Not Enough Sleep is Something to Lose Sleep Over

You know two of the three essential ingredients for good health: exercise and a healthy diet. Some of us are too groggy to remember the third ‒ a good night’s sleep.

According to the National Council on Aging, more than one-third of Americans report getting less than seven hours of sleep in a 24-hour period, and about 30% of adults have symptoms of insomnia. One of the causes of insomnia is sleep apnea, which impacts as many as 30 million Americans, per the American Medical Association.

A consistent amount of sleep ‒ generally seven to nine hours each night ‒ is vital to your health. It supports your brain performance and mood and can decrease your risk for many diseases and disorders, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, obesity, and dementia. Lack of sleep can lead to irritability, difficulty focusing, and overall stress on your mental health.

The numbers above make it difficult to comprehend that an estimated 80% of individuals suffering from sleep apnea go undiagnosed or do not seek treatment. The symptoms are hard to miss. They include:

• Loud snoring
• Episodes in which you stop breathing during sleep
• Gasping for air during sleep
• Awakening with a dry mouth
• Morning headache
• Difficulty staying asleep, known as insomnia
• Excessive daytime sleepiness, known as hypersomnia
• Difficulty paying attention while awake
• Irritability

Many recognize and feel the symptoms but can’t envision themselves trying to sleep attached to a clunky CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) device. Good news. First, CPAP machines have come a long way since, say, your father’s contraption. Second, CPAP isn’t the only solution to treating sleep apnea.

If you have mild sleep apnea, there are a few “home remedies” to try out. While you can’t do anything about age ‒ which is a major factor in the onset of sleep apnea ‒ you can lose weight (exercise and eat healthier) and make other lifestyle changes that reduce sleep apnea symptoms such as taking over-the-counter allergy/decongestant medicines and refraining from smoking and drinking alcohol.

Other remedies that might lessen your sleep apnea include “side sleeping,” raising the head of the bed (or using pillows to raise your upper body), using oral devices (mouthpieces) that prevent blocked airways ‒ these typically require a prescription ‒ and playing a wind instrument or singing. The latter isn’t a typo ‒ studies show these activities strengthen the upper airways which can reduce apnea episodes.

If your sleeping issues aren’t new, chances are that you’ve tried many of these potential remedies. If you still regularly experience sleep apnea, insomnia, or other sleep disorders, you may need professional assistance. There are a number of treatments available today, ranging from therapy for your mouth and face to a CPAP device to an FDA-approved surgical implant (you’ve likely seen the commercials) to surgical procedures designed to either remove obstructions or make your airways bigger.

Southwestern Medical Center is ready to help. Our Sleep Disorders Center specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of several sleep disorders, including:

• Chronic insomnia
• Circadian rhythm disorders
• Complex sleep apnea
• Idiopathic hypersomnia
• Narcolepsy
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Parasomnias
• Restless leg syndrome and
• Other sleep-related issues

A visit with our experts and subsequent treatment could lessen or eliminate symptoms preventing you from healthy, uninterrupted sleep. We understand the importance of sleep to your overall health and want to help you get the sleep you need and deserve.

Sleep apnea is among the more common sleep issues. You can determine your level of risk by taking the free sleep apnea risk assessment at SWMConline.com/health-risk-assessment/sleep-apnea.