Did you know that getting enough sleep improves your overall health and well-being? Sleep Awareness Week (March 13-19) inspires all people to practice prioritizing self-care. Getting at least seven to eight hours of sleep every night enhances health and happiness.
How Not Sleeping Enough Can Affect You
Lack of sleep can cause damage to your overall health.
- Memory issues
- Short attention span
- Irritability, anxiety, depression
- High blood pressure
- Weight gain
- Weakened immunity
- Balance is off
- Drowsy while driving
Tips to Help You Sleep
- Establish a routine. Go to sleep at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning.
- Stay hydrated. Make sure you drink enough water during the day. Do not drink too many liquids before bed.
- Manage stress. Move your body, meditate and practice deep breathing so you do not go to sleep feeling anxious and overwhelmed.
- Don’t consume too much caffeine. If you drink caffeine later in the day, it will impact your overall ability to settle and go to sleep.
- Don’t eat snacks or dinner too late. It can be difficult for your body to digest a heavy meal right before bed, which leads to sleep disruptions.
It is important to be aware of your sleep schedule. Getting enough sleep greatly improves your mental health. When you don’t get enough sleep, you can be cranky and irritable. If you notice a recurring pattern of sleep deprivation, your cranky tendencies could potentially lead to long-term mood disorders like depression and anxiety.
Sleeping enough helps with balancing your weight. Studies have shown that those who sleep less than seven hours per night tend to gain more weight than those who get at least seven hours. A healthy amount of sleep also boosts your immunity and levels out your blood pressure. Those who sleep only a few hours every night tend to have an increased heart rate, which leads to stress, a rise in blood pressure, and strain on the heart.
Use this week to focus on yourself and how to improve your sleep schedule. An adequate amount of sleep is essential for one’s overall well-being – mentally and physically. Prioritize at least seven to eight hours and discover what tips work best to help you get a healthy snooze every night.
Common Sleep Disorders:
- Sleep Apnea – A potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts.
- Insomnia – Persistent problems falling and staying asleep. (not feeling refreshed when waking up is a symptom of all sleep disorders).
- Restless Leg Syndrome – Uncomfortable tickling or twitching sensation in the leg muscles which causes an urge to move legs.
- Narcolepsy – Inconsistent episodes of falling asleep during the day (no control over when it will happen)
For more information about common sleep disorders, visit our sleep centers page. Schedule an appointment with one of our sleep specialists today!