HHS HealthBeat (May 01, 2009)

Sleep disorders

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Sleepiness makes the simplest activities difficult and sometimes dangerous. But for some, daytime sleepiness may indicate a sleep disorder.

At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Michael Decker and William Reeves studied survey data from over 7,000 adults. They found that one third had symptoms of a sleep disorder. Surprisingly, very few had ever been diagnosed with one.

Reeves says:

[William Reeves speaks] "If you wake up feeling unrefreshed – ask your bed partner whether you snore or whether you kick during the night. These are all subtle signs of sleep disorders."

The first steps in fighting sleepiness and fatigue are paying attention to your body, maintaining a regular sleep schedule, and seeking medical advice if you think you have a sleep disorder.

The study is in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: May, 04 2009