Poor sleep can have serious health consequences, including a greater risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, obesity and cancer. It also impacts mood, causing people to become depressed or anxious.
When you don’t get enough sleep, your body releases more stress hormones like cortisol and norepinephrine. These hormones cause your heart to pump faster, your muscles to tense and your blood pressure to rise. In turn, this raises your blood sugar levels and increases your risk of developing diabetes.
Sleep is vital for healthy brain function, and when you lack it, your memory is compromised. Insomnia affects about 20% of adults, but it can also be caused by specific sleep disorders.
Many people don’t realize how much poor sleep can impact their lives. If you are experiencing a sleep disorder, see a doctor as soon as possible to discuss treatment options.
Insomnia — When you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep despite your best efforts — is the most common type of sleep problem. It can range in severity from short-term, occasional problems to long-term, chronic insomnia.
There are many different factors that can contribute to insomnia, such as working late or rotating shifts; having a busy social or family life; and eating a diet high in foods that disrupt your sleep cycle, such as caffeine or alcohol. In addition, having a warm, dark or noisy bedroom can interfere with your ability to sleep.
It can be hard to pinpoint the exact cause of insomnia, so it is important to seek help from a physician. Your physician may order a sleep study (polysomnogram) to assess your sleep patterns and determine the reason behind your lack of sleep.
You can help to improve your sleep by changing your lifestyle and habits. Having a consistent sleep schedule and avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking can help to reduce your symptoms of insomnia and other sleep disorders.
Getting more exercise and practicing stress management can also help to improve your sleep quality and reduce your risks of developing sleep disorders. If you find that your sleep is impacted by certain medical conditions or medications, talk to your provider about a referral to a physician who specializes in treating these issues.
The CDC reports that Black and Hispanic people are more likely to suffer from sleep disorders than whites, even when they have the same number of sleep disturbances. These differences are especially troubling in light of the fact that most sleep disorders are triggered by stress.
Seixas says that unless policy changes are made to address sleep disparities, “we’re going to continue to have these disparities.” He is trying to develop a kit for patients of color to screen themselves for sleep disorders and then get advice tailored to their specific needs.
Alcantara, meanwhile, is focusing on improving access to therapy for people of color who suffer from insomnia. She points to the “virtual nonexistence” of therapy for Spanish-speaking people, and notes that a large percentage of randomized clinical trials of behavioral interventions to improve sleep don’t target groups at high risk of insomnia.