The value of a good night’s sleep of 7 to 9 hours is not to be taken lightly! “Insufficient sleep” or “short sleep” is defined as less than 7 hours daily. It is estimated that over 100 million Americans, or around 35% of adults, do not get the sleep that they need. Restful sleep is so important because it not only makes you feel refreshed and allows us to perform our best, but the lack of it can make us function poorly and puts us as rick for some very serious chronic diseases. Such as: 

• Diabetes 
• Heart disease 
• Stroke 
• Obesity 
• Depression 

The lack of sufficient sleep is also linked to increased motor vehicle crashes and heavy machinery accidents which can lead to severe injuries and lifelong disabilities.

What is a sleep disorder? It is a condition that makes it difficult to get restful sleep; as a result, you have daytime sleepiness and other symptoms. Sure, we all can have problems falling asleep at times but about 70 million Americans have a sleep disorder. You might have a sleep disorder if you’re regularly unable to fall asleep, you are tired even if you sleep for 7 hours at a time, and if you are not able to perform your regular daytime activities. Some symptoms include:

• Falling asleep while driving
• Struggling to stay awake when you are inactive or sitting
• Problems with concentration at work or school
• Mood swings

There are about 80 different types of sleep disorders. The most common ones are: 

• Insomnia – not falling asleep and/or staying asleep. You could also wake up early.
• Sleep apnea –  not breathing well when you are asleep. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common and places stress on your heart and body in general. This one can really affect overall health.
• Restless leg syndrome – have an uncontrollable urge to move your legs, usually in the evening or at night.
• Narcolepsy – makes you very tired during the day and you can fall asleep at any time.

If you have any concerns that you are not getting good quality sleep, you should talk your doctor. There are many causes and many treatments which will be covered in Part 2. Stay tuned!

References 
Cleveland Clinic
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Mayo Clinic