Understanding Sleep
Sleep is a highly organized sequence of events and physiological conditions made up of two separate and distinctly different states: "non-rapid eye movement" (NREM) and "rapid eye movement" (REM) or dreaming sleep. Both types of sleep are necessary and occur in healthy sleep. Generally, adults need to sleep between six to nine hours, however there is no "normal" amount of sleep. The optimum amount needed should allow you to function throughout the day without feeling drowsy.
Sleep Facts
- More than 100 million Americans of all ages fail to get a good night's sleep
- One in three American adults have trouble falling or staying asleep
- Drowsiness is a factor in 100,000 police reported car crashed annually, resulting in 76,000 injuries and 1,500 deaths
- At least 84 sleep wake disorders lead to lowered quality of life and increased risk of chronic medical conditions
- Untreated sleep disorders can lead to severe, lfe altering chronic medical conditions such as: Congestive Heart Failure, Hypertension, or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Signs of Sleep Disorders
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Snoring loudly
- Excessive night-time sweating
- Waking up suddenly, gasping for breath, coughing or wheezing
- Falling asleep while driving or during physical effort
- Experiencing aching or "crawling" sensations in your legs
- Consistently feeling sleepy during the day, even when getting a full night's sleep
- Worrying about your sleep
If you regularly experience any of these signs, you should talk to your physician about your sleep or call 509-525-0480 and ask for our sleep center. Your physician may want to refer you for a sleep study to evaluate the cause of your sleepiness.
