There is no denying that snoring causes sleepless nights and intense irritation for countless sufferers and their partners. The condition, identified simply as breathing noisily during sleep, affects an estimated 90 million American adults, with up to 37 million snoring regularly.

You may be familiar with the age-old debate: does a balanced diet allow me to sleep better, or is it sufficient sleep that motivates me to eat a healthy, balanced diet? Ok, so it’s not really an age-old debate, but it should be because the two are very much related and dependent on each other. The answer to both questions above is a resounding “YES!” The fact of the matter is that a reciprocal relationship exists between sleep and diet.

Part 2: The Risks of Not Getting Enough Sleep

Depriving yourself of adequate amounts of restful sleep can be catastrophic for your overall health. It leads to poor physical health, feelings of fatigue, mental issues, and an increased risk of diseases and ailments that could impact your life expectancy.

Part 1: Understanding The Importance Of Sleep

Sleep. Everyone needs it, but so many of us don’t get enough of it. 1 in 3 adults fail to meet the minimum CDC standards for sleep, and nearly 20% of some age groups report feeling “exhausted” sometime in the last three months.

Two of the most common sleep disorders that Americans suffer from are obstructive sleep apnea and insomnia. Several independent studies by medical professionals and sleep specialists have shown that there is a strong correlation between the two conditions. Understanding this relationship is key to treating and relieving sufferers of the symptoms and risks associated with each. 

As we age, we find ourselves taking stock of habits, some long-seeded, that may be affecting our overall well-being and sense of vitality. With the goal of maximizing the days in our life (and life in our days!), many of us scrutinize and adjust our diets and exercise routines. It’s also important that we do the same with our sleep habits.

A 2016 study conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that approximately 35% of Americans are getting less than seven hours of sleep per night. This means that more than one third of Americans go about their days without the 7-9 hours of rest recommended by the National Sleep Foundation.A significant amount of American adults live in a constant state of fatigue and are at a higher risk of a number of terrible side-effects.