Are you finding it hard to fall asleep at night? Do you often wake up even more tired in the morning than when you first lay your head to rest? How about concentration or irritability issues affecting your relationships and work environment? Sleeping disorders are one of the most common and frustrating issues facing Americans across the country, being caused by a variety of factors ranging from stress to biology to age. Sleep apnea is a severe sleeping disorder that can disrupt day-to-day life and even increase your chances of heart failure, stroke and physical illness. If you or someone you know struggles with a sleeping disorder, keep reading to learn more about how it functions, recent technology developed and the resources available to you.

Who Has Sleep Apnea?

It’s estimated over 18 million Americans suffer from an untreated sleeping disorder, with well over 50 to 70 Americans struggling with sleep apnea overall. This is often characterized by obstructive sleeping patterns, snoring and constant wakefulness. Although there are many reasons sleep apnea can occur, the most common sources lie in chronic stress, age, breathing issues and injury. Sleep apnea disorders are pervasive and disrupting, so much so that many Americans feel they may not be treated and often avoid seeing a regular doctor for their symptoms. However, there are resources available to you designed to curb your disorder and help you rest fully again.

What Are Common Side Effects?

Although many Americans suffer from sleeping disorders, not everyone seeks out treatment. Undiagnosed sleep apnea can put you at risk for a significant amount of physical and mental illness, including but not limited to heart failure, heart attack, stroke, diabetes, depression and concentration issues. Undiagnosed moderate to severe sleep apnea in middle-aged American adults can cost an upward of $3 billion in additional medical costs, most of which can be countered with prior assessment and treatment. Ongoing studies have even found untreated sleep apnea sufferers are six times more likely to die in a car accident than those who are treated.

What Technology Is Available?

There are a variety of mouthpieces, masks and pillows that can reduce the effects of sleep apnea and give you the rest you need to function throughout the day. Sleep disorders often disrupt breathing patterns, interrupting essential REM cycles and causing you to repeatedly wake up in the middle of the night or struggle to sleep at all. A mouthpiece for sleep can open up your airways to encourage more steady breathing, while a sleep apnea pillow offers a similar function alongside functionality. These can be set up at home or carried with you on the go, to make sure you’re able to sleep properly no matter where you rest. Which of these will work for you, however, depends on the severity of your condition, your general lifestyle and additional health factors.

How Do I Get Diagnosed?

If you or someone you love suffers from sleep apnea or a similar wakefulness disorder, your first stop should be to see a sleep specialist. Share with them your daily to weekly symptoms and how it’s affected your day-to-day life, the better to moderate the severity of your condition and prescribe the necessary technology, medication or therapy accordingly. The average sleep apnea sufferer can experience up to 60 apneas per hour, which can affect everything from their working environment to their day-to-day obligations. A restful night’s sleep and better health is only a doctor’s check-up away, so seek out your local sleep specialist and see what they can do for you.