Sleep is Central to Good Health

How you function during the day is related to both the quality and quantity of sleep you get the night before. If sleepiness interferes with your daily activities, more sleep each night might improve the quality of your waking hours. However, if you have one of any number of different underlying sleeping disorders, simply sleeping more hours each night might not solve the problem of daytime sleepiness. Unfortunately, many adults report experiencing a sleeping problem one or more nights a week which can lead to a number of chronic diseases including diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and depression.

“Understanding how sleep–related breathing disorders affect the body can help patients take an active, positive role in improving their overall health,” said Peter Tyler Alford, MD. “As the awareness of how chronic diseases lead to premature death and illness, research surrounding how sleep impacts the development and management of various diseases also continues to increase.”

Major sleep disorders and symptoms related to these conditions include:

  • Insomnia – an inability to fall or stay asleep that can result in functional impairment throughout the day
  • Narcolepsy – excessive daytime sleepiness combined with sudden muscle weakness; episodes of narcolepsy are sometimes called “sleep attacks” and may occur in unusual circumstances.
  • Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) – an unpleasant “creeping” sensation associated with aches and pains throughout the legs that can make it difficult to fall asleep.
  • Sleep Apnea – interrupted sleep caused by periodic gasping or “snorting” noises or momentarily suspension of breathing.

If you are concerned about sleep and your health, consider consulting with a provider board certified in Sleep Medicine such as Dr. Alford, a Pulmonologist now scheduling patients at Catawba Valley Pulmonology. Call 828.326.2660 to make an appointment. If deemed necessary, some patients are referred to the CVMC Center for Sleep Disorders located in Tate Medical Commons. This six-bed center is equipped with advanced diagnostic technology and comfortable private evaluation rooms where in-depth sleep assessments are conducted to help determine what treatments can offer patients higher quality sleep.

Categories