| Sleep: As Important as Diet and Exercise (Only easier!) Navin Jain, MD (orginially published Healthy Living 2006) Sleep may be great American divide. Half of all Americans sleep really well. The other half has problems. Which half do you fit in? How often can you say, “I had a good night’s sleep?” Getting a good night’s sleep is hard for many adults and that often means poorer health, a less vibrant sex life, lower productivity on the job and more danger on the roads. A survey done by National Sleep Foundation divided individuals among 5 different groups: 1. Healthy, Living Larks: getting good night sleep; usually early riser; never or rarely feel tired during wake hours; prefer to sleep with significant other; less likely to miss work or made errors because of being too sleepy 2. Sleep Savvy Seniors: getting good night sleep although they may be supplementing night time sleep with naps during day time; rarely feel tired during wake hours; less likely to have underlying sleep disorder; least likely to have driven while feeling drowsy 3. Dragging Duos: usually working long, late hours and not getting enough sleep; try to make up for lack of sleep on weekends; no more likely than normal adult to have underlying sleep disorder (21%); some may feel tired, fatigued or not up to par during wake hours; sleep problem may affect operating a motor vehicle 4. Overworked, overweight, and over caffeinated: working rotating, evening, or night shift and get least amount of sleep; try to compensate by taking naps; have insomnia as major underlying sleep disorder; consume more caffeinated and alcoholic beverages; usually feel do not have sleep problem; usually takes longer than average to fall asleep; feel tired, fatigued or not up to par 5. Sleepless and Missin’ the Kissin’: difficulty falling asleep; often try sleep aids to fall asleep; feel tired, fatigues and not up to par most of times; miss events or work due to sleep problem; may have significant problem with relationship with significant other Symptoms of a sleep problem include difficulty falling asleep, waking a lot during the night, waking up too early and not being able to get back to sleep, waking up feeling unrefreshed, snoring, unpleasant feelings in the legs or pauses in breathing. · Roughly one-fourth of adults who have partners report that their sexual relationship has been hurt because they have been too sleepy. They had sex less often or lost interest in having sex because they were too tired. · Six in 10 adult motorists said they have driven while drowsy in the past year; 4 percent reported that they have had an accident or near-accident because they were too tired or actually fell asleep while driving. · Three-fourths said their partner has a sleep problem, and the most common is snoring. · Seven in 10 people said their doctor has never asked them about their sleep. As the nation prepares for return of Day Light Savings Time on Sunday, April 2, 2006, National Sleep Foundation urges you to sleep in on that Sunday morning, instead of losing an hour of sleep. National Sleep Awareness Week, sponsored by National Sleep Foundation, takes place during the week leading to Day Light Savings Time. This year in 2006, it is from March 27 – April 2. National Sleep Awareness Week is comprehensive national public education campaign that is helping to change Americans’ attitude about sleep. It promotes importance of good night’s sleep for good health, safety, productivity and overall well being. This is perfect time for residents of North West Ohio and South East Michigan to evaluate the amount of sleep they usually get. One should make a commitment to get a full night of uninterrupted sleep this week – and then make it a nightly habit all year. It is important to remember that Sleep is a necessity and not a luxury. This year’s theme for National Sleep Awareness Week is “Sleep: As Important as Diet and Exercise (only easier!)”. This is a good advice not only when clock changes but throughout the year. A cornerstone of the week is NSF's annual Sleep in America poll, scheduled for release this year on Tuesday, March 28th. The 2006 poll questions focus on adolescents' sleep habits and their impact on performance and lifestyle. In addition to the release of the 2006 Sleep in America poll, NSF's other NSAW events include: · NSF's News Conference to discuss the findings of the 2006 Sleep in America poll, and to field questions from the press on poll results. The press conference is scheduled to be held at the National Press Club in Washington, DC on Tuesday, March 28 at 10:00 a.m. · NSF’s 6th Annual "Night of a Thousand Dreams" gala, during which the Foundation’s "Sleep Leadership Awards" will be presented to individuals, organizations and others who have contributed to the field of sleep. An online Auction to help NSF activities is being done as well. Details are available at http://www.cmarket. com/catalog/landingPage.do?vhost=sleepfoundation · NSF's Healthy Sleep Community Award will recognize an organization for initiating a sleep activity that has had a significant impact in its community. · The National Sleep Foundation and the North American Branch of the International Life Sciences Institute are working together to host a cutting-edge program on sleep and obesity in Washington, DC on March 27th and 28th, 2006. Locally, You may contact Sleep Specialist in your area, or Sleep Disorders Center for more information. They may be offering special programs for National Sleep Awareness Week. The List and phone numbers of Sleep Disorders Centers in area are: Bay Park Community Hospital, Oregon, OH 419-690-7755 Flower Hospital, Sylvania, OH 419-824-1624 Memorial Hospital, Fremont, OH 419-332-7321 Regional Center of Sleep Medicine, Toledo, OH 419-292-1616 St. Charles Mercy Hospital, Oregon, OH 419-696-7100 St. Luke’s Hospital, Maumee, OH 419-897-8490 St. Vincent Mercy Hospital, Toledo, OH 419-251-0570 The Toledo Hospital, Toledo, OH 419-291-5629 Toledo Sleep Disorders Center, Toledo, OH 419-843-9997 Blanchard Valley regional Health Center, Findlay, OH 419-427-2604 Firelands Regional Medical Center, Sandusky, OH 419-557-7740 Fostoria Hospital, Fostoria, OH 419-436-6882 Fulton County Health Center, Wauseon, OH 419-330-2683 Mercy Hospital of Tiffin, Tiffin, OH 419-448-7666 Wood County Hospital, Bowling Green, OH 419-373-4173 Bixby Medical Center, Adrian, MI 517-265-0226 Mercy Memorial Hospital, Monroe, MI 734-240-8810 Getting a good night’s sleep is hard for many adults and that often means poorer health, a less vibrant sex life, lower productivity on the job and more danger on the roads. Symptoms of a sleep problem include difficulty falling asleep, waking a lot during the night, waking up too early and not being able to get back to sleep, waking up feeling unrefreshed, snoring, unpleasant feelings in the legs or pauses in breathing. · Roughly one-fourth of adults who have partners report that their sexual relationship has been hurt because they have been too sleepy. They had sex less often or lost interest in having sex because they were too tired. · Six in 10 adult motorists said they have driven while drowsy in the past year; 4 percent reported that they have had an accident or near-accident because they were too tired or actually fell asleep while driving. · Three-fourths said their partner has a sleep problem, and the most common is snoring. · Seven in 10 people said their doctor has never asked them about their sleep. Test your knowledge about sleep 1. During sleep, your brain rests. 2. You cannot learn to function normally with one to two fewer hours of sleep a night than you need 3. Boredom makes you feel sleepy, even though you have had enough sleep. 4. Resting in bed with your eyes closed cannot satisfy your body’s need for sleep 5. Snoring is not harmful as long as it doesn’t disturb others or wake you up 6. Everyone dreams every night 7. The older you get, fewer hours of sleep you need 8. Most people don’t know when they are sleepy 9. Raising the volume of your radio will help you stay awake while driving 10. Sleep disorders are mainly due to worry or psychological problems. 11. The human body never adjusts to night shift work 12. Most sleep disorders go away without any treatment 13. Coffee overcomes the effect of drowsiness while driving ANSWER KEY: True – 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 11. False – 3,5,7,9,10,12,13,14 |
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