How Important is Your Sleep Health?
Key Takeaways
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High-quality sleep activates the Glymphatic System, a nightly "cleansing" process that removes toxic proteins associated with dementia and Alzheimer’s.
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2026 research identifies poor sleep as the second largest behavioral driver of death, proving that sleep quality may impact your lifespan more than your diet or exercise habits.
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Healthy sleep is now a core component of the AHA’s Life’s Essential 8, meaning it is medically recognized as a non-negotiable requirement for heart health and stroke prevention.
A good night’s sleep is important for so many reasons. Your ability to function and feel well depends on whether you are getting enough quality sleep each night. Sleep helps protect your mental and physical health and improves your quality of life. It leaves you refreshed and energized and helps you learn, react, and focus as needed.
To the contrary, if you aren’t getting enough sleep, you will be sleepy, exhausted, irritable and lethargic. Simple tasks will be difficult to perform and lack of focus will interfere with tasks such as driving, working, or studying. And without sleep, your health begins to suffer.
The CPAP Shop, along with the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), is proud to celebrate Sleep Awareness Week (March 10-16, 2019) to highlight the importance of good sleep health for all individuals.
Sleep in America Study
For 2019, the NSF has created a “Begin with Sleep” campaign. The goal is to share the benefits of optimal sleep and how sleep itself can affect health, well-being, and safety.
In its annual Sleep in America poll,1 the NSF found a strong correlation between sleep schedule consistency and feeling well-rested in the morning. When disciplined sleepers were compared to those with variable sleep schedules, the strict schedules were 1.5 times more likely to report feeling well-rested. Further, individuals with excellent sleep health were 3.5 times more likely to be well-rested on a typical weekday than those with poor sleep health.
The National Sleep Foundation has defined determinants of quality sleep and good sleep health
Additionally, maintaining a strict and consistent sleep timings helps negate
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
It is estimated that 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea. Of those, 80% of the cases of moderate and severe OSA are undiagnosed.3 There are several reasons for this including the cost and inconvenience of being tested, uncertainty about the definition of sleep apnea, and lack of knowledge of the consequences of untreated sleep apnea or the benefits of sleep therapy.
Sleep apnea is a potentially deadly sleep disorder where breathing is interrupted briefly and frequently over the course of the night. In obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), muscles in the back of the throat fail to keep the airway open, causing breathing pauses that last at least 10 seconds.
Once diagnosed, the most common and successful treatment of OSA is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. As with any new lifestyle change, there is an adjustment period to get settled into PAP therapy. You will soon see a significant improvement in quality of life after a good night’s rest!
At The CPAP Shop, we have experts on staff to help you pick the best PAP machine, mask, and accessories to best suit your needs.
References:
- National Sleep Foundation. NSF’s 2019 Sleep in America Poll Shows Disciplined Sleepers Reap Reward. 2019 Mar 8. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/national-sleep-foundations-2019-sleep-in-america-poll-shows-disciplined-sleepers-reap-reward-300807678.html
- National Sleep Foundation. What is good quality sleep? National Sleep Foundation provides guidance. 2017 Jan 23. Accessed March 12, 2019.
- American Sleep Apnea Association. Sleep Apnea information for Clinicians. https://www.sleepapnea.org/treatment/.
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This post was updated with the latest information in January 2026.
A good night’s sleep is important for so many reasons. Your ability to function and feel well depends on whether you are getting enough quality sleep each night. Sleep helps protect your mental and physical health and improves your quality of life. It leaves you refreshed and energized and helps you learn, react, and focus as needed.
On the contrary, if you aren’t getting enough sleep, you will be sleepy, exhausted, irritable, and lethargic. Simple tasks will be difficult to perform and lack of focus will interfere with tasks such as driving, working, or studying. And without sleep, your health begins to suffer.
Scientists now use the term "Sleep Capital" to describe the restorative energy your brain and body bank every night. When your sleep capital is high, you are resilient, sharp, and physically robust. When it’s low, every other health system begins to fray.
The "Housekeeping" of the Brain: The Glymphatic System
One of the most significant breakthroughs of the last few years is our understanding of the Glymphatic System. Think of this as your brain’s nightly "trash collection."
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How it Works: During deep (NREM) sleep, your brain cells actually shrink slightly, allowing cerebrospinal fluid to wash through the tissue.
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The 2026 Consensus: This process flushes out neurotoxic proteins like beta-amyloid and tau—the same toxins associated with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
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Position Matters: New 2025–2026 studies suggest that side-sleeping (lateral position) may be more efficient for glymphatic clearance than sleeping on your back (supine).
Heart Health and Healthy Sleep
In its most recent 2026 update, the American Heart Association (AHA) reaffirmed that "Healthy Sleep" is one of the Life’s Essential 8—the key metrics for cardiovascular health.
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The Risk: Chronic short sleep (less than 7 hours) or fragmented sleep from untreated apnea creates constant "sympathetic overdrive." This keeps your blood pressure elevated even during the day, leading to a significantly higher risk of stroke and heart failure.
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The 2026 Goal: Adults should aim for 7–9 hours of quality, uninterrupted sleep to maintain optimal cardiovascular scores.
A landmark 2026 study from Oregon Health & Science University revealed a startling statistic: Poor sleep is now the #2 behavioral driver of shorter life expectancy, trailing only smoking.
"Research shows that lack of adequate sleep led to higher mortality risk in every U.S. state—even more so than poor diet or lack of exercise." — 2026 Longevity Report
About Obstructive Sleep Apnea
It is estimated that 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea. Of those, 80% of the cases of moderate and severe OSA are undiagnosed.3 There are several reasons for this including the cost and inconvenience of being tested, uncertainty about the definition of sleep apnea, and lack of knowledge of the consequences of untreated sleep apnea or the benefits of sleep therapy.
Sleep apnea is a potentially deadly sleep disorder where breathing is interrupted briefly and frequently over the course of the night. In obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), muscles in the back of the throat fail to keep the airway open, causing breathing pauses that last at least 10 seconds.
Once diagnosed, the most common and successful treatment of OSA is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. As with any new lifestyle change, there is an adjustment period to get settled into PAP therapy. You will soon see a significant improvement in your quality of life after a good night’s rest!
At The CPAP Shop, we have experts on staff to help you pick the best PAP machine, mask, and accessories to best suit your needs. If you would like to learn more or have any questions about CPAP therapy, CPAP products, and more, call us today at 866-414-9700!
Tips for Better Sleep Health
As previously mentioned, getting enough quality sleep is crucial to overal health and well-being. Here are some easy steps to take when trying to improve your sleep health:
- Make sure your bedroom is quiet, calming, and dark
- Do not look at your smartphone, laptop, or other electronic devices
- Avoid caffeine or alcohol close to bedtime
- Make a bedtime routine to follow every night
