Are You Getting Enough Sleep?

Health

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, more than 70 million Americans have a sleep disorder, and most are completely unaware that they could be getting better sleep.1 Inadequate sleep can cause impaired memory and thought processes, depression, increased perception of pain and decreased immune response.2 Sleep also seems to affect weight, as your body responds […]

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, more than 70 million Americans have a sleep disorder, and most are completely unaware that they could be getting better sleep.1 Inadequate sleep can cause impaired memory and thought processes, depression, increased perception of pain and decreased immune response.2 Sleep also seems to affect weight, as your body responds to a lack of sleep by craving more fuel, particularly foods high in fat and carbohydrates.3 A 2004 study showed that people who slept less than six hours per night were almost 30% more likely to become obese than those who slept more.3 While the necessary amount of sleep varies from person to person, most adults need seven to eight hours a day. However, some people may need as few as five or as many as 10, and pregnant women in their first trimester often need several more hours of sleep each day than they did before getting pregnant.4 If you feel drowsy during the day, even when you are bored, you haven’t had enough sleep.4

Anthem’s Sleep Study Program

If you think you aren’t getting enough sleep, speak with your doctor.Your plan includes benefits for a Sleep Management Program, which is a program that helps your doctor make better informed decisions about your treatment. It is administered by AIM Specialty Health which is a wholly-owned division of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. The Sleep Management Program includes outpatient and home sleep testing and therapy. If you require sleep testing, depending on your medical condition, you may be asked to complete the sleep study in your home. Home sleep studies provide the added benefit of reflecting your normal sleep pattern while sleeping in the comfort of your own bed versus going to an outpatient facility for the test.

As part of this program, you are required to get precertification for:

  • Home sleep tests (HST)
  • In-lab sleep studies (polysomnography or PSG, a recording of behavior during sleep)
  • Titration studies (to determine the exact pressure needed for treatment)
  • Treatment orders for equipment, including positive airway pressure devices (APAP, CPAP, BPAP, ASV), oral devices and related supplies.

If you need ongoing treatment, AIM will review your care quarterly to assure that medical criteria are met for coverage. Your equipment supplier or your doctor will be required to provide periodic updates to ensure clinical appropriateness. Ongoing claim approval will depend partly on how you comply with the treatment your doctor has ordered.

Please talk to your doctor about getting approval for any sleep testing and therapy equipment and supplies.

If you have questions about your care, please talk with your doctor. For questions about your plan or benefits, please call Anthem Customer Service.

Not sure if you’re getting enough sleep? Check out the sleep evaluation tools on www.sleepeducation.com. You can also download a sleep diary that will help you and your doctor identify what’s keeping you up at night.

Tips for getting good sleep

  • Keep a routine. Get up at the same time each morning, have meals at regular times and go through the same bedtime ritual (bath, snack, book, etc.) each night. This keeps your body clock accustomed to going to sleep when it is bedtime.
  • Safeguard your bedroom as a place for sleep. Keep your bedroom quiet, cool and dark. Don’t read, eat, watch TV, write, talk on the phone or worry in bed. Once you get inbed, your mind should be off for the night.
  • Be aware of what you put into your body and how it affects your sleep. Do not have any caffeine after lunch. Avoid alcohol (and heavy exercise) within six hours of your bedtime. Don’t smoke before bedtime, and keep any bedtime snacks light. Try to avoid relying on sleeping pills.

Sources
1 American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Sleep Disorders (accessed April 1, 2010): sleepeducation.com
2 WebMD, Are You Getting Enough Sleep? (February 9, 2009): webmd.com
3 WebMD, 10 Things to Hate about Sleep Loss (February 17, 2010): webmd.com
4 WebMD, Are You Getting Enough Sleep? (February 9, 2009): webmd.com
5 American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Common Treatments (accessed April 2, 2010): sleepeducation.com
6 WebMD, Spring Forward with 10 Sleep Tips (March 1, 2010): webmd.com