We’ve all been there before. You wake up feeling more tired than when you went to sleep so you grab a coffee on your way to work. Sure, that does the trick and you feel rejuvenated and not tired anymore. But is the use of coffee only prolonging your tiredness? According to Sleep Review Magazine and research from the Better Sleep Council (BSC), American Adults spend more than $5 billion annually trying to compensate for their lack of sleep. While coffee might be a short term solution, what is really making us so sleepy?
Poor Sleep
Approximately 82% of American adults report at least one night a week where they don’t get a good night’s sleep. And more than 6 out of 10 say they’re not sleeping well three or more nights per week. Additionally, more than half of Americans say they drink at least one extra cup of coffee, soda, or energy drink to compensate for lost sleep. Clearly poor sleep is disrupting our daily lives, but why can’t we seem to overcome it? It’s because a lot of the time patients are tired because some other condition is contributing to it, such as sleep apnea.
Some simple suggestions you can offer your patients to help improve their sleep patterns are:
- Schedule sleep to ensure you get the best sleep possible
- Try to go to bed 15 minutes early to adjust properly
- Check to make sure your bed is comfortable and supportive
- Eliminate distractions and avoid caffeine
We can help our patients get a better night’s sleep by offering suggestions and providing them with a proper diagnosis. If a patient is suffering from sleep apnea, it is our duty to ensure they receive a proper diagnosis, which also means we need to establish the best set of treatment options for their health.
Contact my office to learn more about what options you can offer your patients to improve their sleep patterns and health.
