The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified inadequate sleep as a public health epidemic – and for good reason. Research has linked poor sleep to more than a few long-term medical issues, including dementia, diabetes, heart disease and more. Additionally, sleep difficulties cost America untold millions every year, thanks to low worker productivity and rising medical costs.
A Big Financial Toll
According to the American Insomnia Study, poor sleep is an expensive problem in the United States. Among its findings, the report found that insomnia results in 11.3 days of lost productivity for the average American worker each year. That amounts to $3,400 in lost annual income for a self-employed person earning $300 a day.
Sleep difficulties can also have an indirect effect on our pocketbooks, especially for older people who are vulnerable to health problems. For instance, studies have demonstrated that insufficient sleep is tightly linked to high blood pressure: an expensive condition that demands expensive pharmaceuticals and tests. The journal Hypertension reports that high blood pressure can cost the average sufferer $1,131 per year in medical costs: an especially steep price for senior citizens who tend to live on tight budgets.
Sleep Apnea Part of the Problem
While many owe their sleeping difficulties to bad habits; countless others can blame sleep apnea, a serious disorder that causes breathing disruptions during the night. Without treatment, sufferers are at risk for dangerous medical problems that can prove costly and deadly.
A good sleep apnea treatment can put an end to frustrating and dangerous breathing disruptions, but only when sufferers reach out for help. Dr. Berry helps his patients by providing an oral appliance that keeps airways open at night. To learn more about this quiet, comfortable sleep apnea remedy, contact his office today or call the TMJ Therapy & Sleep Center of Colorado at (303) 691-0267 to schedule your consultation.