Wellness Wednesday – The Importance of Sleep with Nurse Lauren

Hi there, Nurse Lauren here with your Wellness Wednesdays tips. I don’t know about you- but after working the night shift all last week, a good night’s sleep has not been in the cards for me! Sleeping is key to your health and well-being. Creating healthy sleep habits or sleep hygiene, as it is sometimes called, is an essential part of living a healthy life. Being consistent and creating a relaxing atmosphere are two ways to start ensuring you are getting the sleep you need. Remember to “power down” and avoid electronics for at least an hour before you go to sleep. This will help you fall asleep faster and improve the quality of your sleep.

The amount of sleep changes as you get older. Check out how much sleep one needs from infancy to adulthood. Adults should get seven hours of sleep a night. Anything less than that is characterized as a “short sleep.”According to studies conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (@CDCgov,) 35% of American adults only short sleep (get less than 7 hours a sleep a night.) This statistic is applies to both men and women. The percentage jumps to 39% for American ages 45 – 54.

How do I know if I am getting a good sleep? A good night sleep is not just about getting the recommended hours. Although it is a start, the quality of your sleep is also very important. If you are sleeping through the night soundly and waking up feeling rested, then you are getting a good night sleep. The signs that you are not sleeping well are if you still feel tired when you wake up, you snore or gasp for air throughout the night, or you are waking up periodically before your alarm goes off.

How can I improve my sleep habits? Having a consistent bedtime routine is a good place to start. Go to bed and get up in the morning at the same time, even on the weekends. Your bedroom should be dark, quiet, relaxing, and free from any electronics. Not feeling tired when you go to bed? Try exercising more! This will tire you out. Also, avoid drinking caffeinated drinks after a certain time in the day. Make sure there is time to digest your dinner before you turn in for the night. Even after taking these measures, are you still having trouble sleeping? It may be time to seek out treatment by a specialist with experience in sleep disorders. Insomnia, narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome, and sleep apnea are all sleep disorders that should be evaluated by a healthcare professional. For more suggestions, visit the National Sleep Foundation’s Healthy Sleep Habits.

Why is it important to get the recommended hours of sleep per day by age group? Lack of sleep effects your insulin levels and blood pressure. It can also increase inflammation throughout the body, for example, causing a spike in blood pressure in a person with hypertension. Sleep deprivation can have serious consequences that could result in a chronic disease. Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression have all been linked to not getting a sufficient amount of sleep.

Check out The National Sleep Foundation (@sleepfoundation) to and find out how to be your #BestSleptSelf with these tips on how to wind down before bedtime.

Being your Best Slept Self® starts before you hit the sheets. Here are some tips for winding down and relaxing before bedtime. pic.twitter.com/uf8fjNrojr

— National Sleep Foundation (@sleepfoundation) June 16, 2023

Also check out this webinar happening tonight at 8pm EST:

Tune in for an upcoming webinar on June 21st! NSF will discuss the physical and mental benefits of getting the sleep you need. Register here: https://t.co/JF8AYfdoIn https://t.co/Wi9uEVV6Lt

— National Sleep Foundation (@sleepfoundation) June 14, 2023

Also, don’t forget what breakfast really stands for … breaking the fast! It’s important to eat a healthy breakfast after a good night’s sleep! Check out my tips for beginning your day with breakfast here.  This is Nurse Lauren, contributor of NursesNOW, signing off with your Wellness Wednesday tips. Follow these tips to live a healthy life free of sleep deprivation!