So how many hours of sleep SHOULD I be sleeping?

I can’t tell you how many times a week in our practice that a patient will ask me this. It’s a great question!

Sleep is crucial to our health and well-being, and we happen to live in a sleep-deprived country.  With all the late night access to stores, television, and all of today’s electronics, sleep is an area often being jeopardized.

Below is a wonderful guide in helping determine amounts of sleep necessary for optimal alertness and quality of life.

However, I have found that certain people have built-in time clocks internally “set”. No matter how many times they try to sleep longer their body “won’t let them”. Research has shown that there may be a genetic link to how much sleep one really needs.

But if you feel you are not getting enough sleep consider starting slowly to increase your sleep time. Try extending your sleep by half hour in the morning or at bedtime on the weekends to start. Consider not napping during the day so that at bedtime you may be drowsier. Avoid working long into the night or watching TV too late. Some foods are listed below that may affect your sleep.

Try to avoid certain food and beverages at bedtime:

  • Citrus fruits
  • Chocolate
  • Caffeinated drinks
  • Fried and fatty foods
  • Garlic and onions
  • Mint and mint flavorings
  • Spicy foods
  • Tomato based foods, ie spaghetti, pizza, chili

For more information on sleep including healthy sleep tips, visit the website of the National Sleep Foundation.

by Mary Ellen Hughes, Clinical director at Dental Sleep and TMD Center of Illinois

 

1 Comment »

  1. […] Her wake up time starts at 4:30 am and her bedtime average was between 11-12:00pm, which gives her only 5 hours of sleep each night.  I know how busy kids can get with their school, sports and activity schedules but are we placing […]

    Pingback by Parents Are You Over Scheduling Your Children Lives? | Sleep Apnea — May 23, 2013 @ 12:12 am

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