The Big Picture: Dr. Puja Uppal says, “Sharp brains need good rest!”

Doctor’s Expert Insights About Poor Cognitive Function & Your Sleep Health in Kansas

Know this: “Here’s the thing, we know that good sleep has a very large positive impact on our overall health. People with sleep apnea or those who have undiagnosed sleep apnea face further challenges. Poor sleep impacts brain health. Obstructive sleep apnea, characterized by breathing interruptions during sleep, not only ruins sleep quality–it’s also clearly linked to decreased cognitive functions and worsened heart health. If you or your loved ones constantly find that you’re not getting a good night of restful sleep, it may be time to talk to your healthcare team about sleep apnea. Good sleep health is a key factor in cognitive well-being and aging gracefully.” Dr. Shelandra Bell, Family Medicine.

Beyond the news: A greater emphasis on sleep studies in clinical settings and the development of tailored interventions to improve sleep quality are something public health policies and awareness campaigns must focus on.

Health Alert for Wichita

Key Drivers in Sedgwick County:

The study shows a link between better sleep consolidation and the absence of obstructive sleep apnea with improved cognitive function. Good sleep and managed sleep apnea can lead to increased attention and processing speed.

This study highlights the detrimental effects of fragmented sleep on cognitive abilities.

What they’re saying: “This study’s finding of an association between mild OSA and poorer cognition in persons who did not present to a sleep clinic is an important observation. Persons with OSA diagnosed based on incidental findings compared with patients referred clinically for PSG may differ across several characteristics, including comorbidities, overall dementia risk factor burden, and the severity of sleep disturbances. Although there are direct (eg, intermittent hypoxia leading to ischemic brain injury or sleep fragmentation) and indirect (eg, systemic inflammation or cardiovascular instability) mechanisms that may link OSA with poorer cognition, no conclusions regarding causation can be made from this observational study.” (Study Source)

Health Standard Newswire: Sleep consolidation and the absence of sleep apnea may be particularly important for optimizing cognition with aging.

Living in Kansas, the following health facts impact your physical health directly!

Did you know there were 805.0 deaths from Alzheimer’s disease in Kansas in 2021?

34.9% of you in Sedgwick County are sleeping less than 7 hours per night.

19.4% of you in Sedgwick County are depressed.

17.0% of you in Sedgwick County binge drink.

All of these variables above play an important role in the outcomes of your overall health.

The Health Standard Newswire.