Eilidh Pederson, MPH, FACHE Chief Executive Officer | Western Wisconsin Health
Eilidh Pederson, MPH, FACHE Chief Executive Officer | Western Wisconsin Health
Research underscores the importance of sleep for overall health and well-being, challenging common misconceptions about its significance. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) report that a significant percentage of children, adolescents, and adults regularly do not get enough sleep. Specifically, 34.1% of children, 74.6% of high school students, and 32.5% of adults are affected.
High-quality sleep is linked to reduced stress, improved mood, and a decreased risk of chronic conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. Indicators of good sleep include falling asleep quickly, sleeping at least seven hours per night for adults (more for children and teenagers), and waking up refreshed.
To enhance sleep quality, experts recommend maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, creating a quiet bedroom environment free from electronic devices before bedtime, avoiding caffeine and large meals before sleep, exercising regularly, meditating, and following a healthy diet.
Poor sleep can lead to excessive daytime fatigue, mood changes like irritability or depression, impaired mental function, difficulty focusing, weight gain due to altered metabolism and appetite, and frequent morning headaches. Addressing poor sleep can yield significant physical and psychological benefits.
Common sleep disorders contributing to poor rest include insomnia, sleep apnea (characterized by interrupted breathing during sleep), narcolepsy (a disorder affecting the sleep-wake cycle), and restless legs syndrome (an uncontrollable urge to move the legs). Discussing symptoms with healthcare providers is recommended for improvement.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) significantly impacts cardiovascular health and overall quality of life. Symptoms include loud snoring or gasping for air during sleep. Diagnosis involves home or in-house sleep studies measuring the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI). Treatment varies from lifestyle changes to medical interventions like CPAP therapy or surgery.
Western Wisconsin Health provides both home-based and in-house diagnostic options for individuals aged 14 and older experiencing symptoms related to sleep disturbances. The facility aims to improve patient lives through better sleep management.
“Sleep is an investment in the energy you need to be effective tomorrow,” states Tom Roth.
Ramar highlights statistics on inadequate sleep duration from CDC data. Slowik discusses OSA's implications on health in various dimensions.
Alerts Sign-up