HEALTH MATTERS
(BPT) - Sleep is essential to overall immunity and well-being, so disruptive sleep can affect personal health, family life and work. When you don't get optimal sleep, it can hold you back from feeling energized, productive and healthy, not to mention lead to more significant health issues. Everyone experiences a bad night of sleep every once in a while. But a new survey of 1,000 American adults reveals that stress over the past year is negatively impacting quality of sleep for half of Americans.
Results of the survey, conducted by digital health leader ResMed, indicate one in three adults are sleeping less than they did a year ago. "This is an alarming trend and another important consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic," said Carlos M. Nunez, M.D., chief medical officer at ResMed. "While trouble sleeping can
Article by Carlos M. Nunez, M.D.
sometimes be chalked up to stress or anxiety, it's critical to monitor other symptoms you might be experiencing, as it could point to a more concerning health issue."
But when is poor sleep more than just a bad night or a result of a stressful day?
One of the most common sleep disorders is sleep apnea; 54 million adults in the U.S. have sleep apnea - but more than 80% don't know they have it. Sleep apnea is a disorder in which the muscles in the throat relax to the point of collapse, restricting airflow. This causes breathing to become shallow and eventually stop for 10 or more seconds at a time, depriving the body and brain of oxygen.
In other words, millions of people are
Signs that Poor Sleep may be a More Significant Health Issue