Sleep Is As Important As Diet And Exercise (Only Easier!)

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Sleep Is As Important As Diet And Exercise (Only Easier!)

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=40294

An estimated 47 million American adults may be putting themselves at

risk for injury as well as health and behavior problems because they

aren't meeting their minimum sleep needs in order to be fully alert

the next day, according to polls by the National Sleep Foundation

(NSF).

What are " minimum sleep needs " ? Sleep experts agree most adults need

between seven and nine hours of sleep, on average each night, in

order to function most effectively the next day. Lack of sleep can

have an impact on cognition, performance, and state of mind.

People who sleep well, in general, are happier and healthier. But

when sleep is poor or inadequate, people feel tired or fatigued,

their social and intimate relationship suffer, work productivity is

negatively affected, and they make our roads more dangerous by

driving wile sleepy or less alert. A 2005 poll found that about one-

half of America's adults say they get a good night's sleep most

nights.

Getting behind the wheel of a vehicle when you're sleepy is as

dangerous as drinking and driving. Yet, according to a recent poll by

the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), 60 percent of adults licensed to

drive say they have driven drowsy in the past year. What that means

is that about 118 million people are making our roads more dangerous

because they are driving when they are sleepy and less alert than

they should be. There's a good chance that one of those drivers could

be on the road near you.

Fatigue and driving are a dangerous mix. The National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration (NHTSA) conservatively estimates that 100,000

police-reported crashes are the direct result of driver fatigue each

year, resulting in an estimated 1,550 deaths and 71,000 injuries.

At times, virtually everyone is at-risk for drowsy driving. It's

important to pay attention to these five warning signs:

-- Difficulty focusing or keeping your eyes open

-- Yawning repeatedly

-- Trouble remembering the last few miles driven

-- Drifting from your lane or hitting a shoulder rumble strip

-- Missing traffic signs or exits

If you start to feel tired while driving, find a safe, well-lit area

and stop for a break, or for the night. Caffeine can promote short-

term alertness, but it takes about 30 minutes for it to enter the

bloodstream. Take a 15-20 minute nap while waiting for the caffeine

to kick in. Don't try tricks such as blasting a radio or opening a

window ... these don't work!

Sleep is as important as proper nutrition and exercise for good

health. Sleep deprivation in America affects people of all ages, from

children to older adults. Sleep deprivation is a choice, and since

it's a choice, then we can all make the healthier choice to get the

proper amount of sleep we need tonight for a better tomorrow.

By Michele Narcavage

President, Awake In America, Inc.

Michele Narcavage is president of Awake In America, a national non-

profit organization focused on sleep and sleep disorders. Contact the

organization via phone at 215-722-2326