to contact NAMI Tulsa:  918.587.6264
NAMI Tulsa
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Contact
    • History
  • News
    • Bulletins
  • Education
  • Advocacy
  • Groups
  • FaithNet
  • Resource Library
  • Funding

Esperanza Hope To Cope: For a Good Nights Sleep Turn Off Your Smartphone

8/21/2018

Comments

 
by esperanza Magazine

To make sure you catch some quality z’s, turn off your smartphone at least 30 minutes before hitting the sack.

 

March 9, 2018, MAYWOOD, IL – To get a good night’s sleep, turn off your smartphone at least 30 minutes before going to bed, says Loyola Medicine sleep specialist Sunita Kumar, MD, in recognition of Sleep Awareness Week, March 11 – 17.

“Many Americans are chronically sleep-deprived,” said Dr. Kumar, director of Loyola Medicine’s sleep program. “Be it social obligations, work or our lifestyles, we are staying awake longer and longer now. We still need seven to eight hours of sleep a night on average. But too many people are getting by on six hours or less.”

Lack of sleep increases the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, weight gain, mood changes and accidents.

When you are sleep deprived, your cognitive throughput – how fast you respond to cognitive tasks – slows down. Consequently, small tasks seem to take longer. Studies also have found that going without sleep for long periods can hinder how your body regulates your feelings.This can cause mood changes that can make you anxious, confused, or irritable or focus on negative events.

Inadequate sleep also can cause weight gain. ”Sleep deprivation affects the food choices we make. We tend to go for the sugary doughnut after a night of poor sleep,” Dr. Kumar said.

Dr. Kumar recommends powering down smart phones, tablets and other electronic devices at least 30 minutes before bed. The blue light, she explains, interferes with circadian rhythms that control sleep and some studies have shown that it affects melatonin secretion, a hormone needed for sleep onset. Also when you are unable to fall asleep, one should avoid using these electronic devices. “Many of my patients think watching TV will help them fall back asleep when it can have the opposite effect.”

Dr. Kumar has noticed that more of her patients are using fitness trackers and smart watches to track their sleep.

“While these devices are great for encouraging an active lifestyle, I would be cautious when using them to track sleep,” Dr. Kumar said. “You can use the information as a gauge of time spent in bed, but they are not as accurate as a sleep study performed in a sleep lab to determine different stages of sleep.” Adding, “So obsessing about the amount of deep sleep or REM sleep, as shown by your fitness tracker, can cause unwanted anxiety.”

If you find you aren’t getting enough sleep or feel tired during the day, Dr. Kumar suggests speaking with your doctor. “Often times, a pattern of poor sleep can be an indicator for an underlying sleep disorder,” Dr. Kumar said. “If you have a sleep disorder, your doctor can help you with a treatment plan and get you back to a good night’s rest soon.”

Loyola Medicine’s Center for Sleep Disorders provides a comprehensive approach to diagnosing and treating adult and pediatric sleep problems, including snoring, sleep apnea and narcolepsy. The multidisciplinary team of sleep specialists includes neurologists, pulmonologists, otolaryngologists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons. The center is accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Dr. Kumar, Nidhi Undevia, MD, and Abid Khurshid, MD, are board certified sleep specialists who treat a host of sleep-related conditions at the Loyola Outpatient Center and the Loyola Center for Health at Burr Ridge.

 

Source: Loyola University Health System

 



via Esperanza – Hope To Cope
(This and our other articles are provided by some of our curated resources. We encourage readers to support them and continue to look to these sources in times of need and opportunity.)
Comments
    Picture
     Today, NAMI Tulsa is heavily focused on education, support groups, public policy, training, and we have developed lasting relationships with many local, state, and national agencies for the betterment of the care of our mentally ill.

    The views expressed in these columns come from independent sources and are not necessarily the position of NAMI Tulsa. We encourage public engagement in the issues and seek good journalistic sources which advance the discussion for an improved society which fosters recovery from mental health challenges.

    President Steve Baker

    2017 President of NAMI Tulsa.
       .

    Picture
    NAMI Tulsa News
    Education

    Archives

    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    November 2014

    Categories

    All
    Faithnet
    Smoking

    RSS Feed

Learning

Education
News
Bulletins

Connecting

About Us
Support Groups
Advocacy

Support

Resource Library
Contact Us
Join NAMI

918-587-6264

© COPYRIGHT 2015. NAMI Tulsa ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.