Sleep Epidemic!
Can you answer the following questions about sleep?
Sleeping in late on the weekends is a good way to catch up on lost sleep.
It is normal to sleep through the night.
You are a good sleeper if you can fall asleep within 5 minutes.
A sound sleeper rarely moves during the night.
If you answered any of the questions true, then you might want to learn more about your sleep and your health.
“I’ll sleep when I’m dead,” said Warren Zevon. This may sound like a good idea in our busy world, however; if followed your demise will arrive much sooner! Sleep makes up about a third of each person’s life, and it allows the other two-thirds of our lives to happen. It is indeed as vital as the air we breathe and the food we eat!
50 to 70 million Americans are lacking sleep and at least 25 million Americans (1 in 5 adults) suffer from sleep apnea, a serious sleep and breathing condition linked to hypertension, cognitive impairment, heart disease and stroke.
Many biological processes happen during sleep. The brain stores new information and gets rid of toxic waste. Nerve cells communicate and reorganize which supports healthy brain function. The body repairs cells, restores energy, and releases molecules like hormones and proteins.
Sleep optimization also improves hormone optimization.
Sleep affects vigilance, reaction times, learning abilities, alertness, mood, hand-eye coordination, a growing number of on-the-job accidents, and the accuracy of short-term memory.
A few good sleep habits from my program:
Remove sensory factors that condition your mind to resist sleep an hour before bed.
Set a consistent bedtime and wake time and avoid naps longer than 20 minutes
Use the bed only for sleep and sex.
Relax progressively every muscle, practice biofeedback and breathing exercises
Get Outdoors. Reset your internal clock. Go outside and look at the sun for 5 minutes 1st hour of day and at sunset – works even on cloudy days.
Along with nutrition and exercise, taking care of your sleep is one of the pillars of your health. Good sleep can maximize problem-solving skills and enhance memory. In contrast, poor sleep has been shown to impair brain function and decision-making skills.
Just like you prioritize your diet and physical activity, it’s time to give sleep the attention it deserves!
