HOUSTON – This year, Dr. Mehmet Oz is on a mission to help you sleep better in 2012.
The good doctor said half of all Americans have occasional insomnia. Some 15 percent are plagued by chronic sleeplessness.
Surgeon and talk show host Dr. Oz knows about insomnia -- he's suffered from it himself. It can affect your energy, immunity and even your job.
Founding Partner of Altus Zerenity Sleep Center Cruize Gaj told Local 2, "You have firemen, policemen, people that we respect and we know that they're doing the best they can, but if they don't get a good night's sleep and they're not as productive or not as alert as they should be, they can also put their lives in danger."
Those with chronic sleep issues come to the Zerenity Sleep Center to find out why and what can be done about it.
Sleep Manager Stephanie Ponce told Local 2, "They suffer from fatigue in the mornings, morning headaches, they just can't sleep at all."
Studies have shown that people who sleep less than six hours a night have a 50 percent higher risk of viral infections. Your risk of heart disease, Alzheimer's and obesity are higher. Some say it can even shorten your life expectancy.
Gaj explained, "You're putting all this money in vitamins or antibiotics and you're not really getting the full affect because you're cheating yourself -- you're not getting a good night's sleep."
Ponce said if patients are diagnosed with sleep apnea, a sleep disorder where you stop breathing for 10 seconds or more, treatment like CPAP breathing machines can not only help you sleep more soundly, but can impact overall health.
Ponce said, "A lot of these patients are recommended stay on a diet exercise more and they have that energy to exercise more."
Gaj added, "We're able to help them and help them understand what they have to go to make them better and get back into a good sleep pattern and get back into society and just feel good about themselves."
If you answer yes to three or more of the following questions, tell your doctor today.
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I have been told that I snore.
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I have been told that I stop breathing when I sleep.
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I am always sleepy during the day even though I sleep throughout the night.
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I have high blood pressure and/or diabetes.
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I have been told that I sleep restlessly. I'm always "tossing" and "turning" while I sleep.
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I tend to sweat excessively during my sleep.
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I frequently awaken with headaches.
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I tend to fall asleep in inappropriate situations.
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Others have noticed a recent change in my personality.
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I am overweight.
Questionnaire is courtesy of Altus Zerenity Sleep Center.