According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, about 50 to 70 million Americans have sleep disorders, and 1 in 3 adults do not regularly get the recommended amount of uninterrupted sleep they need to protect their health.
Sleep needs vary from person to person, and they change throughout the lifecycle. Newborns sleep between 16 and 18 hours a day, and children in preschool sleep between 10 and 12 hours a day. School-aged children and teens need at least 9 hours of sleep a day. Research suggests that adults — including seniors — need at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep each day to be well-rested and to perform at their best.
Studies have linked sleep to our ability to learn, create memories, and solve problems. Sleep has also been tied to mood. Without enough sleep, a person has trouble focusing, and responding quickly — a potentially dangerous combination, such as when driving. In addition, mounting evidence links a chronic lack of sleep with an increased risk for developing obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and infections.
Talk to your primary care provider if you are having any of these signs and symptoms of sleep apnea:
- Reduced or stopping of breathing
- Frequent loud snoring
- Gasping for air during sleep
- Excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue
- Decreased attention, concentration, memory
- Dry mouth or headaches when you wake
- Sexual dysfunction
- Waking up to urinate at night
Your provider may screen you for these common signs and symptoms and refer you for a sleep study.
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