A report by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that as many as one third of U.S. adults don’t get enough sleep on a regular basis. In fact, a whopping 35% get fewer than 7 hours of sleep each night – something which could be affecting their mood, their ability to function day to day and even their health. Experts recommend that adults aim to get between 7 and 8.5 hours per night for optimal wellbeing.
We already know that sleep problems are common. Having difficulty falling asleep at night, struggling to stay asleep or feeling restless are rarely cause for concern provided that they aren’t happening too often. It is prolonged periods of poor quality sleep or insomnia that can have a significant effect – even if you don’t realize it at the time.
Short Sleepers
The truth is that some people find that they can function on very little sleep and experience few, if any, adverse effects. These people, sometimes known as ‘short sleepers’ typically get less than 6 hours sleep per night, yet wake up feeling alert, refreshed and ready to tackle the day ahead.
For people who are short sleepers, this little amount of rest is consistent, regardless of weekends, holidays or their day to day activities. They don’t feel unusually tired in the day, nor do they feel the need to ‘catch up’ on missed hours where they could have been sleeping. They also enjoy good quality sleep, nodding off quickly and staying asleep once they do.
Whether you can be classed as a short sleeper or not, if you are regularly getting fewer than 7 hours sleep per night and feel fine, you may feel that there’s nothing to worry about. But could you be pushing your luck?
The Effects Of Prolonged Insufficient Sleep
When you become used to living on little sleep, many of the effects of doing so may become so normal to you that you may not even notice them. For example, daytime sleepiness, irritability, low mood or constantly drinking coffee. Another common effect of lack of sleep that is often overlooked is snoring. Snoring is an effect of a sleep disorder known as obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA for short. OSA affects around 12 million people in the United States and can have a significant effect on sleep quality. These symptoms, including snoring, are often overlooked or attributed to other problems, rather than sleep disorders.
However, behavior and minor symptoms aren’t the only effects associated with sleep disorders. Studies have found that people who regularly experience low quality or insufficient sleep are also at greater risk of cognitive problems, such as poor memory and concentration, as well as developing serious health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack, stroke and heart failure. They could also become obese, which increases these risks even further.
If you are suffering from sleep problems, or if you are regularly getting less than 7 hours sleep every night, your physical and psychological health could be suffering, and we recommend that you consult with a sleep specialist in San Diego, CA as soon as it is convenient. This consultation will allow your sleep specialist to determine if you are suffering from a sleep disorder and recommend appropriate treatment that could benefit your overall wellbeing and reduce your risk of serious health problems in the future. For more information, or to schedule a consultation, please speak to our experienced sleep specialists at Dream in Del Mar today by calling (858) 755-1166.