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From the issue: July 2009 Quarterly
Are Your Sleep Problems Serious?
by Andrew Schorr
Don’t you wish you could still “sleep like a baby?” 
Unfortunately, most of us find that difficult. We find ourselves tossing and turning, getting up to go to the bathroom a couple of times during the night, listening for strange noises, or have trouble going to or getting back to sleep because of a partners snoring. If we are the one who snores, we may really be fighting for oxygen in our sleep and never get the rest we need and deserve.
Sleep problems affect millions of us. Many say, as we get older, we don’t need as much sleep. However, experts say that really isn’t true to the degree you might think. Sure, we may not be growing, and we don’t run around all afternoon like my 12-year-old boy, for example, but we do need quality rest.
Furthermore, sleep problems may not just affect how alert we are when awake. Studies now show that if we have sleep apnea, where we snore and fight for air, the long-term effect has negative consequences for your heart muscle. That oxygen deficit can ultimately lead to sudden death.
Please don’t panic, but do consider discussing your sleep problems with your doctor. If you have a partner who snores, urge them to have such a discussion. Not only does it affect your sleep, but more importantly, their long-term health.
The doctor might suggest you spend a night in a sleep lab where they monitor you with cameras, and an electronic hookup while you sleep. A sleep medicine specialist will look at your diet, and the medicines you take. In an environment such as this, they can identify sleep apnea. In my case, I am learning that I cannot drink coffee after 5 pm, and expect a restful night’s sleep hours later. There are people who are not affected by drinking coffee, eating chocolate, or drinking a cola up until bedtime, but I’m not one of those fortunate few!
So often, we focus on pain, chronic conditions, cancer, and even our weight. However, we fail to pay as much attention to the big role restful sleep plays in our life, and maybe your relationships! Please don’t ignore this important condition, or drown it out with a package of earplugs. It may be a sign of a real health problem that needs to be addressed.
Wishing you the best of health!
For more information, please visit www.patientpower.info
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