It’s Time to Wake-up and Improve Your Sleep Health

Brian Perch
Nov 4 · 4 min read

Your mom was right. You need your rest.

Photo by Matthew T Rader on Unsplash

Happy daylight savings time end, everyone. Getting that hour of sleep back got me thinking about the importance of sleep and its impact on health.

According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, adequate sleep is a necessary part of human health. Sleep problems are a risk factor for many diseases and conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.

Healthy people 2020” is a science-based initiative conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and other agencies that sets 10-year goals designed to improve the health of Americans. As a part of this effort, sleep health goals have been set for 2020. These goals include:

Do you suffer from sleep apnea? Don’t be afraid to talk to your doctor about it.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nick_wilkes/828689231 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/legalcode

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder with significant health consequences.
This condition is associated with snoring, but snoring is not always present in people with sleep apnea. Common symptoms include:

  • Loud snoring
  • Periodic cessation of breathing during sleep
  • Gasping or difficulty breathing while asleep

Sufferers may also experience daytime sleepiness and difficulty concentrating during the day. Sleep apnea increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and other health problems. Anyone experiencing these symptoms or suspecting sleep apnea is strongly encouraged to see a doctor. There are many effective treatments for this condition. Currently, only about 25% of people with symptoms seek medical assistance. We need to spread the word about sleep apnea to reach the other 75% and work to reduce their risk of harmful health impacts.

Drowsy driving is a serious public health concern.

U.S. Air Force Photo https://www.ellsworth.af.mil/News/Photos/igphoto/2000348490/

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine is an organization of sleep medicine professionals. They defined drowsy driving as “the operation of a motor vehicle while impaired by a lack of adequate sleep.”

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics report that drowsy driving kills hundreds and causes nearly 100,000 car crashes per year. These incidents tend to be under-reported and are likely to be even more frequent than the statistics show.

Keep these warning signs in mind to stay safe on the road:

  • Frequent yawning
  • Difficulty keeping one’s head up or eyes open
  • Drifting between lanes or crossing the center line
  • Missing turns
  • Not remembering segments of the trip

Any experience of these warning signs justifies a break from driving or a change of drivers. Don’t risk your life or the lives of others. The AASM recommends stopping for a 20-minute nap to increase alertness before continuing the trip.

Teens and adults can benefit significantly from better sleep habits.

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Sleep habits, or as the experts call it “sleep hygiene,” affects all aspects of one’s life and performance. Research has shown that students who get inadequate amounts of sleep tend to get lower grades. It may sound counter-intuitive, but American students could snooze their way to better grades and test scores.

The downside to not sleeping enough doesn’t stop at graduation, though. The diminishing effect of sleep deprivation can impact work and career. The deleterious effects of poor sleep hygiene are compounded in organizations, and that can magnify the problem.

A small dog walks on the sleeping author of this post.
A small dog walks on the sleeping author of this post.
Not even my dog Cooper can stop me from sleeping!

Up your slumber game!

I hope this information encourages you to reexamine your daily sleep habits and choose to grab some extra Z’s. Also, don’t forget to check in with your doctor about any symptoms of sleep apnea. Better sleep hygiene offers valuable health benefits, safer driving and better performance at school or work. If anybody has a problem with it, just quote John Lennon,

“Please, don’t wake me, no, don’t shake me
leave me where I am, I’m only sleeping…”

Brian Perch

Written by

The purpose of this blog is to start a discussion with people of all backgrounds about how we can make the healthcare system better for everyone.

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