If you exercise regularly, eat well, and still feel exhausted, the missing piece may be sleep. Adults need seven to nine hours of quality rest each night, yet studies show that roughly one in three American adults falls short. In Central Florida, the combination of long daylight hours, warm overnight temperatures, and busy schedules makes it even easier to sacrifice sleep without realizing the health consequences.
Chronic sleep deprivation does far more than make you groggy. It increases levels of cortisol and inflammatory markers, raises blood pressure, disrupts insulin sensitivity, and weakens the immune system. Over time, those changes translate into higher rates of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and depression. For patients already managing a chronic condition, poor sleep can undermine the very medications and lifestyle changes we prescribe.
The good news is that sleep hygiene—simple, evidence-based habits—can dramatically improve both the quantity and quality of your rest. Start with consistency: go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends. Keep your bedroom cool (65–68 °F is ideal), dark, and quiet. Limit screen exposure for at least 30 minutes before bed, because the blue light from phones and tablets suppresses melatonin production. Avoid caffeine after 2 p.m. and heavy meals within two hours of bedtime.
If you snore loudly, wake up gasping, or feel unrested despite spending enough hours in bed, you may have obstructive sleep apnea—a condition that is underdiagnosed and closely linked to hypertension and stroke risk. A simple screening questionnaire and, when indicated, a home sleep study can confirm the diagnosis. Treatment with a CPAP device or oral appliance often produces life-changing improvements in energy, mood, and cardiovascular health.
At Nona Medical Services, we treat sleep as a vital sign. Schedule a visit with Dr. Catherine Arevalo to evaluate your sleep patterns, screen for sleep disorders, and build a personalized plan that helps you reclaim the restorative rest your body needs.
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