If you find you have trouble staying awake during the day or you feel fatigued, chances are you suffer from sleep deprivation. If you tend to be irritable with your family, friends and co-workers, or have a hard time concentrating or remembering facts, it may be another sign that you aren’t getting enough quality sleep. According to the Better Sleep Council, most healthy adults require between seven and nine hours of sleep each night in order to function properly during everyday tasks.
In order to get a better night’s sleep, it is important to understand the sleep cycle and how the cycle changes as you age. A number of different factors can affect the amount and quality of sleep you are getting, so it is also important to recognize the outside forces that are affecting your sleep.
Source: Better Sleep Council, www.bettersleep.org
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Resources to Learn More:
- Better Sleep Council – provides education to the public about the importance of sleep to promote good health and quality of life and about the value of the sleep system and sleep environment in pursuit of a good night's sleep.
- National Sleep Foundation - dedicated to improving public health and safety by achieving understanding of sleep and sleep disorders, and by supporting sleep-related education, research, and advocacy.
- Sleep Channel – provides information on everything you need to know about sleep disorders.
- Sleep Disorders Guide – a website designed to be a valuable tool for patients and members of the public who are seeking dependable information related to sleep, sleep disorders, treatments and services. The goal of this site is to present accurate, scientific information in a concise manner that is easy to understand by teaming up with local medical authorities.
Your Guide to Healthy Sleep – download this free booklet from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) for more information on sleep, coping with nightshift work and jet lag, tips on how to get enough, and sleep disorders. To receive a printed copy by postal mail, call the NHLBI Health Information Center at 301-592-8573. Cost for a printed copy is $3.50 plus $2.50 shipping and handling (in the U.S.). NIH Publication Number 06-5271.
