Health and Fitness : Are You Getting Enough Sleep?

NOTICE: Starting in April 2014, the clinics of Virginia Gay Hospital which are Urbana, Atkins, Van Horne and Vinton Family Medical Clinics will be transitioning to electronic health records. You may experience a possible delay in your routine visits.

You may be questioning why the conversion to electronic health records is happening? With the help of electronic health records, your providers will have access to:

1. More accurate and complete information about your health-including your medical history, medications, and test results-to help ensure they can give you the best possible care.
2. Improved ability to share information with other providers you see to better coordinate care they give to you and your family.

During this transition- we appreciate your understanding in possible scheduling delays. We will do our very best to accommodate your health needs and thank you for your continued support.

Are you getting enough sleep?
How you feel and perform during the day is related to how much sleep you get the night before. If sleepiness interferes with your daily activities, more sleep each night will improve the quality of your waking hours. Yet many adults report experiencing a sleeping problem one or more nights a week.

Insufficient sleep is associated with a number of chronic diseases and conditions—such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression—which threaten our nation’s health. Not getting enough sleep is associated with the onset of these diseases and also may complicate their management and outcome.

Sufficient sleep is increasingly being recognized as an essential aspect of chronic disease prevention and health promotion. How much sleep is enough? Sleep needs vary from person to person and change as people age. Consider these sleep guidelines for different age groups

How much sleep do you need?

Newborns: 16-18 hours
Preschool-aged Children: 11-12 hours
School-aged Children: At least 10 hours
Teens: 9-10 hours
Adults (including older adults): 7-8 hours

Sleep Hygiene
The promotion of regular sleep is known as sleep hygiene. Here are some simple sleep hygiene tips:

-Go to bed at the same time each night, and rise at the same time each morning.
-Sleep in a quiet, dark, and relaxing environment, which is neither too hot nor too cold.
-Make your bed comfortable and use it only for sleeping and not for other activities, such as reading, watching TV, or listening to music.
-Remove all TVs, computers, and other "gadgets" from the bedroom.
-Avoid large meals before bedtime.

Sleep Disorders
Sleep-related difficulties – typically called sleep disorders – affect many people. Major sleep disorders include:

-Insomnia – an inability to fall or stay asleep that can result in functional impairment throughout the day.
-Narcolepsy – excessive daytime sleepiness combined with sudden muscle weakness; episodes of narcolepsy are sometimes called "sleep attacks" and may occur in unusual circumstances.
-Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) – an unpleasant "creeping" sensation associated with aches and pains throughout the legs that can make it difficult to fall asleep.
-Sleep Apnea – interrupted sleep caused by periodic gasping or "snorting" noises or momentarily suspension of breathing.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a sleep disorder, it may be important to receive an evaluation by your Virginia Gay Hospital and Clinics healthcare provider. Click here for a list of clinics.

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Source: CDC