Millions of people have trouble sleeping and are affected by common sleep disorders ranging from snoring to sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and insomnia. Sleep is a vital part of every person’s life and plays an essential role in living a long and healthy life. When you sleep, your mind and body are recharging, like a battery.

“We clear toxins in our brain while we sleep,” explains Pulmonologist Zeeshan Khan, DO. “If you have poor quality sleep, these toxins can build up and are not cleared, which may be linked to future health issues including Alzheimer’s and dementia.”

When you are consistently getting poor sleep, it takes a toll on not only your mental health, but your physical health as well. Serious long-term health problems can be caused by the side effects of sleep disorders, including high blood pressure, inflammation, and obesity. Sleep disorders are often caused by an underlying respiratory or cardiovascular issue, but fortunately many are generally easy to diagnose and treat.

Symptoms of sleep disorders include:

• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Trouble falling asleep at night
• Falling asleep at inappropriate times
• Unusual breathing pattern
• Bothersome movements while falling asleep

In this episode, KYW’s Rasa Kaye and Dr. Khan discuss lifestyle habits and how they impact your sleep, as well as sleep disorders, sleep tests, and debunks current sleep solution trends.