You Don’t Need Only 4 Hours of Sleep

Some people believe they are simply one of the rare people who can function on four hours of sleep. But regularly sleeping that little is not a harmless personality trait. Chronic sleep loss builds over time and can increase the risk of illness and earlier death.In this episode of the Daily Health Brief, Dr. Albert Takem speaks with sleep medicine specialist Dr. Naveed Shah about why chronic insomnia deserves proper medical attention.Many patients spend years sleeping only four or five hours a night. Some assume they naturally need less sleep. Others are afraid of becoming dependent on insomnia medication or worry that treatment could be dangerous. But ignoring the problem does not remove the health consequences.Dr. Shah explains that insomnia can involve difficulty falling asleep, waking repeatedly during the night, waking too early, or moving in and out of sleep without feeling restored. The cause may involve stress, anxiety, caffeine, screens, disrupted circadian rhythm, sleep apnea, depression, chronic illness, or several factors working together.We discuss:Why four hours of sleep is not enough for most adultsHow sleep debt accumulates over timeThe relationship between chronic sleep loss, disease, and earlier deathThe difference between difficulty falling asleep and waking during the nightHow caffeine affects the body’s natural sleep driveWhy phones and artificial light can disrupt melatoninHow stress and cortisol keep the brain alert at nightWhy waking at two or three in the morning may need further evaluationWhen insomnia could be connected to sleep apneaHow a sleep diary helps reveal patternsWhy a sleep study is not required for every case of insomniaThe role of sleep hygiene and cognitive behavioral therapyWhy sleeping medication may help temporarily without correcting the underlying causeWhy medication-induced sleep may not always be as deep or restorativeWhen to see a sleep medicine specialistInsomnia is treatable. The first step is to stop treating chronically poor sleep as normal and begin investigating why your body is not getting the rest it needs.Questions for Dr. Takem and the team💡 Start your journey today with Maryland Primary Care & WellnessBook your consultation: https://www.maryland-primarycare.com/