The Benefits Of Good Sleep: Sleep Disorders

Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School

The benefits of good sleep

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By now, you should have a solid understanding of the various sleep problems and their consequences. It's worth taking a moment to look at the flip slide: the benefits of routinely getting a good night's rest. Here, the encouraging news is that if you successfully conquer whatever is preventing you from sleeping soundly — either on your own or with a sleep specialist's assistance — you have a lot to look forward to.

Recent research documents the improvements that can come with treatment:

People with chronic insomnia who had five sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy focusing on proper sleep techniques reduced the average time it took to fall asleep from 68 minutes a night to 34 minutes, according to a 2004 study in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
People with sleep apnea who used CPAP for one year reported quality of life increases that brought them to the same level as the general population, according to a 2004 study in Chest.
People with narcolepsy treated with modafinil for six weeks reported significant improvements in energy and a significant reduction in daytime fatigue, according to a 2004 study in Psychopharmacology.

Patients treated by sleep disorder specialists gain a number of benefits. Often, they functioned without sufficient sleep for so long that they came to accept their constant fatigue as normal and assumed they would always feel tired. After a few weeks of healthy sleep, some patients report feeling like a "whole new person," with newfound energy and an improved outlook on life. In some cases, such people are able to accomplish things they've always put off attempting, such as completing college or getting an advanced degree, switching careers, or finding a life partner.

Sleep review

For such a natural and necessary thing, sleep is the source of much anxiety. Here are some basic steps to follow if you're having trouble maintaining normal, healthy sleep patterns:

Practice good sleep hygiene, such as making sure your bedroom is sleep-friendly, avoiding caffeine and alcohol before bedtime, and going to bed and waking up at the same time every day (see "Tips for a better night's sleep").
Make sure you're getting proper treatment for any underlying illnesses, such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes, that may interfere with sleep (see "Medical conditions and sleep problems").
Keep a sleep diary to look for patterns you may not be aware of and to track progress.
Make sure your primary care physician is aware of any over-the-counter or alternative medicines you take to help you sleep, and follow your doctor's recommendations about taking prescription sleep aids (see "Medications for treating insomnia").

If sleep problems persist despite your own efforts, consider seeing a sleep disorder specialist for a thorough sleep evaluation (see "Evaluation of sleep disturbances").

So if you're struggling to get a good night's rest, there is much cause for optimism. While there's no guarantee you'll always get eight hours of uninterrupted sleep, with proper treatment you can reasonably expect improvements in both your nighttime sleep and your overall quality of life.

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Last updated:	January 23, 2007

Medical content reviewed by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School. Harvard Health Publications, Copyright © 2007 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Used with permission of StayWell.

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