Everyone suffers from sleepless nights from time to time.

We’ve all been there: You’re tossing and turning, squinting at the clock in the darkness, becoming more anxious as the hours tick by. Finally, you sleep — only to awaken to the blare of the alarm clock a mere two hours later.

You drag yourself through your work day, and eventually, you’re home and sleeping soundly again. For some people, this isn’t just an occasional occurrence. Every night, sleep disorders rob millions of valuable, restorative sleep.

Sleep disorders affect an estimated 80 million Americans. The four most common sleep disorders are insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome and narcolepsy.

How sleep disorders affect your health:

Sleep disorders can lead to daytime drowsiness, and a lack of sleep can also have serious ramifications for your overall health.

In fact, sleep loss can have wide-ranging effects on your cardiovascular, endocrine, and immune systems, among others. Sleep allows your body to reboot itself, allowing for tissue repair and restoration.

It’s just one of the many ways the body protects itself against illness.

Sleep loss, a common side effect of sleep disorders, can also increase your risk for diabetes, or impaired glucose tolerance. Sleep disorders and issues with sleep can also lead to a host of other health problems, including anxiety symptoms, a depressed mood, and increased alcohol use.

How to improve the quality of your sleep:

If you are having trouble getting quality sleep, there are things you can do to help you get more Zs;

Cut out caffeine — either pare down your daily coffees or eliminate them completely. Coffee can affect your ability to sleep even six hours later. Limit your alcohol consumption and avoid eating or drinking within three hours of bedtime.

Practice good sleep hygiene. Make your bedroom a comfortable, sleep-inducing environment.

Keep your bedroom cool and well ventilated. Also, try to limit bedroom activities — don’t whip out that laptop or smartphone to check work emails or social media right before you snooze.

Studies suggest that the blue light from these gadgets can suppress your body’s production of melatonin, which helps regulate the sleep/wake cycle.

Avoid naps in the middle of the day, even if you’re groggy from a previous night’s bad sleep. And while a regular exercise routine can certainly help you sleep better, exercising too close to bedtime can disrupt sleep. Try to work out earlier in the day, or at least three hours before bedtime.

If you are one of the millions of Americans struggling with chronic sleep problems, act now. The Sleep Disorders Center of Thibodaux Regional has solutions. For more about information visit thibodaux.com/sleep-center or call 985-493-4759.

May is Better Sleep Month!

Tammy LeJeune, CRT, RPSGT, is the chief polysomnographic technologist at Thibodaux Regional.