Sleep is one of the most important aspects of your health. Yet for people with a variety of sleep disorders, getting a good night's sleep is literally exhausting! Poor sleep can be hazardous to your physical and mental health.
   People who are chronically sleep-deprived may suffer problems with memory, concentration and mood. They may age more quickly and are at higher risk for accidents, in the car and at work. Adequate sleep is essential for good health. For most adults that means an average of eight hours of sleep each night, although a small number of people may need a bit more or less.

There is a variety of sleep disorders. Some are very common and some are very rare. Not all sleep problems are the result of a sleep disorder. Some difficulties may be related to medical or psychological illnesses, medications, stress or pain.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

One of the most common sleep disorders in adults is obstructive sleep apnea, occurring in an estimated one in four individuals over age 60. In this disorder, breathing is impaired or stops for several seconds repeatedly throughout the night. This disrupts the flow of sleep and can result in a variety of problems including daytime sleepiness.

Restless Legs Syndrome

One other relatively common disorder is restless legs syndrome. This disorder is diagnosed based on a history of restlessness or discomfort predominantly in the legs, and typically occurring in the evening or when a person sits or lies down for a prolonged period of time. The sensation in the legs is relieved when that person gets up and/or moves around.

Narcolepsy and REM sleep behavior disorder are two sleep disorders that are much less common and are frequently misunderstood by both physicians and patients. Narcolepsy typically does not cause a person to sleep excessively. Most patients with narcolepsy sleep only 8 to 9 hours in a 24-hour period. This is the normal sleep requirement for most adults. Instead, people with narcolepsy have difficulty with regulating transitions between sleep and wakefulness. They may have brief attacks during the day where they fall asleep without warning and they may have difficulty staying asleep at night.

PUBLIC POLICY ON SLEEP DISORDERS:
Approximately 40 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep disorders and another 20 to 30 million suffer intermittent sleep-related problems. Evidence tells us that America’s sleep debt is on the rise. Yet, numerous studies have concluded that the general public, policy makers and primary care physicians lack basic sleep knowledge. More importantly, the vast majority of Americans with sleep disorders remain undiagnosed and untreated and research is severely lacking. As a result, the toll on human health, productivity and safety is enormous.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL SLEEP FOUNDATION:
Due to these reasons, the National Sleep Foundation is committed to an advocacy program with the Legislative and Executive branches of the federal government. Their mission is to promote public understanding of sleep and sleep disorders and support education, research and advocacy to improve public health and safety. One essential way to achieve this mission is to advocate for federal research and educational initiatives to ensure that all Americans have access to the health care and knowledge they need to lead healthy, productive lives. Within these broad goals, they dedicate themselves to a government advocacy program that addresses the following legislative and regulatory issues.

Should you have any questions about NSF government affairs programs, please call them at
(202) 347-3471 or visit their website at www.sleepfoundation.org.