Just as the battery of your laptop computer needs to be recharged after hours of usage, so does your body. Instead of plugging into an outlet, though, your body’s way of replenishing itself is through adequate sleep. When there are interruptions in this natural process, you can expect to see some immediate and long-term results. As you continue reading, you’ll discover how much sleep you need to get nightly, and four ways that interrupted rest related to sleep apnea in Columbus can impact your body.
How Much Sleep Do You Need?
At different stages in life, the amount of sleep needed to properly function can vary. According to the National Sleep Foundation, here are the number of hours needed nightly based on age:
- Older adults (65+): 7-8 hours
- Young adults and adults (18-64): 7-9 hours
- Teens: 8-10 hours
- School-age children (6-13): 9-11 hours
- Toddlers & Preschool children (1-5): 10-13 hours
- Infants: 12-15 hours
4 Ways Interrupted Sleep Impacts Your Body
Frequent breaks in your sleep, especially related to sleep apnea, can deprive you of the usual benefits of getting adequate rest, but the problems don’t stop there. It can also compromise your health by leaving you more susceptible to hypertension, diabetes, a compromised immune system and other issues. Here are four short-term challenges that can arise:
- Mood Swings – Interruptions in your sleep can lead to hormonal imbalances that affect your mood.
- Memory Loss – Your brain resets each night when you sleep. Any breaks in your rest pattern hinder this function and lead to memory lapses.
- Lack of Focus – An unrested brain will be less cognitively functional the next day, which can affect your ability to perform your tasks and be attentive.
- Loss of Energy – Frequent interruptions in your sleep throughout the night can leave you feeling tired and lethargic during the awake hours.
How to Rest Better
There is no need to continue suffering from poor rest related to sleep apnea. If you’ve been diagnosed with the condition, a local sleep dentist can provide you with a custom-designed oral appliance. The small device, which is comfortably worn while you sleep, will gently shift your jaw to ensure your airway remains open so that oxygen can flow freely. Therefore, you can receive the full benefits that a good night’s sleep has to offer.
Because of the COVID-19 crisis, most sleep dentists have temporarily placed their elective services on hold. To find out for sure if a specialist near you is treating sleep breathing disorders during this time, simply reach out to his or her office.
About the Author
Dr. Eric Buck earned his dental degree from The Ohio State University College of Dentistry. He has since gone on to specialize in treating sleep apnea. To stay abreast of the latest advancements in sleep dentistry, Dr. Buck maintains professional membership with the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. He helps his patients finally get the rest they need at The Columbus Sleep Center, and he can be reached for more information through his website.