA Today cites information from TNS Media Intelligence stating, “In 2006, Sepracor’s Lunesta spent $298 million on advertising, and Ambien, from Sanofi-Aventis, spent $207 million. Rozerem [from Takeda Pharmaceuticals] spent $102 million.”

Via Sleep Review's Sleep Report

The Sleep Quiz

Have you taken the sleep quiz yet?

If not you can do so here.

Commercial Snoring Aids Put to the Test

Not too long ago Dr. Peter Michaelson, MD, an ear, nose, and throat surgeon at Wilford Hall United States Air Force Medical Center in San Antonio decided to put the over-the-counter snoring aids to the test to see if they helped any. He got a group of 37 people to test out the three of the most popular types of snoring solutions, Snorenz spray, Breath Right Strips, and the Snore-No-More pillow.

None of them delivered the promised relief. Read more about this study or listen to a podcast in which Dr. Michaelson and others talk about the issues around snoring.

Tips for Sleeping Well

I found this to be a short and pretty way of explaining something that can get quite complicated.

clipped from health.yahoo.com Sleep Tight All Night Quality of sleep is as important as the quantity of sleep. Often we think we sleep for eight hours, but unless we are getting good quality REM sleep, which is when the body truly rests, we will awake feeling as if we hadn't slept at all. Here are the ways to be sure you are getting quality sleep: 1. Do not eat late. Your last meal should be no later than seven in the evening. 2. Do not exercise just before bed. You should engage in no strenuous exercise for at least two hours before bed. 3. There should be no pets in the bedroom. Sleeping with pets often causes restless sleep. 4. You might try this sitting meditation a half an hour before bed: Sit comfortably at the edge of a firm seat with your back erect and your head tilted slightly downwards. Place your arms gently over your lap and breathe slowly, deliberately, and gently. Keep your eyes slightly closed. Do this for 15-20 minutes.

Interview with Sleep Doctor

There are not a whole bunch of sleep advocates on the web so when I discovered theinsomniablog.com I was quite impressed. This blog is not run by the typical sleep doctor nor by the typical insomniac. Dr. Breus is the author of Good Night: The Sleep Doctor’s 4-Week Program to Better Sleep and Better Health through out his career in sleep medicine he has been on several TV shows, and has been in several publications. He is truely dedicated to educating and informing the public about this precisions 1third of our lives. Below is the interview with the Dr. Breus.


1third: How long have you been a sleep specialist? Why did you choose to go into that specialty?

Dr. Breus: I have been a sleep specialist for the past 8 years. Meaning I passed the sleep boards at age 31, but I was studying sleep about 2-3 years before that. I chose it as a field of specialist for several reasons: 1) Just plain old curiosity. I had always wondered what happened when you fall asleep, and now I know; 2) It was the only area of psychology where I could change people’s lives almost instantly; and 3) it was fun, new and exciting -- some major research finding occurs each year in this field.

1third: What is the thing you like most about sleep and sleeping? For example, is there an aspect, benefit, or quality that you like the most?

Dr. Breus: There are several reasons why I personally like to sleep. First, it is simply a time out from everything else. I have a great life, but I also need a break sometimes, and in a house with 2 kids, 3 animals and 1 wife it can be hard to find some time on my own. I also like sleep because it really helps my thinking process; I certainly solve problems in my sleep. Finally, I like dreaming. Although I do not know what they really mean (and no one does), it is a great escape.

1third: Why is it so hard for so many people to get a good night’s sleep? What are some of the main factors at work when a person becomes an insomniac?

Dr. Breus: This is a tough question to answer, and one that science has not quite figured out yet. I personally believe there are many reasons why we do not sleep. The number one reason is, of course, stress. I would guess that 75% of my patients who have sleeping problems like insomnia have either anxiety or depression as a major problem contributing to their sleep. Next is the environment. Many people do not sleep in a space that really allows for great sleep. Most bedrooms are too noisy, lighted, and cluttered. I talked about this a little recently on The Insomnia Blog.

1third: Why is sleep so important to an individual's health and well being?

Dr. Breus: Another great question that we really do not have a good answer for. We know that all living creatures have some period of inactivity in their day, but we really do not know why. We know that people heal better when they sleep better. We also know that every single organ system is affected by sleep. Everything from immunosupression (the ability to fight off disease) to treatment for cancer is affected by sleep.

1third: How do people know they have a sleep problem? What are the signs that indicate that they should see a doctor?

Dr. Breus: One great thing to try is my In-Depth quiz on the website at www.yoursleepcoach.com. It is an educational quiz designed to let people know exactly how many signs and symptoms of a diagnosable sleep disorder they may have. You can print the results and take them to your doctor if you want. The next step is to check in with your body. If you wake in the morning not feeling refreshed and ready to meet the day, then you may not have a sleep disorder... but you may have what I call "disordered sleep".

1third: Do most insomniacs seek help or do they tend to seek coffee and over-the-counter aids instead of professional help?

Dr. Breus: Most do both. Usually those with insomnia will try an OTC or coffee for a certain period of time, and when that ultimately fails they will talk to their health care professional. This person sometimes will be well educated enough to work with them in different areas, but more times than not will give them a prescription. After a few months of this is when I usually get the call that this patient is not doing too well with sleep and is there something I can do to help.