Most people could use more sleep, according to Sleep Center doctor

Precious Winks

While sleep is something we all need, we don’t always get as much of it as we should. While occasional nights with insufficient sleep are normal for most people, continued sleeping issues could be signs of a disorder. The Neurodiagnostic and Sleep Center at Inova Alexandria Hospital diagnoses and treats many problems associated with sleep.

One of the most common disorders that Lewis Eberly, MD, Director of the Neurodiagnostic Laboratory, and Director of Neuroscience and Stroke at Inova Alexandria Hospital, sees at the Sleep Center is sleep apnea. This disorder, which can be aggravated by weight gain, occurs when muscles or other structures of the throat close while a person sleeps and block his or her ability to breathe.

Other issues Dr. Eberly sees at the Sleep Center include restless leg syndrome, REM movement disorder (which causes people to get up and move around while asleep), insomnia and narcolepsy. However, Dr. Eberly says the most common issue is simply insufficient sleep. In general, people should try and receive between seven and nine hours, depending on their personal biology.

“People are not getting enough sleep,” says Dr. Eberly. “Before 1910, the average amount of sleep people got was nine hours. With the incandescent bulb, that went down to less than eight hours, and now in the U.S. we’re generally getting less than seven hours. That’s a very common problem.”

If you think you might have a sleeping disorder (signs include continued tiredness day after day, dozing off during the day and waking up tired, among others), the Neurodiagnostic and Sleep Center can perform a sleep test on you to gather information about your sleep. This will help determine if you have an issue and what the appropriate treatment would be.

Treatments available for these types of disorders vary from disorder to disorder. For sleep apnea, a popular treatment is a CPAP device, which provides mild airway pressure to stop the patient’s airway from being blocked during sleep. Other disorders, such as restless leg or REM movement disorder may be treated with medication.

Sleep Hygiene

Being tired during the day not only decreases your alertness, but it is also dangerous. Studies have shown that drowsy driving can be linked to as many as one-third of traffic accidents. To avoid this danger, Dr. Eberly suggests you practice proper sleep hygiene. Whether you suffer from a sleep disorder such as insomnia, or you would just like to feel more awake, these tips will help you get a good night’s sleep.

• Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.
• Don’t exercise or eat more than a snack within three hours of going to bed.
• Make sure your bedroom is at a temperature you find comfortable.
• Wind down before you go to bed; try not to do things that will energize you, such as making phone calls or watching an exciting movie.
• If you do wake up in the middle of the night and can’t get back to sleep, get up and read for 15 minutes or until you feel tired again instead of tossing and turning in bed.

GET YOUR REST

To learn more about Inova’s sleep disorder services visit inova.org/sleep.