Getting enough quality sleep each night does more than just help you get through the day feeling well-rested and energized. Sleep is a critical element of good health, and not getting enough of it or not sleeping well can jeopardize your health and safety.

Even if you get the recommended amount of sleep each night (7 – 9 hours for adults), you may find yourself waking up without feeling rested. This can be a sign that you have a sleep disorder. Other symptoms may also indicate you have issues that are interfering with your sleep.

Here are 7 symptoms that may indicate you have a sleep disorder:

1. It takes you a long time to fall asleep (more than 30 minutes).
2. You wake up several times while sleeping or can’t easily get back to sleep when you wake up in the middle of the night.
3. You don’t feel rested when you wake up in the morning or feel tired during the day, even if you get enough sleep at night.
4. You feel the need to nap often or find yourself dozing off at inappropriate times.
5. You find it difficult to concentrate or perform regular daytime activities or you feel irritable.
6. You snore loudly, make gasping sounds or stop breathing briefly while sleeping.
7. Your legs tingle or you feel other sensations that cause an almost uncontrollable urge to move them in bed.

If you have any of these symptoms, discuss them with your doctor. They may be a sign of a sleep disorder, which not only disrupts the quality of your sleep but can put your health at risk. Knowing you have a sleep disorder can set you on a path toward treating the problem so you sleep better and avoid the potentially serious issues that accompany a lack of quality sleep.

Here are some of the most common sleep disorders:

• Sleep apnea – This is characterized by abnormal breathing patterns while you sleep. You may snore, gasp or temporarily stop breathing. Not only can this interfere with the quality of your sleep, but sleep apnea may contribute to serious health issues such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and dementia.
• Insomnia – This is a condition that makes it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep throughout the night.
• Restless leg syndrome – This causes uncomfortable sensations in your legs that create an urge to move your legs while you try to fall asleep.
• Narcolepsy – This causes you to fall asleep suddenly and at inappropriate times and may also be characterized by extreme daytime sleepiness.

Everyone experiences problems with their sleep on occasion, but if you have any of the symptoms listed, it may be a sign that you have a sleep disorder. More than 50 million people in the U.S. have one and many more people don’t get enough sleep, even if they don’t have a sleep disorder. If you have issues with your sleep, it’s important to get to the bottom of it. There are treatments available and finding ways to get enough quality and restful sleep can go a long way in keeping you healthier and happier.

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