People who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are not only plagued by loud snoring and the constant waking at night, gasping for air, but their daytime activities are also greatly affected. Those who are sleep deficient are shown to be less productive at work and school.
Sleep plays a critical role in maintaining good health. It helps protect your mental health, physical health, quality of life, and even your personal safety. Have you ever tried driving when you’re exhausted? Then you know you’re only putting yourself and others at risk. What’s more, quality sleep helps your brain function properly and allows your body to heal and fend off major health complications.
While poor sleep can cause mild daytime fatigue or inability to concentrate, it can occasionally have disastrous consequences. A recent study conducted in Finland found that insufficient sleep was a major cause of fatal fatigue-related motor vehicle accidents. It also showed that driver health factors such as sleep apnea or acute and chronic disease were risk factors for these types of accidents.
Most people know by now that the use of media at night can disrupt sleep patterns and cause people to be tired or irritated the next day. A study by the Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine found that media use is particularly harmful for adolescents ages 13-17 who also are being treated for ADHD. Not only does it decrease the amount of sleep needed for this age group, it was also shown to increase anxiety and depression for them, as well.
Although we may not fully understand the science of sleep as it pertains to unique individuals, we all know how terrible we feel when we don’t get enough. We do know the reason for that! Our bodies miss important parts of their housekeeping routine when we don’t sleep long enough. In the short-term we feel groggy and out of sorts, and we can’t think as clearly or make good decisions. Studies show that habitual lack of quality sleep can raise the odds of developing high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, depression, and diabetes.
When you look in on your sleeping child and hear them softly snoring as they sleep, you might smile and chuckle to yourself. But cute as it may sound, their snoring could be a symptom of a sleep disorder that shouldn’t be ignored.
Many of us are familiar with bullying, either as a witness, victim, or as the bully. It happens at every age and in many different settings, from school to work to social groups. Bullying occurs as physical, verbal, and social or relational bullying, and has grown to include cyber bullying. What do we know about bullying behavior in children and sleep?
The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA. It is known that sleep apnea can cause insomnia, high blood pressure, headaches, depression, irritability, and heart problems. Recent studies have added another concern. New data suggests the likelihood that OSA sufferers have a higher risk of developing cancer — especially women.
We all have occasional nights when we sleep fitfully and wake up the next day feeling tired. Several things contribute to a bad night’s sleep, including stress, overindulgence in food or drink, and illness.
Do you sleep well? Unfortunately, your answer might very well be “no” if you are like the 50-70 million people in the United States that report experiencing sleep problems. If you think you have had a full night’s sleep yet still feel tired and unable to concentrate well the next day, you may be suffering from a sleep disorder.
