In a world that seems to increasingly require your attention, be it through work email that is always on, notifications from your fitness app, or rapid-fire news cycles always offering the latest scandal, it can feel incredibly difficult to keep up. Couple this with more content than there has ever been about being the best you, increasing productivity and getting everything done, and it can be easy to blame yourself. But what if the key to fixing what may feel like a groggy, uncooperative brain is much easier than you were led to believe?
As it turns out, it just might be.
Productivity, Focus, and Sleep
Burning the candle at both ends has unfortunately become an expectation in the workplace and in life. Many see it as a source of pride to boast that they’ve been so busy they barely slept. Not only can this increase stress in a work environment, it can also create inefficient workers. A recent study conducted by Harvard University, found that insomnia in US workers could cost companies an average of 11.3 days worth of productivity per worker. Several other studies have done well to point out other negative effects of sleep deprivation, including memory loss and poor emotional well-being.
Could You Have Sleep Apnea?
On average, an adult aged 26-64 requires between 7-9 hours of sleep per night. For many this can feel like a difficult number to hit, but for others, grogginess can persist regardless of the hours of sleep they get. If this sounds like you, there is a very real possibility you may have sleep apnea/snoring-and-sleep-apnea-treatment’}}}}. Categorized by the number of pauses taken in our natural breathing cycle while we sleep, sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that can inhibit the brain from getting enough oxygen, significantly increasing the risk of stroke, cardiovascular disease, and even cancer. People with sleep apnea are more likely to die of these causes. They also experienced increased risk of fatal traffic and workplace accidents.
What Are the Symptoms?
Sleep apnea can be difficult to self-diagnose as it occurs while sleeping. Snoring is a common sign of sleep apnea risk, but if you don’t sleep next to a partner, this can be difficult to catch, making it important to paying attention to day-to-day feelings like lack of motivation, frequent headaches, or daytime sleepiness. Waking during the middle of the night and gasping for air is another common symptom, as is frequent nighttime urination. If any of these symptoms sound familiar, seeking out a diagnosis is incredibly important.
If you’ve already been diagnosed with sleep apnea, or if loud snoring is a common issue, your dentist can help. While the most common treatment for sleep apnea is a CPAP machine, which provides consistent air pressure meant to keep airways clear, these can be difficult to sleep in. They may even bother your partner. Your dentist can provide an alternative: a custom-designed mouthpiece meant to keep your airways open.
Do you want to learn how you and those around you can finally sleep peacefully without surgery, without masks, and without pumps? Please call (910) 392-6060 for an appointment at Kuzma Advanced Dentistry in Wilmington, NC today.
