The Danger of Undiagnosed Sleep Problems

Are you experiencing reoccurring sleepiness, fatigue and morning headaches? Are you having difficulty falling asleep, waking up many times through the night, or catching yourself choking or gasping for breath when you wake? These are signs of undiagnosed sleep problems, like obstructive sleep apnea, and could be cause for concern. Alarmingly, undiagnosed sleep problems are very common. In fact, studies have found that roughly 1 in 15 Americans suffer from sleep apnea, and as many as 80% go undiagnosed. Loss of sleep and sleep apnea are not something to be taken lightly. They can lead to serious consequences and are extreme inhibitors to our daily functions and responsibilities.

Undiagnosed Sleep Problems – A Danger to Others

Lack of sleep or poor quality sleep is considered a public health concern and has been linked to many motor vehicle accidents, industrial disasters, and other occupational mishaps. Impaired driving studies have shown that driving tired is just as, and in some cases, more dangerous than drunk driving. According to the National Department of Transportation driving while drowsy is responsible for 1,550 fatalities and 40,000 nonfatal injuries per year in the United States. Penelope Green reports, in her New York Times’ article “Sleep is the New Status Symbol” that, “The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls sleeplessness a public health concern.”

Undiagnosed Sleep Problems – A Danger to Yourself

Sleeplessness can lead to hypertension, heart disease, lack of energy, memory loss, weight gain, morning headaches, and problems in the liver.  Green also notes that “Good sleep helps brain plasticity, studies in mice have shown; poor sleep will make you fat and sad, and then will kill you.” According to statistics in recent studies, a person with poor sleep habits suffering from interrupted and insufficient sleep is ten times more likely to suffer from depression.  Sleep deprivation hinders learning and clouds memory retention. It also weakens the immune system and contributes to sluggish, inefficient, and unproductive days.

Take Action

“Sleep is the single most effective thing you can do to reset your brain and body,” according to Dr. Walker of U.C. Berkeley and director of the Sleep and Neuroimaging Laboratory there. Stay healthy and take the first step to restoring your nights of restful sleep and days full of energy, productivity, and focus. Make discovering if you have undiagnosed sleep problems simple and take a home sleep test and assessment in the comfort of your own home. Arrange a visit with your physician today and conduct your home-based diagnostic testing with Vitalistics.