Parkridge offers tips for healthy sleep habits after daylight saving time
The time will spring forward this Sunday night, which will bring longer days with it. However, it may also create havoc with sleep patterns.
Parkridge Sleep Center officials say that, with the right preparation, the impact of this change can be minimized.
“Lack of quality rest can put a person at increased risk for illness or weight gain,” Dr. Harsha Shantha, American Academy of Sleep Medicine board-certified physician and medical director of the Parkridge Sleep Center, said in a prepared statement.
Shantha also said that there are more serious concerns about a lack of sleep.
“Sleep loss has been linked to chronic health issues and life-threatening diseases ranging from diabetes and high blood pressure to heart disease, depression and anxiety disorders," he said.
Shantha said that you should resist the urge to drastically increase your activity level during the adjustment time after the time change and to make an effort to stick to your pre-time change schedule for a few days.
“With light later in the day, many people feel that there is suddenly more time to do things, and their sleep schedules suffer as a result,” Dr. Vincent Viscomi, AASM board-certified physician with the Parkridge Sleep Center, said in a prepared statement. “Those with packed schedules often feel they can cut out sleep and catch up on the weekend. However, there is no way to recoup lost sleep—it needs to be treated not as a luxury or an expendable function but a vital part of overall well-being.”
Other habits to practice for healthy sleep are good eating habits, avoiding alcohol before bedtime and drinking a lot of water.
“Clean living may allow you to avoid time-change problems and ensure that you meet daylight saving time with good sleep habits in place,” Dr. Tareck Kadrie, AASM board-certified physician with the Parkridge Sleep Center, said in a prepared statement.
For more information about the Parkridge Sleep Center, visit ParkridgeHealth.com or call MedLine at 800-242-5662.
