Understanding Sleep Disorders and How They Affect Your Life

The average amount of sleep recommended for an adult is 7-8 hours a night. Some adults may feel more rested with 9 hours of sleep, while others can function well with 6. According to the CDC, 28.5%-44% of adults are getting less than the recommended amount of sleep.

Interestingly, where you live might play a role in how much sleep you’re getting. The highest percentage of people with short sleep duration live in the southeastern states, while those in the Great Plain states have the lowest percentage.

You may be wondering what causes this great disturbance in sleep across the US? For some, it may be due to external reasons. Some may have very busy schedules, they may have babies or kids who keep them up at night, or they may simply enjoy staying up late in the evenings.

For others, good sleep is elusive, even despite their best efforts. They may try very hard to get their 7-8 hours, but still fail to do so night after night. For these individuals, their sleep challenges may be because they’re suffering from a sleep disorder.

Sleep disorders disrupt a person’s sleep. Someone with a sleep disorder may struggle to get good quality sleep, and they may also have a hard time falling asleep or staying asleep.

Chronic sleep deprivation can lead to a host of other issues, so it’s important to diagnose a sleeping disorder and get the proper treatment to help.

Types of Sleep Disorders

No matter what type of sleep disorder you may have, the end result is pretty much the same: sleep deprivation.

However, identifying what kind of sleep deprivation you have is a big step in helping work out an effective solution.

There are quite a few sleep disorders, and each one can wreak havoc on a good night’s sleep.