Sleep & the Time Change

By Rachel Abbuhl

            This week, we will spring ahead for Daylight Savings on March 8, 2015. Have you thought about how your sleep schedule will be affected by this change? Many of us think we get enough sleep each night, but do we? The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends the following amount of sleep for people in each age range:

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

Not getting enough sleep is associated with a number of chronic diseases and conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression. Some tips to help you establish a regular sleep schedule include the following:

• Go to bed at the same time each night
• Sleep in an environment that is dark, quiet and relaxing
• Remove the TV, computer, cell phone, etc. from the bedroom

More on this topic can be found on our hospital website by clicking here, and at the CDC’s website at http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Sleep/. So let’s all spring into good health by starting with a good night’s sleep.

“… Sufficient sleep is not a luxury—it is a necessity—and should be thought of as a vital sign of good health.” --Wayne H. Giles, MD, MS, Director, Division of Population Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

This article was written by Rachel Abbuhl, Staff Supervisor with Trinity Medical Group.