What’s all the fuss about?

Ask any teenager and you’ll get a quick lesson on the limited need to take time away from friends, fun activities, laptops, cell phones, etc.  However, according to a report by the periodical Community (Vol.5, Issue,2, Summer 2016) teens need 8-10 hours of deep, restful sleep each night.

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Sadly, sleeplessness has become an American epidemic. Consumers Reports (March 2019) indicates that 80% of adults have trouble sleeping at least once a week.  In a recent CR report, almost half of the people studied toss and turn in sleeplessness each night.

Whatever your age or gender, sleeplessness takes a personal toll.  Women are most likely diagnosed with insomnia and men follow closely with a diagnosis of sleep apnea. A large percentage of U.S. adults, 30 %, – an estimated 83 million people – sleep poorly.  Since the National Sleep Foundation suggests that adults aim for at least 7 hours of uninterrupted of sleep each night, how do we hit that goal?

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Adequate restful sleep on a regular basis is critical.  It enhances your mood, boosts your memory, invigorates your creativity, and props up your problem-solving ability.  The periodical Community goes on to state that per night: Seniors need 7-8 hours of sleep, Adults need 7-9 hours, Teens need 8-10 hours, School-aged children need 9-11 hours, preschoolers need 10-13 hours, Toddlers need 11-14 hours, Infants need 12-15 hours and Newborns need 14-17 hours of sleep.  Traditionally,  sleep has been seen as one of the three pillars of health and wellness along with diet and wellness.  However, today research points to sleep being THE foundation of living a healthy life according to Terry Cralle, RN, certified sleep educator for the Better Sleep Council.

There is an answer: personalize your routine.

= Keep a record of your sleep pattern

• Exercise, less active people are more likely to experience insomnia
•  Experiment with aromatherapy – lavender essential oils may induce sleep
• Enjoying meditation helps to generate restful sleep patterns
• Eliminating sleeplessness with melatonin or other supplements may help
• Elicit help in maintaining your sleeping area at a cool temperature (60-67 degrees)
•  Eliminate alcohol – it interferes with sleep quality

That’s what all the fuss is about…  Enjoy your sleep!