Let’s Talk About Sleep Disorders
From ergonomic pillows to melatonin gummies, Americans are spending $65B annually seeking a good night's sleep. Unfortunately, if you have an undiagnosed sleep disorder, it doesn't matter how good your mattress is; there will always be problems at best, with serious health complications or death as real possibilities. Sleep disorders affect one in five Americans yet the majority remain undiagnosed and without access to treatments and support.
What is a sleep disorder?
Sleep disorders, also known as sleep-wake disorders, encompass a range of challenges affecting the quality, timing, and amount of sleep you get, which makes it hard to function during the day. There are 80 sleep disorders including insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD), and restless leg syndrome.
It’s not about how you are sleeping at night,
it’s how you feel during the day.
We talk a lot about how to sleep better at night. Unfortunately, many sleep disorders aren’t recognizable in how we sleep at night, they show up in how we feel during the day. Sleepiness can manifest in many different ways including issues with your mood, forgetfulness, or the inability to concentrate.
Want to learn more?
Project Sleep is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about sleep health, sleep equity, and sleep disorders. They have so much helpful information about sleep health and sleep disorders.
Getting help
Many general practitioners receive very little education on sleep health, including recognizing and treating sleep disorders. It is important to consult with a board-certified sleep specialist to receive a sleep disorder diagnosis. Some insurance plans require a referral from your primary care doctor, even if your doctor does not recommend seeing a sleep specialist it is OK to ask for a referral. An AASM (American Academy of Sleep Medicine) accredited sleep center is a great place to start while looking for a specialist.