Most adults in the United States aren’t getting the sleep they need. Experts recommend seven to nine hours each night, but the average adult gets less than seven. That difference might not sound like much, but it adds up over time, leaving millions of people chronically sleep-deprived.
You may shrug it off, saying you don’t need that much sleep or that you’re a night owl. But you could be living with undiagnosed sleep disorders that are interfering with both the quantity and quality of your sleep.
Left untreated, poor sleep increases your risk for serious health problems like heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and depression.
At SEPA Pain & Spine in southeastern Pennsylvania, our team is dedicated to helping patients get their full hours of sleep to improve their energy, mood, and long-term health.
In this blog, we look at why sleep is so vital, how to know when you might have a sleep disorder, the risks of ignoring it, and what treatments and strategies can help.
While you’re asleep, your body is hard at work repairing tissues, consolidating memories, balancing hormones, and strengthening your immune system. Without enough of it, every aspect of your health begins to suffer.
Poor sleep can cause memory lapses, mood swings, and trouble focusing. Over time, the risks multiply, and you become more likely to develop chronic illnesses, your immunity declines, and you become more sensitive to pain.
Many patients we see at SEPA Pain & Spine don’t realize that their poor sleep is worsening their pain conditions.
It’s easy to assume you’re just busy or stressed, but some of the most common red flags include:
These signs may point to conditions like sleep apnea, insomnia, restless legs syndrome, or circadian rhythm disorders. Each of these interferes with deep, restorative sleep, even if you think you’re in bed long enough.
Studies have shown that people who consistently sleep less than seven hours a night face significantly higher risks of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, and obesity. Sleep deprivation also affects your mental health, making depression and anxiety harder to manage.
Even your safety is at stake. Fatigue is a leading cause of car accidents, with drowsy driving proving as dangerous as driving drunk.
Your productivity suffers. Your relationships can strain under constant irritability or low energy. And if you already deal with chronic pain, lack of sleep can make it much harder to cope.
While professional treatment is the best way to correct a sleep disorder, there are small changes you can make right now to get better sleep:
These steps are no replacement for professional care if you have a disorder, but they can help create the right conditions for sleep while you work with our team.
Getting enough sleep is a necessity for your health and well-being. If you’re constantly tired, waking up feeling unrefreshed, or relying on excuses like being a night owl to explain away your lack of rest, you may have a sleep disorder.
At SEPA Pain & Spine, we’re here to help you uncover the reasons behind your sleep struggles. Our expert care will help you finally get the restorative sleep your body and mind need. Better sleep can improve your mood, your energy, and your health, and even extend your life.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation at any of our offices in Horsham, Langhorne, Meadowbrook, Chalfont, East Norriton, or Limerick in southeastern Pennsylvania. You can also request one online here.
