Sleep More to Know More January 10, 2007

Do you want to improve your brain power while you're awake? Get more rest, a minimum of eight hours per night, with a minimum of 90 minutes of uninterrupted sleep during that period. Reaching this goal is difficult if you're one of the 50 percent of all adults who snore occasionally or the 25 percent who are habitual snorers. Snoring can disrupt the sleep pattern, reducing alertness during the day.

Seton Sleep Labs

'One of the most common sleep disorders is sleep apnea,' says Sherry Daniel, Lead Sleep Tech, Seton Sleep Labs, Seton Northwest Hospital. 'In the Sleep Lab, we can test to see if an individual has sleep apnea and, if so, treat it.'

The primary symptom of this disorder is loud, persistant snoring. Sleep apnea causes a person to stop breathing for periods of time during sleep. This can happen dozens to hundreds of times a night. Each time, the person stops breathing for ten seconds or more, then suddenly gasps for air. Between each gasp and the next time breathing stops, the person almost always snores loudly.

The disease can affect children as well as adults. Sleep-related breathing disorders can occur in two to ten percent of children. A recent study in the online journal Public Library of Science Medicine found that sleep apnea may be far more damaging to learning ability in children compared to adults because it occurs during critical developmental stages of the children.

People who suffer from sleep apnea often experience daytime drowsiness, poor performance at school or work and depression. The disorder is more prevalent in middle-aged or older, overweight males.

'Over a period of time if left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to serious heart and memory loss problems,' says Sherry.

Symptoms of other sleep disorders

Sleep apnea is only one of several potential sleep disorders. Many can be treated successfully. Specialists at the Seton Sleep Labs can detect conditions that may be keeping you from having a healthy night's sleep. If you are experiencing several of the following symptoms, you may want to consult your physician.

Loud Snoring
Teeth Grinding
Leg Jerking or Twitching
Sleep Walking or Talking
Insomnia
Daytime Sleepiness
Morning Headaches
Bed-wetting
Nightmares or Night Terrors
Frequent Waking form Sleep

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