Sleep apnea affects the way you breathe when you are asleep; your breathing becomes interrupted or very shallow. 2 to 4% of Americans are thought to be suffering from undiagnosed sleep apnea. The pauses of breathing that occur can last 10 to 20 seconds each and happen hundreds of times during a night of sleep. When breathing is paused, you are jolted out of your natural sleep rhythm.

There are three types of sleep apnea. These include:

-          Obstructive sleep apnea, which is the most common. It occurs when the soft tissue in the back of the throat relaxes during sleep which causes a blockage of the airway. People with obstructive sleep apnea tend to snore loudly.

-          Central sleep apnea, which is a much less common type of sleep apnea. This type involves the central nervous system instead of air way obstruction. This is when the brain fails to signal the muscles that control breathing. People with central sleep apnea tend to seldom snore.

-          Complex sleep apnea is a combination of both Obstructive and Central sleep apnea.

Some symptoms of sleep apnea include loud and chronic snoring, choking, snorting, and gasping, long pauses of breathing during sleep, and daytime sleepiness no matter how much time you spend in bed.

There are some medical routes you can take to help cease sleep apnea. CPAP is one of them. Continuous positive airflow pressure is the most common treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. In many cases, you would experience immediate relief of sleep apnea symptoms and a huge boost in your mental and physical energy. It is mask hooked up to a machine that provides a constant stream of air which will keep breathing passages open during sleep.

There are also dental devices available for patients with sleep apnea. Most of the devices fit inside the mouth and resemble an athletic mouth guard. Some fit around the head and chin so they can adjust the position of your jaw. These devices open your air way by bringing your lower jaw forward during sleep. It is very important to get fitted for one of these devices by a dentist specializing in sleep apnea.

 If you suspect that you suffer from sleep apnea, go to your doctor today. From there, they can guide you in the right direction for treatment so you can get a better night sleep!

May is all about Moms. What better way to show your mother you love her than to pamper her. All mothers need some time to themselves, where someone can take care of them for once. They do so much for us; they deserve stress relief at least for a day! And in their busy schedule the last thing they are worried about is their skin. From packing lunches, carpooling, making dinner and bedtime stories-there is no time for rest.

So, show her how much you really appreciate her:  Book her a surprise facial complete with skin analysis, eye treatments, paraffin, massage, cleanse, extractions, masks, and hydration.  The proper treatment for her will be determined by the medical Aesthetician. Medical grade facials use an array of products that will benefit the health and appearance of her skin tremendously. Microdermabrasion is also an option during a medical grade facial, which will help with exfoliation. Microderm helps to get rid of dead skin and helps to smooth the texture of the face. It uses special crystals on a vacuum-like wand to slough off all of the dead to create a beautiful glow.

With all of these different treatment options, she is sure to get the right treatment to make her look and feel amazing.

With glowing skin, she will thank you!

Ever heard of Gluten? You might have seen Gluten-free menus, bakeries, and labels on food packages, but what is it? Gluten is an elastic protein found in grains such as whole wheat, barley, rye, and sometimes oats. It is what makes dough elastic, and makes breads rise. Gluten has no nutritional value, but some of the foods that contain gluten do.

Celiac disease has been diagnosed in about 1% of Americans. It is a condition in which the small intestine has an abnormal immune response to foods containing gluten. This can damage the wall of the small intestine and prevent important nutrients from being absorbed. Treatment for Celiac disease is a completely gluten free diet.

A gluten free diet is not exactly healthier, but it is essential for Celiac patients. People not diagnosed with Celiac, but with other diseases or digestive issues also are put on a gluten free diet. Gluten free diets can cause deficiencies in some vitamins such as iron, B12, and fiber which is why gluten-free is not for everyone, and if you do decide to go G-free it is essential to get those nutrients elsewhere. Also, a lot of gluten free products are higher in fat and carbs because they use substitutions to mimic the gluten-containing counterparts.

If you are considering a G-free diet here are some of the ingredients to look out for and stay away from:

Wheat, Rye, Barley, Malt, Bulgur, Semolina, & Spelt.

All fresh fruits and veggies are naturally gluten free and are okay to eat on a G-free diet.

Talk with your Doc or Nutritionist to see if going G-free is an option for you!

We all know the expression: “You are what you eat.” When it comes to your skin, this is very true.

Just as food affects your heart, blood pressure, and cholesterol, it also affects the health of your skin.

Topical skin treatments are usually applied to help your skin from the outside in, but eating right can help to give you healthy skin from the inside out.

Some foods that are good for your skin include: Berries, Pomegranates, almonds, fish, kale, walnuts, and hazelnuts.

Omega- 3 fatty acids in Fish, nuts, and kale are essential for healthy skin. Omega-3’s help the skin increase its ability to hold water, which leads to softer, hydrated, wrinkle free skin. These fatty acids also help reduce inflammation throughout the body, which may help with fewer breakouts.

Berries such as strawberries and blueberries and pomegranates are loaded with antioxidants which help protect the cells against free-radicals that are harmful to your body and your skin.

Drinking plenty of water also helps to keep your skin nice and hydrated.

Here is a skin-food recipe that is sure to give you the essential vitamins, omega-3 and antioxidants that your skin craves! Bon Appétit!

Roasted Almond Crusted Salmon with a Pomegranate Glaze 

(Serves 4)

1 pound of salmon (cut into 4 pieces) or 4 salmon filets

2 egg whites, lightly beaten

1 cup crushed roasted almonds

3/4 cup panko bread crumbs

1/2 cup regular seasoned bread crumbs

1/3 cup flour (any kind works)

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

2/3 cup pomegranate balsamic vinegar (regular balsamic will work too)

1/3 cup pomegranate juice

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Place aluminum foil on a baking sheet, then set a wire rack on top. Spray the rack with non-stick spray. In a bowl, combine flour, panko, almonds, bread crumbs, and a half teaspoon each of salt and pepper. In a separate bowl, add the egg whites and lightly beat with a fork.

Season the salmon with the remaining salt and pepper on both sides. Dip each piece in the egg white and coat thoroughly, then set in the bowl filled with bread crumbs, covered each piece completely and lightly pressing so the coating adheres. Gently place on the wire rack. I find that spritzing each piece of salmon with non-stick spray or olive oil gives the crust a nice crisp.

Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until crust is golden brown and fish is flakey. Immediately after the fish goes into the oven, combine the vinegar and pom juice in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Let simmer for 5-8 minutes, watching carefully as mixture does not boil over and stirring every so often. Turn off heat and let sit aside for 10-15 minutes to thicken. Drizzle on salmon before serving, and serve on top of a bed of kale for even more Omega-3!

A beautiful smile is usually one of the first things you notice on someone. One way to perfect those pearly whites is to make them, well, whiter!

ZOOM! whitening procedure takes your teeth 7-8 shades lighter in a little under an hour. First, ZOOM! Whitening solution with hydrogen peroxide is painted directly onto your teeth. After that, an ultra violet light that activates the ZOOM! gel is focused on your teeth in 15 minute intervals.

Over 4 million patients have been treated with ZOOM! Whitening, the number one patient requested teeth whitening brand. You will enjoy immediate results, and can come back for more treatments depending on the results you would like to achieve. Discuss with your dental care provider to see if ZOOM! Whitening treatment would be a good option for you!

Take your first step to looking great and making a memorable impression every time you smile.

I have the secret for achieving beautiful, full eye lashes that are your own in about 4 to 6 weeks.

Latisse is the only FDA approved prescription eyelash treatment that is prescribed to patients with hypotrichosis ; inadequate or not enough eyelashes.  It is believed to prolong the active growth phase of the hair follicle.

The Latisse kit comes with 60 disposable brushes to apply the solution. The eyelash growth treatment should be applied every night to clean eyelids. You would use one drop of solution on one of the sterile brushes for each eye. Apply the drop directly on the eyelid on the eyelash line, like you would apply eyeliner. To achieve maximum results, do this nightly. In about 4 to 6 weeks your lashes will not only appear darker, but thicker and longer as well. Sit back and watch them grow!

So, instead of spending money on those eyelash extensions every month, and applying a ton of mascara every day, grow your own lashes with Latisse, and blow everyone away! 

Sculptra Aesthetic creates results that last up to 25 months, making it ideal for someone who wants natural looking, long lasting results. In a clinical study, 80% of patients treated with Sculptra were very satisfied with their results. ( 84.9% were satisfied at 13 months. 80.0% were satisfied at 25 months. ) While the effects are subtle, they create a beautiful, natural look. No one would ever even know, but everyone is sure to notice!

http://www.sculptraaesthetic.com/

http://www.aestheticedge.com/

There is nothing worse than when you put on your favorite lipstick and it is anything but smooth looking. Chapped, cracked lips are not only uncomfortable, they aren’t attractive.  Well, I have a simple DIY sugar scrub to exfoliate those dry lips, and get them back to kissable.

You will need:

1 TSP of Sugar

½ TSP of Honey

½ TSP of Olive Oil

½ TSP of any Lip Balm

Mix all of these ingredients together in a small bowl. You may transfer the recipe to an empty lip balm container, or any other cosmetic pot that you have with a lid. This mixture should stay good for about a month or two. Apply a finger full of the scrub to clean lips. Massage in a circular motion on your lips for about a minute, and then wipe off with a dry towel. Follow this scrub with your favorite chap-stick or lip balm. Try this exfoliation 1-2 times a week.

So when you are giving the rest of your body some exfoliation when it is feeling dull, don’t forget your lips. They need some TLC too, and I’m not talking about the kissing kind!

Give your skin some good old fashion TLC with an easy DIY creamy chocolate mask that you can do right at home. This sweet mask will get your skin glowing and cupid will be blown away!

The cocoa in this recipe is a very powerful antioxidant. It helps rid the skin of free radicals that cause the lines of aging or the premature sagging or loosening of the skin. Oats have soothing and anti inflammatory properties. The oatmeal is useful since it is absorptive, hypoallergenic, and help to soften skin. They have the best amino acid balance of all the cereal grains which works as water-binding agents in the skin cells. Honey, because of its many antioxidants, it scavenges for free radicals like the cocoa. Honey can reverse damage done to your skin by these free radicals, while keeping moisture in your skin. The cream in the mask helps with hydration and softening of the skin and the binding of the ingredients in the recipe.

YOU WILL NEED:

½ cup Cocoa Powder

½ cup of Honey

2 TBSP of Rolled oats

3 TBSP of Cream

Place all of the ingredients above in a medium mixing bowl, stir until well blended. You know you’ve stirred enough when it forms a thick, luscious batter.

Tie up your hair, cleanse your face, and evenly massage this yummy mask all over. ( Avoid eyes, nostrils, and lips… If it accidentally gets on your lips and you have a taste, enjoy! )

Leave the mask on for about 15 minutes and rinse off with warm water, pat dry. Follow this mask with your normal moisturizer.

Weather you use this mask to prep for the big date,  get the girls together and enjoy, or relax in a bubble bath…
This sweet recipe is not only fun, but beneficial to your skin.

Wishing everyone an amazing valentines day!

So, why not do something to slow and possibly permanently stop hair growth on your body?

Laser hair removal (LHR) is a medical procedure that uses a laser to remove unwanted hair. During the procedure, the pulsating beam of light passes through the skin to the hair follicle. The intense heat damages the hair follicle, which inhibits future hair growth. The most effective treatment would be on someone with lighter skin, and darker hair. It is not as effective on blonde, grey, or red hair types. Someone with darker skin could be a candidate for LHR if you are sure the practitioner is savvy with working on darker skin tones, and is aware of which settings would be right for the patient.

LHR is not too painful, but it can be uncomfortable. It almost feels like a light rubber-band snap. Topical numbing cream may be applied to the area that will be treated 25-30 minutes beforehand. Your practitioner will usually have you shave prior to your treatment. You shouldn’t wax or tweeze the area less than 4 weeks before, because it is less likely that the laser will target every hair follicle.

Consider having laser hair removal if you want a long term result for hair elimination. It would be the most effective and affordable option in the long run!