Many of us toss and turn when we can’t sleep for a night or two. But for some, a restless night is routine.
According to the National Institutes of Health, more than 40 million Americans suffer from chronic, long-term sleep disorders, and an additional 20 million report having an occasional sleeping problem.
Stress and anxiety are key contributors to these reported sleep problems. Stress is our response to daily life. It affects us emotionally, physically, and behaviorally. Seven out of ten adults in the United States say they experience stress or anxiety daily, and most say it interferes at least moderately with their lives and with their sleep.
Consistent stress lessens quality sleep or prevents sleep altogether. This lack of sleep not only leads to poor performance at work or school but if unchecked also increases the risk of injury and health problems such as heart attack, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
Too much stress can also lead to long-term sleep disorders or can make existing sleep disorders such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea worse.
If you suspect you have a sleep disorder, you should discuss your symptoms and your sleep testing options with a physician. If you have any questions, please call or CONTACT US for a complimentary sleep test consultation from a Millennium Sleep Lab patient educator.
Statistical reference: www.adaa.org