Are you getting enough sleep?
Do your eyelids feel heavy during meetings? Do you need two or three cups of coffee just to make it through the day?
A survey conducted by Philips reveals that over 17 million Brits get less than 6 hours of sleep per night and could be suffering from obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), a common sleep disorder that robs you of the sleep you need to power your day.
OSA is estimated to affect 100 million people worldwide and is the most common sleep disorder, where sufferers stop breathing repeatedly during sleep. In the UK, OSA currently costs the NHS a staggering £432 million every year.
Caused by the narrowing or closure of the upper airway, each pause in breathing lasts upwards of 10 seconds. It registers in the individual’s brain, waking them up just enough to open the throat and begin breathing again, starting the cycle over again.
Most individuals don’t remember these episodes occurring, when waking from what feels like a sleepless night. In severe cases, people with sleep apnoea may be waking up hundreds of times every night without even knowing it.
OSA is linked to long-term health conditions and, if left untreated, can cause high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, an irregular heartbeat and heart disease. OSA also increases the chance of having work related or driving accidents.
On average, only 1 in 10 Brits have been diagnosed with OSA, while 89%remain in the dark about the sleep disorder and whether they might be suffering from it.
For those who think they might be at risk of OSA, common tell-tale signs include:
- Loud, disruptive snoring; gasping or choking during sleep
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Morning headaches; memory or learning problems
- Feeling irritable and not being able to concentrate on your work
- Mood swings or personality changes; perhaps feeling depressed
- Dry throat when you wake up and frequent urination at night
In an effort to help OSA sufferers identify and combat the disorder, Philips has pledged to screen one million people for OSA over a period of five years. This will include providing a new visual OSA guide to help people detect the symptoms, Philips is continuing to show its dedication to improving the lives of patients suffering from OSA and other serious sleep disorders.
Mark Aloia, Senior Director of Global Clinical Research, Philips Healthcare, commented: “It surprises me that with all the talk about sleep, we’re still seeing a lack of awareness by the public and health care professionals around OSA and the significant consequences of this serious sleep disorder. We’re looking to beat the statistics and create broader understanding of all that sleep can do to help improve overall population health.”