Celebrating National Sleep Awareness Week

March 3, 2022

Filed under: Uncategorized — sleepsolutionstopeka @ 8:08 pm
Smiling woman getting a peaceful night’s sleep

This year, National Sleep Awareness Week will fall on March 13 to 19. As such, now’s a good time to stop and ask yourself: are you getting enough sleep? Or is a disorder like sleep apnea preventing you from doing so? This post will give you a chance to explore the benefits of sleep as well as the dangers of sleep apnea and the steps you can take to get the rest that you deserve.

Why You Need Sleep

Sleep is an opportunity for both the body and mind to recharge Sleep is an opportunity for both the body and mind to recharge themselves so that they can function at their best the next day. The numerous benefits of adequate sleep include a more effective immune system, limited weight gain, improved heart health, and enhanced performance at work. On the other hand, if you aren’t getting a full 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night, you could suffer from memory problems, lack of alertness, exhaustion, stress, and numerous health issues such as increased blood pressure. In short, if you want to live your best life, a full night’s sleep is a must.

How Does Sleep Apnea Affect the Quality of Your Sleep?

Unfortunately, people with sleep apnea often find that no matter how early they go to bed, they still end up feeling excessively tired the next day. This is because sleep apnea is a condition that interferes with your breathing and interrupts your slumber repeatedly throughout the night. The condition is either caused by a physical obstruction of the airway or by the brain failing to send the proper signals to the muscles responsible for breathing.

Once the body realizes it’s not getting enough oxygen, it wakes up briefly to try and get more air. This can happen up to 30 times every hour, meaning your body spends little, if any, time in the most important stages of the sleep cycle. It’s critical to have sleep apnea diagnosed and treated as soon as possible before you start suffering the worst consequences of a lack of sleep.

How Can You Recognize and Treat Sleep Apnea?

There are several symptoms that can point to sleep apnea, such as loud snoring, exhaustion during the day, irritability or moodiness, choking or gasping in the middle of the night, and having a sore throat or headache upon waking up. If you notice any one of these symptoms, you should see a sleep specialist who can determine whether you have sleep apnea or another condition. What happens from that point forward will depend on your situation. For example, one common form of sleep apnea treatment in Topeka is to wear an oral appliance that keeps the airway open at night.

Sleep is simply too important to go without, so anything that’s gSleep is simply too important to go without, so anything that’s getting in the way of your sweet dreams needs to be addressed as quickly as possible. This year for National Sleep Awareness Week in Topeka, take a little time to think about the quality of your sleep. If you think you need help, be sure to reach out to a reliable sleep dentist immediately.

About the Author

Dr. Michael E. Michel opened his first dental office here in Topeka in 1981. He’s highly passionate about dental sleep medicine and has pursued advanced training and continuing education in the field for decades. He wants to give his patients relief from their sleep disorders and get the rest that they need every night. If you think sleep apnea might be the reason you’ve been feeling more tired than usual lately, you can schedule a consultation with Dr. Michel at Sleep Solutions by Michel Dental by visiting our website or calling (785) 273-0802.

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