World Sleep Day

Cause for Celebration or Concern?

Today, March 17, is World Sleep Day, which aims to celebrate healthy sleep and raise awareness and understanding of sleep disorders, sleep problems and solutions. A good night of sleep makes a world of difference, and we'd like to take this opportunity to share some important information with you. Are your nights filled with blissful sleep or frequent awakening? Millions of adults suffer from sleep and snoring issues.

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Sleep Facts and Statistics:

Insomnia affects 30-45% of the adult population.* That makes us lose sleep just thinking about it!
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) occurs in about 17% of men and 9% of women in the US.*
According to the National Sleep Foundation's Sleep in America Poll, more than 1/3 of Americans (over 100 million people) have fallen asleep at the wheel. Of those, 13% say they've done so at least once a month.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that at least 100,000 police-reported crashes a year result from drivers falling asleep or being too tired to drive. This results in an estimated 1,550 deaths and 71,000 injuries.

*Source: Thrive Journal

Obstructive Sleep apnea affects about 20 million people in the US, and is largely undiagnosed. Snoring and excessive daytime fatigue are among the key indicators of OSA. Even in the absence of OSA, snoring can wreak havoc on sleep, especially that of a significant other.

The seriousness of OSA varies from mild to severe, and depends on how long the sleep stoppages last and how frequently they occur. The percentage of those with OSA is on the rise. The consequences, if left undiagnosed and untreated, are inconvenient at best and dire at worst. Risk factors associated with sleep apnea include:

Cancer
Stroke
Obesity
Accidents
Confusion
Acid Reflux
Diabetes II
Headaches
Depression
Loss of Libido
Teeth Grinding
Daytime Sleepiness
Risk of Heart Attack
High Blood Pressure
Moodiness/Irritability
Cardiovascular Disease

In addition to his expertise in General and Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr. Picard is a specialist in snoring and sleep apnea, with relationships with exceptional sleep doctors in the West LA, Santa Monica and Los Angeles areas. Think that you or your partner may have sleep apnea? Take our online sleep apnea test to find out if your symptoms are likely caused by OSA.