Sleep, like nutrition and physical activity, is vital for good health and well-being. Getting enough good quality sleep helps you function normally during the day. For the best health and wellbeing, adults generally need at least seven hours of quality sleep per night. Many factors, including age, work schedule, and sleep patterns, affect the ideal sleep time.

It has been found that adults who sleep less than seven hours a night are more likely to have chronic health conditions, and are prone to being overweight, physically inactive, and to smoke tobacco, compared to those who got enough sleep.

What health conditions are associated with insufficient sleep?

  • High blood pressure – when you have quality sleep for a healthy number of hours, your blood pressure goes down. Having less sleep, or problems sleeping, means your blood pressure stays higher.
  • Type 2 diabetes – studies show that getting enough good quality sleep may help people improve blood sugar control.
  • Cardiovascular problems – elevated blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes increase the risk for heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.
  • Obesity – a chronic lack of sleep may affect a part of the brain that controls hunger and can lead to unhealthy weight gain. Obesity cause sleep apnea which affects the amount of oxygen your body receives while you sleep. Sleep apnea increases the risk of many other health problems, including high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.
  • Depression – research has indicated that lack of sleep may increase feelings of depression, and that depressive symptoms may decrease once sufficient sleep is restored.

Important notes:

More than a third of U.S. adults report insufficient sleep.

Sleep loss and untreated sleep disorders is associated with accidents, motor vehicle crashes, and machinery-related injuries, causing substantial injury and disability. Lack of sleep also affects hormonal, metabolic, and neurological functions which can cause chronic diseases and mental health disorders which affect quality of life and wellbeing.

Snoring, sleep apnea or being very sleepy during the day after a full night’s sleep are symptoms of poor sleep quality and sleep disorder.

Sleep disorders need to be diagnosed and treated accordingly.

When should you contact your doctor?

  • Struggling to fall or stay asleep throughout the night.
  • You get enough sleep but still wake up each morning feeling unrested.
  • You’re concerned about your sleep patterns or feel as though you do not get enough rest.
  • You often have trouble sleeping.

Speaking with your doctor will help identify and treat any underlying causes to help you get the better sleep you deserve.

  1. https://www.cdc.gov/ sleep/index.html
  2. https://www.healthypeople.gov/ 2020/topics-objectives/topic/sleep-health
  3. https://www.mayoclinic.org/ healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/sleep-the-foundation-for-healthy-habits/art-20270117

DAR-0196 RevA