A sleep expert’s guide for mothers everywhere

One of the biggest challenges young mothers face is getting enough sleep. Dr. Lisa M. Cannon explains that since physical and mental health greatly depends on the amount and quality of sleep a person gets, young mothers often experience physical and mental health issues.
On that note, Dr. Lisa M. Cannon suggests a few strategies that could help both mothers and toddlers get the sleep they need.

Keep busy during the day.

By doing this, mothers can make sure that their toddlers expend enough energy during the day to seek rest and relaxation for the night. This strategy ensures that the little ones are no longer as active when bedtime arrives. By busy, Lisa M. Cannon doesn’t just mean physical play. Mothers can also introduce books and other educational tools, so a toddler remains active. At the end of the day, odds are both mothers and toddlers will get a good night’s sleep

Avoid sweets.


Aside from being unhealthy, sugar in one’s body demands to be used. And when consumed at night, it causes a person to be more active rather than relaxed. This goes double for children, who when experiencing a second wind, maybe next to impossible to lead to sleep.

Make sleeping quarters as comfortable as can be.

Dr. Lisa M. Cannon explains that many mothers sleep with their toddlers by their side. Because of this, it’s important that everything in the room, from the bed to the smell to the temperature, is all conducive for sleeping.

Dr. Lisa M. Cannon graduated from New York Medical College in 1991 and obtained her pulmonary fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital. She was affiliated with Pascack Valley Hospital and the Valley Hospital in Ridgewood. Dr. Cannon has since focused on her own private practice in New Jersey. For more articles like this, visit this blog.

Aasm: Undiagnosed Sleep Apnea Costs $150B Per Year

Around 25 million Americans suffer from the sleep disorder sleep apnea, a condition when a person stops breathing for a few seconds while asleep. This occurs because the throat muscles relax and then contract involuntarily. There are obvious risks to the condition; left untreated, patients may find themselves not breathing for a longer period – affecting their quality of sleep and overall health. Sleep apnea is also heavily related to other serious illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, and other forms of cardiovascular conditions.

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The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) recently released a report that found the condition to have a financial impact on society as well. It is estimated that annual financial burden of undiagnosed sleep apnea is around $150B. This is divided into $87 billion in lost productivity, $26 billion in car crashes, and around $7 billion in accidents that occur in the workplace.

Sleep apnea in itself is potentially deadly, but it is the cumulative and associated effects that are most worrisome. Authors of the study believe that undiagnosed sleep apnea is responsible for another $30 billion every year in increased health care and medications for its comorbidities. The authors further go on to state that if this condition is immediately diagnosed and treated, the country could see an annual saving of around $100 billion.

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The standard treatment for sleep apnea is the usage of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine that forces the airway open by pumping air through the nostrils. This stops the throat muscles from constricting and improves the quality of sleep. Those who sleep regularly and well are said to have a more positive view on life and are generally healthier compared to those who have bad sleeping habits.

Dr. Lisa Marie Cannon is an internal specialist dealing with various sleep disorders. For more information, like this Facebook page.