BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) – After a long day, there’s this wonderful moment when you finally climb into bed, close your eyes, and gently drift off to sleep.
But not everyone gets to enjoy that moment.
A recent study led by CBDfx claims that out of all 50 states, Louisiana is among the Top 10 in sleep deprivation.
Lack of sleep can lead to many problems. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a sleep-deprived person can make embarrassing errors at work or life-threatening mistakes while driving a vehicle. Not getting enough rest has also been linked with serious illnesses like type two diabetes, heart disease, obesity and depression.
According to the CBDfx study, 38% of people in Louisiana said they’re not getting enough rest at night. It added that another 19% of adults in our state reported poor mental health days.
Common sleep issues in Baton Rouge
Dr. J. Kyle Schwab, the medical director of Louisiana Sleep Foundation LLC and The Baton Rouge General Sleep Center said many of his Baton Rouge-based patients suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. OSA is a condition that causes people to experience repeated interrupted breathing while they’re asleep.
Schwab added, “Other common sleep disorders seen include insomnia, daytime sleepiness and circadian rhythm sleep disorders.”
Night shift workers and sleeping habits
Many capital area citizens work at night, and Schwab said this can cause a very specific problem.
“Shift workers often develop what we term ‘shift work sleep disorder,’” Schwab explained. “This creates a situation where they have trouble falling to sleep during their sleep period and often difficulty staying awake during their wake period.”
Over time, untreated shift work sleep disorder can lead to other issues.
Schwab said, “This can cause them to be chronically fatigued, and some studies show a higher risk of heart disease, obesity and diabetes in these patients.”
Health conditions that can impact sleep
Schwab went on to say that a person who suffers from the following conditions might also find themselves battling insomnia:
- Stress/anxiety
- ADD
- Depression
- Bipolar disorder
Getting help
Anyone battling long-term insomnia would do well to team up with a specialist who can help them create a plan for better health.
Schwab identified key aspects of such a plan, saying, “Exercise, keep a regular sleep schedule. Get out of bed at the same time every day, get outside during the day and minimize time in front of the screens and computer late in the day.”
To find out more from capital area sleep specialists, visit one of the clinics below:
- Baton Rouge General – Louisiana Sleep Foundation, 4660 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge, (225) 767-8550
- Our Lady of the Lake Sleep Center, 7777 Hennessy Blvd., Ste. 216, Baton Rouge, 225-765-8938
- The Sleep Clinic, 11017 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, 504-780-2400
Leave a Reply