It’s well documented that sleep apnea, along with several other sleep disorders, can severely impact your overall wellness. From strokes to heart failure, there is a range of health complications linked to sleep disorders, especially sleep apnea.
Aside from your physical health, poor sleep health can also have a severe impact on your day-to-day life. One very obvious way your sleep health will affect your life is through your performance and attitude in the workplace.
Issues with sleep are known to permeate pretty much any area of your life, and your career is no exception. For your own wellness and the success of your career, we strongly advise patients who suspect they have sleep apnea to treat the issue sooner rather than later.
Treating sleep apnea in a timely manner will minimize the enormous negative effects it can have on your health and quality of life.
5 Ways Sleep Impacts Work and Performance
So, how will the quality of your sleep impact your life at work? Some of the most common ways include:
Stress: Individuals with poor sleep are more likely to have higher stress levels. This creates a vicious cycle because high-stress levels are known to affect the quality of sleep and vice versa. Researchers from a 2012 study found that subjects who were sleep deprived also experienced elevated negative effects in response to mild stressors.
Productivity: Poor sleep quality will also affect your productivity at work because you’re more likely to struggle with focus. A 2012 study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital found that work speed slows in relation to lack of sleep. Researchers found that accuracy and speed of computer tasks decreased the longer the subjects were awake.
Creativity: Innovation in the workplace is likely to decrease due to poor sleep. Lack of adequate sleep affects the prefrontal cortex of the brain, which is the area that controls self-control and creativity.
Mood and Communication: It’s no secret that people tend to get cranky when they’re not sleeping enough. This change in mood will also translate over to their attitude and ability to communicate with their colleagues at work.
More Sick Days: As we mentioned before, sleep is closely tied to your overall health, meaning lack of sleep can make you more prone to getting sick. A study in the Journal Sleep found that sleeping too little (less than 5 hours) and sleeping too much (more than 10 hours) can mean taking more sick days. Researchers in the study found that these individuals stay home sick for 4.6 to 8.9 more days than those sleeping 7-8 hours a night.
Contact North Texas Sleep Solutions
It’s estimated that 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea! This condition isn’t just hazardous to your overall wellness, but it can also negatively impact you in the workplace.
If you suspect you or a loved one suffers from sleep apnea, it’s critical to seek treatment as soon as possible. Here at North Texas Sleep Solutions, we work to find the best treatment for you according to guidelines from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
To learn more about treatment for sleep apnea, contact our office today and schedule your no-obligation consultation with Dr. Lauck.