Are you getting a good night’s sleep?

Getting a great night’s sleep can have you waking up feeling happy, energetic and ready to take on the world, but if you often wake up feeling tired, you’re probably not getting the quality of sleep you need.

Your body and brain both need a good night’s sleep to repair themselves and recharge for the next day. Getting better sleep can also have long-term benefits for your health.

What happens if you don’t get enough sleep? 

Poor sleep causes a range of problems, but it affects your brain first. You may feel drowsy, experience mood changes, have trouble making decisions, as well as difficulty learning or remembering things.

If you snore and you’re often sleepy in the daytime, you may be suffering from sleep apnea. It’s estimated that as many as 20% of people have sleep apnea¹, but it often goes undiagnosed. It can affect men and women of any age.

What exactly is sleep apnea?

If you’re unfamiliar with this common sleep disorder, you may be wondering “what is sleep apnea?”. When you sleep, the muscles that control your upper airway normally relax. If they relax too much, your upper airway becomes narrow or completely blocked and you may temporarily stop breathing, experiencing an ‘obstructive apnea.’ This can happen frequently throughout the night, lasting for ten seconds or more and placing stress on your brain and heart. It can leave you so tired that it affects the quality of your life, work, and relationships.

Common signs and symptoms of sleep apnea

The first sign is usually observed by a family member: snoring. You may also make gasping or choking sounds while you sleep. Although, some people with sleep apnea don’t snore at all.

Other symptoms of sleep apnea include:

• constant tiredness
• lack of energy
• stopping breathing during sleep
• poor concentration
• forgetfulness
• morning headaches
• depression
• night sweats
• weight gain
• high blood pressure

Sleep apnea may cause serious risks to your health

Untreated sleep apnea can present a serious health risk. Researchers estimate that untreated sleep apnea may raise the risk of dying from heart disease by up to five times.¹  More than 35% of people with sleep apnea also have high blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart disease.¹ (One study found 83% of people who had high blood pressure despite taking three or more drugs also had sleep apnea.²) Almost 70% of people who’ve had a stroke have sleep apnea.³ And people with sleep apnea are 2.5 times more likely to be the driver in a car accident.⁴