It is estimated that over 70 million people suffer from a chronic sleep disorder in the United States, impacting not only the individual struggling to get a good night’s sleep but potentially all of us. It is conservatively estimated that more than 91,000 car accidents resulting in 800 deaths and 51,000 injuries each year are the result of driver fatigue.
And here’s another thought that might keep you up at night
One of the most common medical responses to helping you sleep may actually be putting your health at risk. About 4% of U.S. adults use a prescription sleeping aid in any given month. Yet taking as few as 18 sleeping pills a year increases your risk of dying 3.6 fold compared to people not using them. Those who take a prescription sleeping medication more than 132 nights a year have a 6.6-fold increase of death and a 35% increased risk of developing cancer.
A better response?
Individualized treatment to discern the underlying cause of sleep loss.
Sleep deprivation is the most common sleep disorder.
Newborns need as much as 18 hours a day, while teenagers — the most notoriously sleep-deprived group — require nine to 10 hours. Adults should have between seven and eight hours a night of restful sleep, yet a 2013 Gallup poll found that as many as 40% of Americans get only six hours or less of sleep a night.
Sleep deprivation can exhibit as insomnia, taking longer than 20 minutes to fall asleep, multiple awakenings during the night with difficulty returning to sleep, early wakening, and shortened sleep due to demands of work or school. Whatever the cause, its long-term consequences on your health and well-being are the same.
In the short term, your mental performance and reaction time when chronically sleep-deprived are the equivalent of being drunk. And like the inebriated, the chronically sleep-deprived do not recognize the extent of their impairment. Lack of sleep compromises the normal functioning of your immune system, and long-term sleep deprivation causes your body and brain to be in a chronic state of inflammation, potentially leading to an increase in heart disease, stroke, obesity, chronic pain, ADD, depression, and anxiety. The problem is also bidirectional; conditions such as chronic pain, depression, and heart disease can cause sleep disturbance, which then worsens the underlying condition.
If you think you may be suffering from sleep apnea or another type of sleep disorder, don’t put off seeking help. Being this tired is a potential danger to your own health as well as the health of others. One way to quickly assess your level of daytime sleepiness is the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. It takes about a minute to complete the test and should be part of any medical exam when someone is complaining of fatigue. A score of 10 or higher is suggestive of a significant sleep issue. At the Kaplan Center, we also utilize WatchPAT ONE, a recyclable Home Sleep Apnea Test (HSAT) to help us detect sleep apnea as well as providing markers for quality of sleep.
Here are some steps you can take right now to improve the length and quality of your sleep:
Go to your room! Try to tuck in and rise around the same time each day.
Move it!Regular exercise improves sleep and regular sleep improves exercise performance. The regular practice of yoga, especially in older adults, has been shown to improve the duration and quality of sleep.
Cut caffeine. If you have a sleep problem, minimize or eliminate your caffeine consumption. Caffeine in all forms — tea, chocolate, energy drink or pill — disrupts sleep.
Eat more fish. Eating fatty fish, salmon, and tuna appears to not only lower your risk of heart disease but also betters your sleep.
Eat at regular intervals. When and how much we eat, as well as the types of foods we eat, impact our internal clock, called our circadian rhythm. While we are just beginning to understand the relationship between food and internal clocks, it is clear that the two are related and the consequences of eating at irregular intervals are obesity and increased risk for disease, in addition to disruption of your sleep.
Cooldown to sleep sound. People may have trouble falling asleep because they have trouble cooling down their core temperature, which reaches its maximum typically around 3 pm. A warm room will exacerbate the problem. Temperatures above 75 degrees and below 54 degrees Fahrenheit can disrupt sleep. So what is ideal for sleep? The consensus is that a room temperature between 65 and 68 degrees is probably ideal; this will vary among individuals.
Keep it quiet. Any amount of noise starting at 30 to 40 decibels, a level between a whisper and a quiet conversation, begins to impact sleep quality. That said, people generally find the sounds of their usual environment relaxing. Sound can also be used to help with sleep. One study looking at patients suffering from a generalized pain syndrome called fibromyalgia found that music embedded with a specific sound frequency called Delta wave that pulsated between .25 to 4 Hertz improved the quality of patients’ sleep and decreased their pain symptoms.
Sample supplements. Some supplements that might help in getting a good night’s sleep include 5-HTP and melatonin. The FDA does not regulate supplements, so be careful that the supplement you purchase actually contains the substance and the amount of the substance stated on the label. Also, supplements are drugs and can have side effects and interactions with other medications. If you are taking medications on a regular basis, please check with your physician before taking any supplements.
For more information on identifying & treating sleep disorders click here.
We are here for you, and we want to help.
Our goal is to return you to optimal health as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment please call: 703-532-4892 x2
Note: This post was originally published in August 2014 and has been reviewed and updated for accuracy.
In one form or another, it appears that COVID-19 is here to stay. That’s the conclusion that most experts have reached as we surpass the second year since COVID-19 was first discovered. For this reason, it’s important to understand the full impact of contracting COVID-19, including long-COVID syndrome.
What is long-COVID syndrome and what are the symptoms?
Long-COVID syndrome is a wide range of new or persisting symptoms that COVID-19 sufferers experience weeks or months after they were first infected with the virus. Each individual may have a number of different symptoms that can affect various parts of the body. These include:
Tiredness or fatigue
Ongoing cough
Loss of smell or taste
Digestive problems such as diarrhea
Difficulty thinking or concentrating (sometimes referred to as “brain fog”)
The fatigue of long-COVID syndrome is one of the most common long-COVID syndrome symptoms and can be particularly difficult to manage. Often described as a lack of energy or motivation, fatigue can have a profound impact on one’s life and may result in:
An inability to carry out normal daily tasks including going to work, school or self-care activities
Chronic tiredness or sleepiness
Poor concentration and brain fog
Not feeling resting after sleeping through the night
At times, fatigue can be dismissed as a minor problem when in fact it can affect our physical, emotional and psychological wellbeing. If your fatigue still hasn’t resolved 6 weeks after the acute infection has resolved, this may be fatigue that is related to long-COVID syndrome.
Millions of Americans find themselves in this position right now, dealing with long-COVID symptoms that simply aren’t going away. We know that long-COVID syndrome appears to be a multisystem disease, meaning the gastrointestinal system, nerves, heart and/or lungs may be impacted. It also means that everyone will have a slightly different experience with long-COVID syndrome.
If you suspect that you have long-COVID syndrome, the next thing to do is speak to a medical professional that can help with your specific case.
At the Kaplan Center, our goal is to treat long-COVID syndrome by taking a holistic, whole-body approach. This may involve one or more of the following options:
Medications – Dr. Bruce Patterson Protocol for treatment of post-COVID
Nutrition – Dietary changes to improve your gut function
Replacement of minerals vitamins
Psychotherapy, EMDR & Guided Meditation
Sleep Evaluation & Management
Acupuncture
Any treatment options suggested will be tailored to your specific case. It will depend on your own set of symptoms; medical history and your own COVID-19 journey (ie. whether it required hospitalization or if you had mild symptoms). We’ll also take into account your personal preference before jointly coming up with options that best suit your needs.
Can vaccines, monoclonal antibodies and antiviral agents help with long-COVID syndrome?
While vaccines, monoclonal antibodies and antiviral agents have an important role to play in lowering the risk of serious infection with COVID-19, there is no definitive evidence that they can prevent or cure long-COVID syndrome. Right now, evidence suggests that vaccines and monoclonal antibodies are very effective at stopping severe infection with COVID-19. For that reason, vaccination and booster shots are highly recommended. However, these interventions are not known to treat or halt long-COVID syndrome.
Long-COVID syndrome is a complex condition that usually requires the use of multiple treatment options. By working closely with our patients, listening to your concerns, we come up with a management plan that is tailored to your needs and circumstances.
Long-COVID Recovery Services
If you are experiencing symptoms beyond six weeks of being diagnosed with COVID-19, learn more about our Long-COVID Recovery Services to regain your strength, energy, and vitality. Click here for more information.
As a guest on Open-Minded Healing Dr. Kaplan talked to host Marla Miller about the importance of using multidisciplinary and alternative medicine strategies to address chronic illness.
Show notes –
The failing of what is going on in medicine today
Working with patients on all levels, which includes addressing emotional trauma
Specific examples of people who were misdiagnosed, and how Dr. Kaplan was able to get to the root cause of their illness
POTS and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
Focusing on the whole picture, not just symptoms
A look into the integrative model Dr. Kaplan’s office employs
Dr. Kaplan’s future research project that may help those in the juvenile system heal
Are You Dying For A Good Night’s Sleep?
/in Lifestyle, Wellness/by Gary Kaplan, DOIt is estimated that over 70 million people suffer from a chronic sleep disorder in the United States, impacting not only the individual struggling to get a good night’s sleep but potentially all of us. It is conservatively estimated that more than 91,000 car accidents resulting in 800 deaths and 51,000 injuries each year are the result of driver fatigue.
And here’s another thought that might keep you up at night
One of the most common medical responses to helping you sleep may actually be putting your health at risk. About 4% of U.S. adults use a prescription sleeping aid in any given month. Yet taking as few as 18 sleeping pills a year increases your risk of dying 3.6 fold compared to people not using them. Those who take a prescription sleeping medication more than 132 nights a year have a 6.6-fold increase of death and a 35% increased risk of developing cancer.
A better response?
Individualized treatment to discern the underlying cause of sleep loss.
Sleep deprivation is the most common sleep disorder.
Newborns need as much as 18 hours a day, while teenagers — the most notoriously sleep-deprived group — require nine to 10 hours. Adults should have between seven and eight hours a night of restful sleep, yet a 2013 Gallup poll found that as many as 40% of Americans get only six hours or less of sleep a night.
Sleep deprivation can exhibit as insomnia, taking longer than 20 minutes to fall asleep, multiple awakenings during the night with difficulty returning to sleep, early wakening, and shortened sleep due to demands of work or school. Whatever the cause, its long-term consequences on your health and well-being are the same.
In the short term, your mental performance and reaction time when chronically sleep-deprived are the equivalent of being drunk. And like the inebriated, the chronically sleep-deprived do not recognize the extent of their impairment. Lack of sleep compromises the normal functioning of your immune system, and long-term sleep deprivation causes your body and brain to be in a chronic state of inflammation, potentially leading to an increase in heart disease, stroke, obesity, chronic pain, ADD, depression, and anxiety. The problem is also bidirectional; conditions such as chronic pain, depression, and heart disease can cause sleep disturbance, which then worsens the underlying condition.
Questions? Give Us a Call!
703-532-4892 x2
So how sleepy are you?
If you think you may be suffering from sleep apnea or another type of sleep disorder, don’t put off seeking help. Being this tired is a potential danger to your own health as well as the health of others. One way to quickly assess your level of daytime sleepiness is the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. It takes about a minute to complete the test and should be part of any medical exam when someone is complaining of fatigue. A score of 10 or higher is suggestive of a significant sleep issue. At the Kaplan Center, we also utilize WatchPAT ONE, a recyclable Home Sleep Apnea Test (HSAT) to help us detect sleep apnea as well as providing markers for quality of sleep.
Here are some steps you can take right now to improve the length and quality of your sleep:
For more information on identifying & treating sleep disorders click here.
We are here for you, and we want to help.
Our goal is to return you to optimal health as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment please call: 703-532-4892 x2
Note: This post was originally published in August 2014 and has been reviewed and updated for accuracy.
Having Symptoms After COVID?
/in COVID-19, Long Covid/by Kaplan CenterIn one form or another, it appears that COVID-19 is here to stay. That’s the conclusion that most experts have reached as we surpass the second year since COVID-19 was first discovered. For this reason, it’s important to understand the full impact of contracting COVID-19, including long-COVID syndrome.
What is long-COVID syndrome and what are the symptoms?
Long-COVID syndrome is a wide range of new or persisting symptoms that COVID-19 sufferers experience weeks or months after they were first infected with the virus. Each individual may have a number of different symptoms that can affect various parts of the body. These include:
Fatigue and long-COVID syndrome
The fatigue of long-COVID syndrome is one of the most common long-COVID syndrome symptoms and can be particularly difficult to manage. Often described as a lack of energy or motivation, fatigue can have a profound impact on one’s life and may result in:
At times, fatigue can be dismissed as a minor problem when in fact it can affect our physical, emotional and psychological wellbeing. If your fatigue still hasn’t resolved 6 weeks after the acute infection has resolved, this may be fatigue that is related to long-COVID syndrome.
What to do if you’re still having long-COVID symptoms
Millions of Americans find themselves in this position right now, dealing with long-COVID symptoms that simply aren’t going away. We know that long-COVID syndrome appears to be a multisystem disease, meaning the gastrointestinal system, nerves, heart and/or lungs may be impacted. It also means that everyone will have a slightly different experience with long-COVID syndrome.
If you suspect that you have long-COVID syndrome, the next thing to do is speak to a medical professional that can help with your specific case.
Treating long-COVID symptoms
At the Kaplan Center, our goal is to treat long-COVID syndrome by taking a holistic, whole-body approach. This may involve one or more of the following options:
Any treatment options suggested will be tailored to your specific case. It will depend on your own set of symptoms; medical history and your own COVID-19 journey (ie. whether it required hospitalization or if you had mild symptoms). We’ll also take into account your personal preference before jointly coming up with options that best suit your needs.
Can vaccines, monoclonal antibodies and antiviral agents help with long-COVID syndrome?
While vaccines, monoclonal antibodies and antiviral agents have an important role to play in lowering the risk of serious infection with COVID-19, there is no definitive evidence that they can prevent or cure long-COVID syndrome. Right now, evidence suggests that vaccines and monoclonal antibodies are very effective at stopping severe infection with COVID-19. For that reason, vaccination and booster shots are highly recommended. However, these interventions are not known to treat or halt long-COVID syndrome.
Long-COVID syndrome is a complex condition that usually requires the use of multiple treatment options. By working closely with our patients, listening to your concerns, we come up with a management plan that is tailored to your needs and circumstances.
Long-COVID Recovery Services
If you are experiencing symptoms beyond six weeks of being diagnosed with COVID-19, learn more about our Long-COVID Recovery Services to regain your strength, energy, and vitality. Click here for more information.
Special Report: Understanding Long-COVID Syndrome
In this Special Report, we cover:
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR COPY
LISTEN NOW: Dr. Gary Kaplan on Open-Minded Healing Podcast
/in Wellness/by Gary Kaplan, DOAs a guest on Open-Minded Healing Dr. Kaplan talked to host Marla Miller about the importance of using multidisciplinary and alternative medicine strategies to address chronic illness.
Show notes –
Why You Are Still Sick: How Infections Can Break Your Immune System & How You Can Recover
by Dr. Gary Kaplan & Donna Beech
Paperback: $14.95
Kindle: $9.99
Publication date: May 10, 2022
Language : English
Paperback : 368 pages
Dimensions : 5.5 x 0.83 x 8.5 inches