How to improve your sleep quality?

Sleeping seems simple enough: You get tired and you go to bed. But for some, it’s not that easy. Even if you don’t have a sleep disorder like daytime sleepiness, sleep apnea & snoring, insomnia or narcolepsy, poor sleep habits may increase your risk of developing other health issues, including coronary heart disease, high blood pressure and possibly even obesity and diabetes. The best approach is to keep good sleep hygiene to cultivate quality sleep. Sleep hygiene refers to our sleep habits that lead to more restful sleep. 

Here are some tips to adopt good sleep hygiene and improve your sleep quality.

Follow A Sleep Schedule

Follow a regular sleep schedule even on weekends, holidays and days off. This will help to encourage sleepiness and wakefulness at reasonable hours. Maintaining an early awakening time is also crucial. Being consistent gives your brain clear signals that sleep is coming and strengthens your body's sleep-wake cycle. Breaking this rule causes sleep disruption in both good and poor sleepers.

Save Your Bed For Sleep

Avoid watching TV, working, or reading in bed. Limit your bed to sleeping only. This means not using the bed as a desk or a place to lounge and watch television. You don’t want to associate your bed with anything but sleep.  You should only get into bed when you are sleepy.  And this also means not remaining in bed if you struggle to fall asleep. If you do not fall asleep within 20 minutes, get up, do some light reading, listen to quiet music or engage in relaxation techniques. Go back to bed when you're tired. Repeat as needed.

Avoid Food That Interfere With Your Sleep

A more nutritious diet supports higher-quality sleep. Avoid heavy meals within a couple of hours of bedtime. Lying down too soon after eating also can cause heartburn or indigestion and your discomfort might keep you up. Consuming caffeine and alcohol deserve caution. Its stimulating effects take hours to wear off and can disturb your quality sleep. And even though alcohol might make you feel sleepy, it can disrupt sleep later in the night.

Workout On Time

Exercising regularly can improve the quality of sleep, but try to avoid heavy exercises close to bedtime. Gentle or relaxing exercise can be done before bed. If possible, schedule exercise in the morning or early afternoon hours. You’ll feel more energized all day, and your body will be ready to relax on the evening. 

Pay Attention To How Much You Nap During The Day

Long daytime naps can interfere with nighttime sleep. If you choose to nap, limit yourself to up to 30 minutes. Napping disrupts the sleep-wake cycle, particularly if the nap occurs more than 10 hours after the major sleep period.

Know When To Contact Your Doctor

Nearly everyone has an occasional sleepless night — but if you often have trouble sleeping, contact your sleep medicine doctors in Naperville. The sleep experts will help you identify why you aren’t getting enough sleep and provide you with effective treatments so you can feel better rested.

Benefits Of Choosing A Reputable Medical Equipment Manufacturer!

In the last few decades, the diabetic foot care industry has experienced rapid technology growth and evolution. These advancements have led to more effective treatments, increased diabetic patient comfort and better outcomes overall. When you buy a portabledoppler machine or any diabetic foot care products, even the smallest of choices can make a significant and lasting impact on your facility and the patients you serve. So it is important to find medical equipment manufacturers & suppliers that are reputable and trustworthy. Reliable and honest medical manufacturers & suppliers can provide you with great service, wholesale prices and quality diabetic foot care products. Let’s take a look at the benefits of choosing a reputable medical equipment manufacturer.

Quality Products

Quality is everything in the medical world. ISO certification and warranties are key pointers when it comes to determining the quality of the product. A reputable diabetic foot care product manufacturer document their products with the necessary specifications which make it easier to grade the quality.  They have experienced professionals for monitoring trends in emerging technologies, and have a comprehensive understanding of the FDA regulatory and submission process from start-up through performance and validation.

Reliability

 One thing is for sure, when you choose a reputable medical equipment manufacturer, you can guarantee that what you order is exactly what you will receive from the manufacturer. They have the capability to produce higher-quality healthcare products which will save you in terms of cost and product’s life span, as original and genuine equipment lasts longer. So, avoid taking risks with your medical equipment and choose a reputed medical manufacturer.

Different Types Of Equipments In One Place

 You can find different types of high quality medical equipments all located in one place from a reputable medical supplier. It is easy and convenient; you just browse their website and do a search on what equipment you are in need of, whether it is vascular doppler, surgical probes, diabetic foot care, neuropathy, retinopathy, pain management or diagnostic equipments. Having a wide variety of options helps you analyze different equipment and make a better decision.

Technical Expertise

This is one of the areas you should not look down upon. An established medical equipment manufacturer should have the technical know-how. Technical expertise helps them determine which equipment is best suited for their customers.

After Sales Product Service

A well acclaimed medical equipment manufacturer or supplier’s side assures you of great support, maintenance and repair services. They are always backed by a team of trained and skilled personnel who are forever ready to offer servicing, maintenance activities as well as timely repair. They also offer on call customer services which minimize the downtime and provide greater value for the price.

On-Site Training

If healthcare equipment is not used properly, it not only presents risks to the safety of the patients, it also threatens efficiency and level of service. A well known healthcare product manufacturer offers on-site training to ensure successful implementation of the equipment. After all, there’s no better person to train you than an employee of the company who built the device.

Customer Satisfaction

A trust-worthy equipment manufacturer will be dedicated to customer happiness & satisfaction and will provide the client with the best medical equipment they can get in a reasonable price.

There are many benefits you will gain from purchasing medical equipments from a reputable medical equipment manufacturer. Looking to buy diabetic foot care products and equipments? What better way to shop for these medical equipments than in the comfort of your own home? Choose a reliable diabeticfoot care products manufacturer and find exactly what you want and need by just browsing through the products in their website.

How Vascular Doppler help diabetic patients?

Diabetes with its related complications is a major cause of morbidity across the world. In India, Diabetic foot is one of the most common reasons for amputation .Studies have found that the vascular abnormalities area strong factor in the growth of diabetic foot, which can be diagnosed with the help of a Vascular Doppler ultrasound that scans arteries and veins. Often when people think of an ultrasound device, they think of a large, bulky machine. Over the past 10 years or so, the technology has become increasingly miniaturized and medical equipment manufacturers have introduced most modern handheld vascular Dopplers which has become highly popular among doctors.

A handheld vascular Doppler device is durable, light and portable with abundant convenient features that help with routine clinical examination of diabetic patients. These portable vascular Doppler are easy to use with its simple one-button operation and has large LCD screen for heart rate and blood velocity monitoring. They are available in various sizes with easy-to-read display, superior probe sensitivity, worry-free battery charging, superior sound quality and portability.

The device is aligned with the artery or vein through an ultrasonic sensor which gives diabetic patients appropriate information’s about their flow of blood. It provides doctors and diabetic patients with relevant information on the vascular structure and helps to measure blood flow in various parts of the human circulatory system such as the Diabetic Foot.

Vascular Doppler devices are very affordable today as there is a wide range that suits all budgets, it is a much needed tool to effectively diagnose a patient. They allow for faster, yet still accurate, diagnosis of blood pressure within the arteries and can also determine amount of blood flowing through the arteries and veins, which is especially valuable to diabetic patients. The small in size portable handheld vascular Doppler requires less space and can be easily moved from one room to other, making it more convenient to use.

There is great emphasis on early detection and treatment of diabetic foot. It is important to identify the role of vasculopathy, in order to plan beneficial approaches for preventing diabetic foot complications. Vascular Doppler findings are an important aid in detecting lower limb vascular disease. Vascular Doppler ultrasound scanning is a pain-free method that provides diabetic patients and doctors with important information about the flow of blood through the major arteries and veins. It can also determine blocked or reduced blood flow through narrowed areas in the arteries, which could eventually lead to a stroke.

Nowadays diabetic patients want to be more involved in their diagnosis and want to be able to visualize when something is wrong, and as such, are willing to accept the need for an ultrasound. The easy to use Doppler device helps diabetic patients to be knowledgeable about what they are experiencing and make them more involved in the treatment phase and take the necessary steps to treat their illness.

Though dopplers are traditionally used for diagnosing diabetic foot, it can also be used during surgeries with an additional probe to evaluate blood flow during surgery.

One thing to keep an eye out for when choosing a doppler, is to check if the outcomes are based on unidirectional flow or bidirectional flow. As unidirectional dopplers are merely screening tools and what makes them a diagnostic equipment is the bidirectional flow.

Don’t know which vascular Doppler to purchase? Contact one of the best handheld Vascular Doppler Suppliers and get assistance on finding your perfect vascular Doppler.

When Should You Seek Help for Sleep Problems?

It is estimated that 50 to 70 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders. The severity of these disorders can range from mild snoring to severe sleep apnea, which can impair functioning and increase the risk of various chronic conditions. Many people do not recognize the symptoms of a sleep disorder, or do not know if they are severe enough to seek the help from a Sleep Specialist. Below given are some important information to help you identify sleep troubles and what do next.

Identifying Potential Sleep Troubles

There are many different kinds of sleep disorders with various symptoms. However, one common symptom is fatigue. If you find you are excessively tired throughout the day despite sleeping all night, this may be a sign that your sleep is being impaired. Other symptoms include snoring & sleep apnea, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, impaired concentration, irritability, and low mood.

When Should You See A Sleep Expert?

If a person have a particular sleep problem that goes on for a period of time - even when the bedroom is quiet, dark, and safe—that's the time to see a doctor. Sleep medicine doctors are trained to evaluate individuals for sleep disorders. It is vital that you get appropriate treatment from expert sleep specialists, if you are having consistent, unexplained difficulty falling or staying asleep, are snoring heavily, or are just not waking up feeling rested.

Tracking Your Sleep

If you have decided to seek the help of a sleep specialist, record your sleep-wake pattern before your first appointment. Keep a sleep diary for tracking your sleep pattern which includes information like - How long you took to fall asleep? What time are you going to bed? How many times did you wake up at night? What time did you wake up? Did you have to nap during the day? If so, how long? Writing down your sleep habits in a journal may help your doctor learn more about your sleep patterns and uncover ways to best improve your sleep.

Seeking The Help Of A Professional

If you have determined that you have a sleep disorder, the next thing you should do is to make an appointment with your family physician, or you can go to a sleep clinic for further testing. However, not all sleep clinics are created equal. Search in your area for an accredited sleep med center. These clinics are required to meet the standards set by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and can offer high quality care.

See A Sleep Specialist For Hard-To-Solve Problems
 Complaints of sleepless nights are no stranger to primary physicians, who prescribe most of the sleep medication. But for long-term sleep problems, your family physician may not be able to offer you the best treatments. Or if your problem is harder to recognize, your doctor may be completely in the dark. A sleep medicine doctor is a sleep specialist who has additional special training in sleep medicine - specifically, in the area of diagnosing and managing sleep disorders. Therefore, a primary care physician may refer you for a sleep study at a Sleep Medicine Center or to one of the Sleep Specialists in your town.

Sleep deprivation and sleep disorder can have serious effects on your health, happiness, and productivity. The bottom line is that no matter how tired you might feel help is available. There are expert sleep specialists in Illinois who can help you with all your sleep problems. So, "You're not alone”- help is around the corner!

Source: https://www.quora.com/profile/Jessica-Williams-106/Health-Beauty/When-Should-You-Seek-Help-for-Sleep-Problems

KODY MEDICAL ELECTRONICS – ENABLING PEOPLE TO LIVE MORE INDEPENDENT AND FULFILING LIVES

With over 40 years of experience in the medical industry, KODY Medical Electronics has become one of the prominent names in manufacturing and supplying a wide range of diabetic footcare and surgical dopplers.  Our highly reliable and advanced equipments have created a benchmark in the industry. We have the knowledge and capability to manufacture a large range of world class products, solutions and services which enable us to serve as a ‘one stop provider’ for all your needs.

Get to know us a little bit more,

WE ARE EXPERTS AT OFFERING HOLISTIC SOLUTIONS FOR DIABETIC MANAGEMENT

We offer equipments that assist with prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diabetic conditions. Our wide range of eqipuments help with diagnosis of diabetic neuropathy, retinopathy, vasculopathy and foot pressure and temperature mapping.

We have crafted our place with industry experts through our bidirectional dopplers, interpretive Biotheziometer and handheld digital camera to name a few.

Our newest addition to the diabetic equipment family is our circulatory enhancement device - Flow Aid, that treats all forms of circulatory disorders and associated complications.

WE LEAD WITH INNOVATION AND RESEARCH

Our experience and knowledge in the medical field gives us an edge to develop innovative medical equipments and solutions. We are leading medical research projects in collaboration with AIIMS, New Delhi and Manipal Medical college to introduce new products and clinical applications that improves patient care.

We have been pioneers in healthcare by introducing 18 India first products over the past 40 years. Like introducingthe international standard ECG and IFT in 1980s to introducing ultra sound technology to evaluate blood flow in Cardia surgery today. 

OUR STRIDES IN THE SURGICAL FIELD

We have proven ourselves in the diabetic world and we are up for our next challenge.  Our surgical dopplers and interopertative probes provides an excellent opportunity for surgeons from various specialisms including Cardiac, Neuro, ENT, Plastics, Ortho, URO and Foot to make surgery safe by minimizing complications and offering quality assurance.

Our recent milestone - We challenged the current clinical practice in Cardiac surgery by being the world’s first to introduce ultrasound technology to evaluate the patency of the graft in CABG.

SERVICE !SERIVCE !SERVICE !

KODY Medical Electronics has been working closely with the medical industry for decades and we understand the daily challenges doctors and patients face.

We are a team of skilled individuals equipped to fulfil all of your needs. We believe in the importance of human connection with our customers and offer 24x7 personal assistance through a dedicated number. Our competitive pricing, product packages, quick delivery and timely online and onsite service enables all our customers to provide quality healthcare to their patients without any obstructions.

‘Together we can empower and enable patients to live healthier, more comfortable and independent lives’

Foods That Will Help You Sleep Better!

Trying to get more shut-eye?? Take a look at your diet. Eating certain foods in the hours before you hit the hay could actually help you fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly. Many foods contain naturally occurring substances that will leave you rested and restored. Load up on these foods two hours before bedtime to give your body enough time to properly digest. If you’re having some trouble sleeping at night, introduce these foods into your regular diet to help your body regulate its sleep cycle.

Warm Milk

Drinking a warm glass of milk can definitely help bring a satisfying sleep, because it contain tryptophan, an amino acid which converts into serotonin that induces calming effects in the brain. Disturbed sleep patterns can also be caused by the lack of calcium. Milk products like yogurt and cheese are rich in calcium and help the brain release the sleep-inducing melatonin hormone. So have a glass of warm milk before bed for a sleep-inducing snack.

Almonds

Almonds are a great sleep supporter which contains a good amount of magnesium that will help you sleep more soundly. They contain melatonin, a hormone that works as body's bio clock and helps in regulating sleep-wake cycles. Eating them can increase your blood levels of the hormone, and help you catch more quality shut-eye.

Bananas

Just like almonds bananas are dense with magnesium and potassium which are natural muscle relaxants. Plus, they contain sleep-inducing amino acids that foster relaxation and promote sleepiness. Just cut it up and blend it with your favorite type of milk.

Cherries

Believe it or not this red berry may be the ultimate pre-bed snack that can send you off to sleep. They’re delicious and one of the only natural sources of melatonin that naturally induces sleep. Eat fresh, cherries or have a glass of cherry juice before bedtime to reduce your insomnia symptoms and to get enough sleep.

Honey

A tablespoon of honey before bed will help you sleep better. The natural sugars present in honey increase the insulin levels in our body and allow tryptophan to enter the brain which releases chemicals that relax the body and you’re primed and ready for some restorative shut-eye.

Kiwi Fruit

This green fruit originally called Chinese gooseberries are full of vitamins C and E, serotonin and folate—all of which may help you snooze. They are packed with nutritive calcium, folate, magnesium and phosphorus. Have this green fruit two hours before bed or toss a few kiwis into your bedtime smoothie to get a healthy night sleep.

Many factors can impact your ability to experience a good night’s sleep. Making some changes in your habits may improve or solve your sleep disorders. There are many reasons for sleep disorders, so it’s important to be carefully evaluated and treated by a sleep doctor; it’s best to prepare ahead of time. If you suspect you have a sleep disorder, visit your nearest Sleep Center in Illinois immediately and prevent long term health problems.

Source: https://www.quora.com/profile/Jessica-Williams-106/Health-Beauty/Foods-That-Will-Help-You-Sleep-Better

What to expect at your overnight sleep test?

When you are scheduled for an overnight sleep test, you may have lots of questions and concerns. Keep in mind that the sleep experts are prepared for all of these inquiries. At “The Center For Sleep Medicine” we help thousands of people with sleep disorder every year. Many of our clients have asked us the same questions you're probably thinking right now: "What is an overnight sleep test, how does it work, and how do I prepare for it?"

Our Sleep Experts often recommend you to take part in an overnight sleep study so they can make the most accurate diagnosis and recommend the most effective treatment. They are also trained to provide you with a comfortable experience that's based on your specific healthcare needs. Even if you don't sleep as soundly as you would at home, you will still get enough sleep to provide adequate information for the sleep doctor to review.

If your doctor suspects you have a sleep disorder like sleep apnea, shift work sleep disorder or sleep related movements, you will be scheduled for an overnight sleep test. The goal of the sleep test is to observe you while you sleep, to get an absolute picture of what’s happening in your brain and your body. The test helps to find out whether you have a sleep disorder, and if so, to identify which one, so you can treat it and finally get a peaceful and restorative sleep.

An overnight sleep study or sleep test begins with an introduction with the sleep technician. Each patient has his or her own room with a bathroom and shower. The sleep technologist will place sensors, or electrodes, on your head and body to measure your heart rhythm, brain waves, breathing rate, oxygen levels, and body movements while you sleep, but don’t worry, you'll still have plenty of room to move and get comfortable.

Once you have been hooked up to the various machines, the Sleep Experts will begin monitoring the data from another room. Once you have been hooked up to the various machines, the Sleep Experts will begin monitoring the data from another room. When the calibrations are finalized you can go to sleep just like at home. A video recording is made to see how much you toss and turn and to assess unusual behaviors such as sleepwalking.

After your study, your sleep doctor will review your sleep test results and determine a treatment plan for you. At this point, if a sleep disorder was detected in the study, your doctor or sleep specialist will go over possible treatments for your condition. If you suspect you have a sleep disorder, consult an expert Sleep Specialist in Illinois immediately; schedule an overnight sleep test and start getting the treatment you need to better your life!

Does your Child Need a Sleep Evaluation?

Sleep affects your child’s development in many important ways, including mental and social development, physical health, and emotional regulation. When a child has trouble sleeping, it limits their ability to function well during the day, disrupts the household, and is a source of stress for parents and other family members.

Sleep problems in children are common. Some problems are brief and resolve on their own. When sleep problems persist for more than a few weeks, they may begin to affect a child’s mood, behavior, and relationships in the home and at school.

·       Common behavioral sleep problems found in children include:

·       Bedtime resistance or refusal

·       “Musical beds” or difficulty sleeping alone

·       Sleep schedule problems

·       Poor sleep habits and routines

·       Nighttime awakenings

·       Nighttime fears and nightmares

·       Bedwetting

·       Sleep walking / Sleep talking

Below is the list of queries to decide your Child Need a Sleep Evaluation or not.

·       Does your child have problems going to bed?

·       Does your child have problems falling asleep?

·       Does your child seem overtired or sleepy throughout the day?

·       Does your child have difficulty waking in the morning?

·       Does your teenager feel sleepy while driving?

·       Does your child experience awakenings throughout the night?

·       Does your child have trouble getting back to sleep?

·       Does your child experience sleep walking or night terrors?

·       Does your child wet their bed? (girls 5+ and boys 6+)

·       Does your child have an irregular sleep and wake time during weekdays and weekends?

·       Do you think that your child is not getting enough sleep?

·       Does your child snore more than two nights a week?

·       Does your child have difficulty breathing at night?

If you have answered “yes” to any of the above questions, there is a need to consider a sleep evaluation!

Why choose “The Center for Sleep Medicine”?

There are four criteria that should be used to assess any sleep medicine provider’s services.

The first criteria relates to the issue of accreditation by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).AASM accreditation is the gold standard by which physicians in the community and patients evaluate sleep medicine services. The accreditation process involves detailed reviews of policies, procedures, patient charts, and such things as inter-scorer reliability with regard to the sleep study data. Accreditation also ensures that services are provided in facilities providing optimal patient care.

A second criteria has to do with the sleep center staffing.Ideally, sleep disorder centers should be staffed with a multidisciplinary, multispecialty team of sleep disorder specialists. This would include board-certified sleep specialists in neurology, pulmonary medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, and otolaryngology. It is essential that the center staff include behavioral sleep medicine specialists who offer expertise in the treatment of insomnia, shift work sleep disorders, and other sleep-related problems requiring behavioral or cognitive behavioral interventions.

A third criteria that should be assessed is the commitment of the practitioners to the field of sleep medicine.Ideally, the core staff of the sleep center would have a practice limited to sleep disorders medicine. Sleep medicine should not represent a part-time effort or something that is done “on the side”.

A fourth criteria relates to support services provided to patients within the sleep disorder center.There should be full-time registered sleep technicians available at all times to patients, particularly those adjusting to sleep with nasal CPAP. These registered sleep technicians work closely under the supervision of the sleep specialists.

The Center for Sleep Medicine meets all four criteria.

Source: https://www.sleepmedcenter.com/faq/why-choose-the-center-for-sleep-medicine/

Sleepless Nights Across The Lifespan

Sleep is a core biological function, an inherent process that is both physiological and psychological, and one that affects us over our entire lifespan. Most of us will sleep for some period just about every day from the day we are born until the day we die. As a biological process influenced by our circadian rhythm, it connects us to the very movement of our planet. It plays a vital role in alertness, learning, memory, concentration, mood and health. We all have a genetic propensity to sleep, yet because it is so inherent, and because most of us do it every night, its effects may be subtle and unremarkable in our everyday life. Until we cannot get it.

When sleep is disordered – when we can’t sleep, or when we wake feeling unrestored – the effects of good sleep are envied and the impairment we experience is pronounced. Poor sleep even for a night or two can be associated with impaired psychomotor functioning, memory or learning difficulties, concentration deficits and mood impairment. Longer-term sleep difficulties can widely affect our health – from cardiometabolic disorders such as diabetes, hypertension and congestive heart failure to psychiatric disorders including depression and anxiety. Sleep disorders also have a widespread social impact. With poor sleep we are likely to become more isolated. Our intimate relationships may falter, and work productivity suffers.

There are over 80 different types of sleep disorders, but by far the most common is insomnia. Insomnia consists of difficulty initiating sleep, difficulty staying asleep or re initiating sleep after awakening. Individuals frequently experience more than one of these symptoms. Insomnia can emerge at any point in our lifespan. Virtually everyone will have a difficult night occasionally; however, up to 15% of the adult American population suffers from chronic insomnia lasting 4 weeks or longer.

Insomnia may have a medical basis – hormonal changes or impaired endocrine functioning such as hyper- or hypothyroidism, for example, can lead to sleep difficulties. For the vast majority of individuals suffering insomnia, however, insomnia is nearly always “psychophysiological” in nature – a product of the interplay between the physiology of sleep and psychological and behavioral factors which may counteract this by affecting physiological arousal. Psychological factors, such as stress often precipitate initial sleepless nights. Other factors also considered to be psychological – behaviors, conditioning, mental activity, anxiety and sleep phase variability – are associated with perpetuating insomnia over time.

Insomnia may emerge in infancy or childhood. While medical conditions may lead to sleep difficulties, more typically such early insomnia emphasizes the role of learning in sleep patterns. As children reach adolescence, they are likely to experience a delay in their sleep phase due to hormonal changes and emerging social behaviors, . In young adults, insomnia may occur as they enter the work world but continue to exist on a “college” schedule – staying out late on the weekend and sleeping in the next morning.

For parents, family stressors go hand-in-hand for the adult with insomnia. Infants and their disrupted sleep, or children and their sleep schedules can wreak havoc. For women, insomnia often emerges either around childbirth or during or after menopause. For the adult insomnia sufferer, anxiety – reflecting increased physiological arousal, cognitive activity, and sleep schedule variability have a dramatic effect on functioning. Insomnia worsens emotional regulation; reflecting depressed mood but also impairment in social interactions. Conflict, poor communication and mood impairment – hallmarks of feeling “crabby” after a difficult night – in the long term become stressors unto themselves, which feed a vicious cycle between poor sleep and relationship difficulties.

Individuals vary in the amount of sleep they need. The average person requires 8 hours of sleep but there is actually substantial variability between individuals. Sleep partners may often not be well-matched in this regard. If one individual requires only 7 hours of sleep and the other 9, the shorter sleeper is often left tossing and turning in bed.

In adults who can’t sleep, worries about work and functioning are common. With little doubt, insomnia in adulthood affects work. The cost of insomnia for the employer and our nation’s productivity is high. Lost productivity occurs both from days where individuals miss work (“absenteeism”), but also when individuals are present but less productive (“presenteeism”). A study recently published in SLEEP, the journal of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, analyzed results from the American Insomnia Survey to evaluate the impact of insomnia on the work place. It found a 23% prevalence of insomnia among employees. Insomnia rates were lower for those over 65, males and with college degrees. For this large sample across employers, insomnia was associated with 7.8 days of lost productivity. The authors estimate the cost in human capital to be $2,280 annually per person. For a large company with 50,000 employees, this productivity loss translates into a cost of over $26 million dollars annually. For a smaller company with 1,000 employees, this would reflect a cost of $524,400.

Most adults will continue to require 7- 9 hours or sleep a night as they age. Although we do experience changes in physiological sleep need as we age in adulthood, most insomnia in older adults is associated with medical conditions – pain in particular – and medications rather than lost sleep need. Interestingly, it is also not uncommon for the retiree to expect longer sleep periods upon retirement. Unfortunately, sleep need doesn’t increase simply because we now have time to sleep in. In some older adults, efforts to sleep longer lead to overexpansion of sleep opportunity in relation to physiological sleep need. This can lead to frustration and mental activity as individuals lay in bed hoping to sleep, further fueling insomnia.

Fortunately, insomnia is a very treatable condition at any age. The most durable and effective treatment does not require medication. Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for Insomnia (CBTi) builds on basic behavioral techniques and incorporates interventions directed at reducing sleep anxiety, cognitive activity (“racing thoughts”) and sleep schedule modification. A behavioral sleep medicine specialist can provide this brief treatment. Multiple studies comparing this treatment approach to use of prescription sleep medications show both cost efficiency and more lasting durable treatment of insomnia with CBTi. Certainly, there is also no shortage of over-the-counter sleep medications and an expanding number of prescription sleep medications are also available. While medications may be effective, sleep medications are most intended for acute, short-term bouts of sleep difficulty. For the chronic insomnia suffered, these medications may actually foster greater difficulty over time. Individuals may develop a psychological dependence on the medications and when medications are stopped, anxiety and rebound insomnia are likely to occur. To evaluate the best treatment option for insomnia, speak with your primary care physician or contact a comprehensive, accredited sleep disorder treatment center.

Source: https://www.sleepmedcenter.com/sleepless-nights-across-the-lifespan/