Sleep Matters: What Employers Need to Know 

Here’s one more reason to get a good night’s sleep. New research shows a significant connection between disorders that interrupt sleep – like obstructive sleep apnea – and the accumulation of biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease.

During sleep, the brain clears up deposits that build up during the day. If sleep is interrupted, the brain has less time to do that. While this research highlights a long-term impact of interrupted sleep, we also know there are more immediate effects of interrupted sleep in terms of higher medical costs, decreased productivity, and safety issues. On average, individuals with sleep-related conditions cost up to three times more than individuals without. Additionally, the price of fatigue is estimated at $31 billion in lost productivity and the cause of between 7% to 9% of workplace accidents. There have been some innovative advances in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea. Incorporating these advances into your health plan could be a win-win for both you and your employees. 

Go to full article: www.washingtonpost.com