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Overview of Sleep

Introduction

Sleep accounts for approximately one third of our lives, and a growing number of physicians believe that it should receive more attention from the medical community. Diet and exercise have occupied the consciousness of health professionals to an increasing degree for many years now, but sleep has recently received more of their attention. Researchers have linked sleep-related illnesses to hypertension, stroke, congestive heart failure, depression, and an overall decreased quality of life.

Many physicians propose adding information about sleep to the standard medical history taken during routine examinations. Not that long ago the family physician didn't ask questions about your physical activity. Now you can expect questions about the type, frequency, and duration of exercise you enjoy. You can also expect questions about your diet. Hopefully, in the not too distant future, your family physician will ask you about your sleep:

  • Do you sleep well?
  • Do you wake refreshed?
  • Are you sleepy during the day?
  • Do you snore? (Though this question will be directed at a partner if possible)
  • Do you wake with headaches?

Answers to simple questions like these can help a physician decide whether further inquiry or even testing is necessary. For most patients, the answer to their sleep problems is simple – better sleep hygiene – but for others medical intervention may be necessary. Determining the need for medical intervention has always been difficult because our knowledge about sleep and our ability to diagnose sleep problems have been poor.

The Epworth Sleepiness Scale provides a way for physicians to identify the need for an overnight sleep study. Unfortunately, many physicians aren't familiar with this simple diagnostic aid, much less the experience of treating a patient with a serious sleep disorder.

 

What we know now should call us all to action:

  • Sleep plays an important role in overall health
  • We sleep considerably less now than we did 100 years ago
  • Over 40 million Americans suffer from a serious sleep disorder
  • Most Americans will suffer from a sleep disorder at some point in their lives
  • Sleepiness poses a major risk to commuters and shift workers.
source :www.resmed.com

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