Recognition of the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform who made the transition to small business owners first began with Public Law 106-50 or the Veteran owned small business The Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act of 1999.

The purpose of the Act was to establish new assistance programs for Veterans that were small business owners or planning to make the transition to owning their own business. The Act also established an annual government-wide goal of not less than 3% of the total value of all prime contract and subcontract awards for participation by small business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans.

This law was a tremendous win for Veterans. Many Veterans start their business careers later in life and recognition and set-aside programs can be the difference between success and failure.

Alaska Sleep Clinic is officially verified as a Veteran Owned Small Business and is currently the only verified VOSB in the state of Alaska doing business in the medical arena.

Vets are four times as likely to have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). In addition, those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or a traumatic brain injury have a higher incidence of OSA, meaning that psychiatric and sleep disorders are often linked. Research-based sleep techniques are being developed for those with PTSD, so it’s important to seek specialized help.

Warning signs of sleep trouble:

Sleep troubles can look different depending on the person, but it’s important to seek help if you have warning signs such as,

• Mood symptoms like lack of motivation, depression or anxiety that interfere in work or daily life. Lack of sleep can be both caused by, or a symptom of, a psychological issue.

• PTSD-related symptoms. One of the hallmarks of PTSD is difficulty sleeping, as well as nightmares and flashbacks. Insomnia can be a symptom of PTSD, or a separate issue on its own.

• Excessive sleepiness. Everyone has the occasional drowsy day, but if sleepiness is common for you, or you need many catnaps during the day, you may not be getting the amount or quality of sleep you need.

• Sleep disorder symptoms. Having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, snoring, feeling tired during the day despite having slept enough at night—these may be related to a sleep disorder. Veterans have higher incidence of obstructive sleep apnea, so it’s important to be aware of daytime drowsiness, interrupted sleep, or breathing troubles at night.

The health of our military members is our collective responsibility and concern. Their sleep must not be overlooked as a critical component of their health and wellness, both during the time of active service and for the duration of their lives. We honor our soldiers when we care for them, and that includes caring for—and about—their sleep.

Soldiers and Veterans are of the highest concern to all of us here at Alaska Sleep Clinic.  If you or a loved one has any sleep-related issues mentioned in this article, do not hesitate to call us for your free sleep assessment.

Alaska Sleep Clinic is proud to be the ONLY Veteran-Owned Small Business Sleep Clinic in Alaska.