Patient education: Sleep insufficiency (The Basics)

What is sleep insufficiency? — 

This is when a person does not get enough restful sleep.

Sleep insufficiency is different from insomnia, which is having trouble falling or staying asleep. In both cases, a person might sleep less than they should, and have trouble staying alert during the day. But in general, people with sleep insufficiency can sleep if they have the chance. Usually, there are things outside their control keeping them from getting restful sleep.

Why is sleep important? — 

You need sleep to:

●Feel awake during the day

●Be alert enough to do your normal activities

●Keep your body healthy

If you do not get enough sleep, or do not get restful sleep, it can lead to problems.

Lots of different things can get in the way of sleeping. For example, you might work long hours, care for family members, or have health problems that make it hard to get enough sleep.

How much sleep do I need? — 

It is different for every person. Most adults need about 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night to feel awake enough during the day. But some people feel rested after a shorter sleep, and others need more sleep.

What are the symptoms of sleep insufficiency? — 

Symptoms can include:

●Trouble staying awake to do your normal activities

●Trouble thinking clearly or focusing

●Feeling sad, anxious, or irritable

●Falling asleep at inappropriate times, such as at work or while driving

Can sleep insufficiency lead to problems? — 

Yes. Problems can happen if you:

●Do not get enough sleep

●Do not feel rested after sleeping

Examples include:

●Accidents – If you fall asleep while driving, you could be seriously hurt or killed. You could also hurt or kill another person. Accidents can also happen if you are too tired or fall asleep while caring for a baby or child.

●Work problems – If you are too tired at work, you can make mistakes. As a result, you could get into trouble or lose your job. Depending on your work, it could also be dangerous for you or others.

●Health problems – Not getting enough restful sleep over time can affect your health. Your immune system might have trouble protecting your body from infections. You might also be at higher risk for obesity, heart disease, depression, and anxiety.

●Stress – If you feel tired all the time, you might stop doing activities you used to enjoy, like spending time with friends or partners. It can also be stressful and embarrassing to fall asleep at inappropriate times.

Will I need tests? — 

Probably not. Your doctor or nurse will probably be able to tell if you have sleep insufficiency just by talking to you. They might also ask you to keep a daily log for 1 to 2 weeks, where you track how you sleep each night.

If your doctor wants to learn more about your sleeping patterns, they might suggest "actigraphy." This involves recording activity and movement with a monitor, usually worn on the wrist. The test is done at home, over 1 to 2 weeks. It records how much you actually sleep and when.

How is sleep insufficiency treated? — 

The main treatment is to improve your habits to try to get more and better sleep. This is called good "sleep hygiene." You should:

●Go to bed and get up at the same time every day.

●Have coffee, tea, and other foods that have caffeine only in the morning.

●Avoid alcohol in the late afternoon, evening, and bedtime.

●Avoid smoking, especially in the evening.

●Keep your bedroom dark, cool, quiet, and free of reminders of work or other stressful things.

●Try to solve problems before going to bed.

●Exercise several days a week, but not right before bed.

●Avoid looking at phones or reading devices ("e-books") that give off light before bed. This can make it harder to fall asleep.

●Avoid long naps if you have trouble sleeping at night, especially in the late afternoon. Short naps (about 20 minutes) can be helpful, especially if your work schedule changes day to day and you need to be alert at different times.

Other things that can improve sleep include:

●Relaxation therapy, in which you focus on relaxing all the muscles in your body 1 at a time

●Working with a counselor or psychologist to deal with any problems that might be causing you to not get enough sleep

When should I call the doctor? — 

Call your doctor or nurse if you:

●Cannot get enough sleep

●Feel tired every day even after sleeping

They can help you figure out ways to improve your sleeping.

More on this topic

Patient education: Daytime sleepiness (The Basics)
Patient education: Insomnia (The Basics)
Patient education: Good sleep hygiene (The Basics)

Patient education: Insomnia (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Insomnia treatments (Beyond the Basics)