Sleeptember® is a program of the American Sleep Apnea Association (ASAA) and its partners. Their purpose is to raise awareness of the many symptoms and diseases associated with sleep deprivation.

Did you know…

  • 50-70 million US adults have a sleep disorder?
  • 48.0% report snoring.
  • 37.9% reported unintentionally falling asleep during the day at least once in the preceding month.
  • 4.7% reported nodding off or falling asleep while driving at least once in the preceding month.
  • 25 Million U.S. adults have obstructive sleep apnea
  • 3–5% of the overall proportion of obesity in adults could be attributable to short sleep

These statistics were reported by the American Sleep Association. The ASA also reported that 35.3% adults report getting less than 7 hours of sleep during a typical 24-hour period. How much sleep is actually needed? The American Sleep Association reports:

  • Adult: 7 – 9 hours
  • Teenager: 8 – 10 hours
  • Child 6 – 12 years: 9- 12 hours
  • Child 3 – 5 years: 10 – 13 hours (including naps)
  • Child 1 – 2 years: 11 – 14 hours (including naps)
  • Infants 4 -12 months: 12 – 16 hours (including naps)

Left untreated, sleep disorders can lead to chronic conditions such as heart disease, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, mental health, accidents, obesity, poor memory, and an overall shorter life span.

Many healthcare providers utilize the Epworth Sleepiness Scale to determine whether a person might have sleep apnea. Score yourself on the following scale. If your score is higher than 8, be sure to discuss with your healthcare provider.

SLEEP APNEA SIGNS/SYMPTONS

Epworth Sleepiness Scale: Use the following scale to choose the most appropriate number for each situation:

0 = would never doze or sleep
1 = slight chance of dozing or sleeping
2 = moderate chance of dozing or sleeping
3 = high chance of dozing or sleeping

Situation

Chance of Dozing or Sleeping

Sitting and reading

____

Watching TV

____

Sitting inactive in a public place

____

Being a passenger in a motor vehicle for an hour or more

____

Lying down in the afternoon

____

Sitting and talking to someone

____

Sitting quietly after lunch (no alcohol)

____

Stopped for a few minutes in traffic
while driving

____

Total score (add the scores up)
(This is your Epworth score)

____

2-8 can be considered normal.  People scoring higher should contact their physician.

The most common treatment for people with sleep apnea is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP).This is a treatment that uses mild air pressure to keep your breathing airways open.

Denman Services’ (Denman Medical, Hannibal Medical, Illini Health Services, and Macomb Medical respiratory team provides the follow-up needed to help patients get the maximum benefit from their PAP treatment. For more information about the services Denman Medical provides please contact us at (217) 277-5334.