888-765-5400Catch Some Zzzz’s – Are you Getting Enough Sleep?
Do you find yourself feeling drowsy during the work day? Is it sometimes difficult to keep your eyes open while driving? Maybe you are one of the many Americans reaching for that fourth of fifth cup of coffee in the afternoon just to keep yourself alert and awake. If so, you may be experiencing sleep deprivation. Although the amount of sleep a person needs depends on a number of varying factors, including age, many experts agree that if you are experiencing frequent drowsiness, you are probably not getting enough sleep.
As it turns out, sleep is as important to our health as diet or exercise and not getting enough sleep can have just as many adverse effects on our bodies as overeating or being sedentary. In fact, sleep deprivation can lead to many serious health issues such as memory problems, depression and a weakening of the immune system. Having a weakened immune system will increase your risk of becoming sick as well as increase your perception of pain. In addition, getting too little sleep creates what some experts call a “sleep debt,” which is similar to having a bank account that is overdrawn. This sleep debt occurs because the amount of sleep a person needs increases as the days with too little sleep increase. In this way, there is an exponential increase in the amount of overall exhaustion a person may feel when he or she is not sleeping enough. Eventually, your body will demand you pay this debt and although we may get accustomed to getting less sleep than we need, our judgement, reaction time and other functions will still be impaired and our immune systems will be compromised.
If you find yourself drowsing while driving, be advised. Driver fatigue is responsible for an estimated 100,000 motor vehicle accidents each year, many resulting in fatalities (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). Although many of us try to combat this drowsiness by ingesting large amounts of caffeine, neither caffeine nor other stimulants can truly overcome the effects of sleep deprivation. If you are having trouble keeping your eyes focused, if you can’t stop yawning, if you can’t remember driving the last few miles or you are having trouble holding your head up, you are too tired to drive and the only thing that will cure you is rest.
Let’s face it, Americans are productive people. We work long, hard hours and also want to be involved with family and friends. We work in our yards and in our homes and spend our weekends playing with kids or hanging out with neighbors. We are busy people and sometimes even feel guilty for falling asleep early or taking a much needed nap. Sleep deprivation, however, is an increasing concern among medical professionals. In order to determine if you are getting enough sleep consider the following:
- Infants require 14-15 hours of sleep a day
- Teenagers need 8.5-9.5 hours of a sleep a day
- Most adults need 7-9 hours of sleep a day, with women requiring more sleep than men
- Pregnant women may need several more hours of sleep than normal
If you are one of the many Americans who simply aren’t sleeping enough ask yourself why and make some adjustments. Perhaps you could turn off the television and go to bed earlier. Possibly sleep later on the weekends or days when you do not have to work. Schedule in a nap on the days that allow. Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC knows the power of prevention. This year make a commitment to eat healthier, exercise regularly and sleep a little more. Whatever it takes, make sleep a top priority and a part of your preventive health care regimen.
For more information on Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina health insurance coverage, the Marketplace and healthcare gov to apply for your subsidy, please visit our website at www.nchealthplans.com or call our toll free number 888-765-5400 and speak with one of our experienced and professional agents. Let us help you navigate through the Health Care Reform changes in accordance with the new regulations of The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obama care.