From tossing to snoozing: The power of a sleep study

Do you ever feel tired in the morning or feel like you’re constantly tired throughout the day? Have you ever laid in bed at night thinking if I fall asleep right now, I’ll get 5 hours of sleep? If you find yourself feeling this way, you could unknowingly suffer from sleep apnea or insomnia. Let’s take a look at what sets them apart.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder where breathing continuously stops and starts throughout the night which can prevent your body from getting oxygen. ⁽²⁾ There are two types of sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is when your airway is blocked, reducing oxygen flow. ⁽²⁾ About 39 million U.S. citizens have obstructive sleep apnea. ⁽¹⁾ Central sleep apnea is when the brain doesn’t send signals to breathe. ⁽²⁾ According to sleep studies, approximately 1% of U.S. adults suffer from central sleep apnea. ⁽⁶⁾ People talking about sleep apnea are generally referring to obstructive sleep apnea.

Some signs and symptoms of sleep apnea are snoring or gasping while you sleep, which may cause you to feel overly tired throughout the day. ⁽²⁾ If you have severe sleep apnea that is not being treated: your daily activities may be negatively impacted. (2) If you have sleep apnea, you may have an increased chance of developing the following:

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Heart failure
• Stroke
• Kidney disease

What is Insomnia?

Insomnia is when you have trouble falling asleep, sleeping for short periods, or having bad sleep quality, which 75% of adults experience. ⁽³⁾ Short-term insomnia can be caused by stress or change in environment but usually only lasts a few days or up to a week. ⁽³⁾ The second form of insomnia is chronic insomnia, which can last three or more days a week and for over three months. ⁽³⁾ According to a study in 2019, incidences of physical and mental disorders were higher in senior adults who were diagnosed with insomnia. ⁽⁴⁾

If you have insomnia, you may have an increased chance of developing the following:

• Asthma
• Heart problems
• Mental health problems
• Immune system complications
• Metabolism problems
• Diabetes
• Cancer