The
amount of sleep needed varies from person to person. Most newborns sleep for 16
to 18 hours a day, toddlers about 14 hours, and preschoolers about 11
or 12. School-age children generally need at least 10 hours of sleep,
adolescents perhaps 9 or 10, and adults from 7 to 8.
Getting the right amount of rest should not be considered optional. According to experts, sufficient sleep is important for:
1. Growth and development in children and
teenagers.
2. Learning and retention of new information.
3. Maintaining the right balance of hormones
that impact metabolism and weight.
4. Cardiovascular health.
5. Disease prevention.
Insufficient sleep has been linked to
1.
obesity
2.
depression
3.
heart disease
4.
diabetes and
5.
tragic accidents.
Surely these give us good reason to want to
get enough rest. So, what can you do if you realize that you have a problem
getting enough sleep?
Try
the suggestions below:
1. Try to go to bed and get up at the same time
every day.
2. Make your bedroom quiet, dark, relaxing, and
neither too warm nor too cold.
3. Do not watch TV or use gadgets while in bed.
4. Make your bed as comfortable as possible.
5. Avoid heavy meals, caffeine, and alcohol
before bedtime.
6. If after applying these suggestions you
still suffer from insomnia or other sleep disorders—such as excessive daytime
sleepiness or gasping for breath while sleeping—you may want to consult a qualified
health-care professional.
Your health is affected by realities over which you have no control—such as economic conditions, the availability of resources, and so on. In all likelihood, however, it should be within your means to adopt at least some of the suggestions given in the foregoing article.
