Sleep health is an essential part of your overall health and wellness and most people aren’t getting enough. The National Sleep Foundation recommends the number of hours each age group should have each night:

• Newborns (0-3 months): 14-17 hours 
• Infants (4-11 months): 12-15 hours
• Toddlers (1-2 years): 11-14 hours
• Preschoolers (3-5): 10-13 hours
• School-age children (6-13): 9-11 hours 
• Teenagers (14-17): 8-10 hours
• Younger adults (18-25): 7-9 hours
• Adults (26-64): 7-9 hours
• Older adults (65+): 7-8 hours

Most healthy adults should get around 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night, while older adults should get 7 to 8 hours. If you’re having trouble getting enough rest at night, it’s important to talk with your doctor about your options for diagnosing any possible sleep disorders through a physical examination, or a sleep study, and then taking steps to improve your sleep health.

Some well-known sleep disorders that may require a sleep study include insomnia, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and narcolepsy.

Insomnia

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder in which an individual has trouble falling or staying asleep. This disorder affects approximately 25% of the American population, according to Science Daily.

It may stem from several different causes including unhealthy sleep habits, biological factors, psychiatric or medical conditions, or other underlying sleep disorders like sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome.

Sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is another common sleep disorder that, according to the National Sleep Foundation, affects more than 18 million Americans. Men are two to three times more likely to have sleep apnea than women. 

This disorder occurs when the muscles in the back of your throat relax and your air pathways narrow or close as you breathe in, making it difficult to get enough air. This process can impair your sleep by causing snorting, choking or gasping throughout the night.

Sleep apnea is another common sleep disorder that, according to the National Sleep Foundation, affects more than 18 million Americans. Men are two to three times more likely to have sleep apnea than women. 

Restless leg syndrome

Around one in ten American adults have restless leg syndrome (RLS), which is commonly known for the urge to move or jerk the legs while at rest. It is a neurologic sensorimotor disorder that is most prominent during the evening and nighttime hours and can profoundly disrupt a person’s sleep.

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a neurological sleep disorder with symptoms that include uncontrollable daytime sleepiness, sudden loss of muscle tone, and memory problems. It affects 1 in every 2,000 people in the United States. Symptoms usually develop in an individual’s childhood to teenage years. 

Narcolepsy is a chronic condition that currently has no cure, but taking medication and making lifestyle changes can help manage the symptoms of this disorder.

Identifying the underlying cause of a sleep disorder is important to finding the right treatment. Depending on the situation, your doctor may prescribe a physical exam, a review of your sleep habits, or a sleep study to find the type of treatment that is right for you.

At Ed Fraser Memorial Hospital, our nationally accredited Sleep Lab accepts patients aged 12 years or older and offers both in-home and in-lab testing services. You must be referred by your doctor for a sleep study before making an appointment. Learn more about what our Sleep Lab has to offer on our services page, or call us at (904) 259-3151 for more information.