National Sleep Awareness Week

March 5th-12th, 2017 is National Sleep Awareness Week.  Why is Sleep Awareness Important?

The National Institutes of Health estimates that sleep-related problems affect 50 to 70 million Americans of all ages and socioeconomic classes. Sleep disorders are common in both men and women. The cumulative effects of sleep loss and sleep disorders represent an under-recognized public health problem and have been associated with a wide range of health consequences.  

Problems sleeping include not getting enough sleep, not feeling rested and not sleeping well. This problem can lead to difficulties functioning during the daytime and have unpleasant effects on your work, social and family life. Problems sleeping can be secondary to a medical illness such as sleep apnea or a mental health condition like depression. Sleep issues can also be a sign of an impending condition such as bipolar disorder.  In addition to affecting sleep itself, many medical and mental health conditions can be worsened by sleep related problems.  

Learn more about the connection between sleep and mental health here.