Getting the Right Amount of Sleep
You might be lacking sleep if you do some or all of the following:
- Require an alarm clock in order to wake up on time
- Hit the snooze button on a regular basis
- Have a difficult time getting up in the morning
- Have low energy in the afternoon
- Fall asleep or sleepy in meetings, lectures, or warm rooms
- Require a nap after heavy meals or when driving
- Napping to get through the day
- Fall asleep in front of the TV
- Need to sleep in on weekends to catch up on lost sleep
- Fall asleep within five minutes of hitting the pillow
The above are all indicators of someone who is not getting enough sleep. The question is what to do about the situation once you realize that this may be an issue for you. Some people just need to focus on getting more sleep and avoid burning the midnight oil. Others have underlying health issues that need to be investigated.
For example, sleep apnea is something we have discussed a lot on this site. It affects one in 20 people and contributes to strokes, high blood pressure and heart attacks. Sleep loss is common and the above indicators all seem to be prevalent. Many people who suffer from being over weight also suffer from sleep apnea. They gain weight due to ongoing sleep loss. It is a cycle that is difficult to get out of.
Do yourself a favor, take the appropriate steps to manage your sleep loss and avoid some of the major health issues that it can cause. For more sleep-related posts, click here.
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