FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM MARCH 18, 2021 • HEALTH • THE QUEENS COURIER 27
health
Signs that poor sleep may be
a more signifi cant health issue
Sleep is essential to overall immunity
and well-being, so disruptive sleep
can aff ect 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 signifi cant 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.
“Th is is an alarming trend and another
important consequence of the COVID-
19 pandemic,” said Carlos M. Nunez,
M.D., chief medical offi cer at ResMed.
“While trouble sleeping can 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 airfl ow. Th is 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
suff ocating each night while they sleep
and have no idea.
Many people don’t realize that sleep
apnea not only impacts your quality of
sleep and prevents you from getting proper
rest, but can have additional devastating
consequences if it goes undiagnosed
and untreated. Untreated sleep apnea can
immediately and negatively aff ect your
energy, mood, relationships, ability to
work and drive safely, and in the long
term, it is linked to other chronic and lifethreatening
conditions - including high
blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and
Type 2 diabetes.
Th e most common sign of sleep apnea
is usually observed by your bed partner:
snoring.
Many people believe that snoring means
someone is in a deep sleep or sleeping
well, but it’s actually the number-one indicator
of sleep apnea - for both men and
women.
Other symptoms of sleep apnea include
constant tiredness, poor concentration,
morning headaches, depressed mood,
night sweats, weight gain, lack of energy,
forgetfulness, sexual dysfunction and frequent
nighttime urination, among others.
“Th e good news is that sleep apnea is
treatable and modern CPAP therapy is
much more comfortable, quieter and smaller
than ever before,” said Nunez. “Just by
following the treatment for sleep apnea that
your doctor recommends, your quality of
sleep will dramatically increase, and your
risk of other chronic conditions drops.”
If you’re concerned about your health
and quality of sleep, Nunez suggests talking
to your doctor about your symptoms. Th ey
may even ask you to track your sleep using
a digital tool, like an app or one of the fi tness
wearables with sleep tracking features,
or by taking notes in a journal. Additionally,
you can visit SleepForBetterTomorrow.com
to take a short quiz to see if you’re at risk for
sleep apnea.
Th e next time you fi nd yourself struggling
to fall or stay asleep, or feeling
constantly sluggish, don’t discount sleep
apnea. It is common - and easily treated
at home.
— Courtesy of BPT
/WWW.QNS.COM
/SleepForBetterTomorrow.com
