Statistics underscore that message:

• 10% of the general population has chronic insomnia
• 1 in 5 drivers admits to falling asleep while driving
• 1 in 3 pilots admits to falling asleep while flying
• 25% of adult males in the U.S. have episodes of sleep apnea
• 25 to 40% of children diagnosed with ADD/ADHD have some form of sleep disorder

Many people with sleep disorders are in the 35 to 50 year-old age range and tend to rationalize their symptoms. They believe fatigue is just part of growing older. Others think they are tired all the time because they are working too hard. Sleep issues are persistently ignored; people often wait years to seek help. Sleep studies can help identify the problem early.

At most sleep labs, including the Borgess Sleep Disorders Center in Kalamazoo, an overnight sleep study monitors and records activity in the brain, heart, lungs, eyes, arms and legs. A specialized computer program condenses almost 800 pages of data into a synopsis for the sleep experts to review and interpret. A program of follow-up care for health problems such as sleep apnea (repeated cessation of breathing during sleep) may then be coordinated with a primary care doctor.

The Bronson Center for Sleep Disorders reports that more children are being screened in sleep labs in recent years, due to studies which have shown correlations among sleep problems, breathing difficulties and attention-deficit or behavior disorders. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends any child who snores be evaluated for sleep apnea. Children are also often referred to sleep centers for parasomnia complaints such as nightmares, night terrors, sleepwalking and bedwetting. In the teen-age and young adult years, the sleep studies often involve narcolepsy, which is the sudden and uncontrollable onset of sleep, often during normal waking hours.

Here are some suggestions for improving the quality and quantity of sleep:

• Make your sleeping environment quiet, dark and cool.
• Avoid alcohol and nicotine, especially close to bedtime.
• Cut back on caffeine, particularly in the evening hours.
• Eliminate spicy or heavy food snacks before bedtime.
• Establish a regular sleep routine. Go to bed and awaken at the same times each day, to set your circadian rhythms.
• Get regular exercise, but not within 3 hours of bedtime.

(To learn more about sleep-related issues, visit The National Sleep Foundation web site www.sleepfoundation.org. Information in this article was provided in part by the Battle Creek Health System Sleep Center, located in the Fieldstone Center in Battle Creek. Call 269-964-5347 or visit the BCHS web site www.bchealth.com. You can access information on the Borgess Sleep Disorders Center on Gull Road in Kalamazoo at www.borgess.com or by calling 269-226-7081. For the Bronson Center for Sleep Disorders on John Street in Kalamazoo, call 269-341-7666 or check the web site www.bronsonhealth.com.)