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WELLNESS
CHASING ZZZ’S Don’t let a busy
summer schedule
keep you
from getting
enough sleep.
SLEEP PLAYS AN important role in asthma, heart disease, hypertension, SECRETS TO
your physical and mental health, but seizures and mood disorders. If you BETTER SLEEP
it can be hard to catch zzz’s when already have these medical issues,
children are out of school and the sleep problems may worsen them.” You know sleep is vital for
days are long. a healthy body and mind. But
In addition to improving your how can you improve your sleep
Warm summers days, traveling physical health, sleeping well can habits? Try these suggestions:
and late evenings with family and give a serious boost to your mental
friends can make it challenging to health. Without rest, irritability can 1. Create a cool, dark place
get the recommended seven to nine become a problem, and that can affect to sleep. Sleep with a fan on
hours of sleep a night. It’s essential your relationships. or lower the temperature on
to make sleep a priority. To set the thermostat. Use blackout
yourself up for success, remember “Getting enough sleep helps keep curtains to block light.
that cool temperatures between 60 us from sweating the small stuff,”
and 67 degrees are best for sleeping. says Bonnie Cole, MD, LMFT, licensed 2. Exercise early in the
So are routines—experts recommend marriage and family therapist with day. Working out too close to
going to sleep and waking up at Family Health Center, Navicent bedtime can keep you awake.
about the same time every day. Health. “Sleep helps stabilize our Exercise at least three hours
moods. People are more prone to before bedtime.
WHY SLEEP MATTERS depression when they don’t get
enough sleep—and depression can 3. Get out of bed if you
Just a few days without enough sleep cause you to wake in the night, can’t sleep. Remaining awake
can make you feel groggy, unfocused creating a vicious cycle. Thankfully, in bed leads to frustration
and irritable. Long term, there are it’s one that we can stop with the and anxiety about not
even bigger consequences. right medical care.” being able to fall asleep. Do
something relaxing—
“Sleeping well can help you live IF YOU ARE HAVING TROUBLE such as reading a
longer, manage your weight, prevent GETTING TO SLEEP OR STAYING book—until you
heart disease and ward off conditions ASLEEP, NAVICENT HEALTH feel sleepy.
such as dementia,” says Avinesh Singh CAN HELP! CALL 478-633-6272
Bhar, MD, pulmonologist, critical care TO SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION 4/6/17 12:49 PM
and sleep specialist with The Medical WITH DR. BHAR, OR CALL
Center, Navicent Health. “Untreated 478-633-6272 TO SPEAK WITH A
sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, THERAPIST AT FAMILY HEALTH
have been associated with poorly CENTER, NAVICENT HEALTH.
controlled diabetes, atrial fibrillation,
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