Are You Getting Enough Sleep?

The week of March 7 is National Sleep Awareness Week.  We often take the importance of a good night’s sleep for granted. With the busy pace of modern life, sleep may often fall to the way-side as work, school, and social concerns take priority. This however is to our detriment as many of us often complain about feeling groggy and not having enough energy. A full night’s sleep is an important factor in maintaining overall wellness.

“Getting enough continuous quality sleep contributes to how well we feel and perform the next day, but it also has a large impact on the overall quality of our lives," said Dr. Joan Facelle, Rockland County Commissioner of Health. "Not getting enough sleep is associated with a number of chronic diseases and conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression, and also machinery-related and motor vehicle accidents.” 

The Rockland County Department of Health recommends the following practices to facilitate better sleep patterns:

• Establish regular sleep and wake schedules, even on weekends
• Create a relaxing bedtime routine such as soaking in a hot bath or listening to soothing music - begin an hour or more before the time you expect to fall asleep
• Create a sleep environment that is dark, quiet, comfortable and cool
• Sleep on a comfortable mattress and pillows
•  Keep "sleep stealers" out of the bedroom – avoid watching TV, using a computer or reading in bed
• Finish eating at least 2-3 hours before your regular bedtime
• Exercise regularly during the day or at least a few hours before bedtime
• Avoid caffeine and alcohol products close to bedtime and quit smoking

For more information about sleep and sleep disorders, talk to your health care provider, or visit the National Sleep Foundation website at www.sleepfoundation.org.