Vim & Vigor - Fall 2012 - Gwinnett Medical Center - (Page 11)

to Better Sleep If you’re tired of being tired, then this plan is for you BY STEPHANIE R. CONNER Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. There it is again. The dreaded sound of your alarm clock. Every morning, it disrupts your slumber—that is, on the days you aren’t awakened by a crying baby, construction noise or roaring engines. Regardless of what brings us out of Dreamland, many of us aren’t getting the quantity or the quality of sleep we need. The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) recommends seven to nine hours of sleep nightly for adults, but a 2011 poll found that about two-thirds of us say our sleep needs are not being met during the week. This is a problem, says NSF Chairman Russell Rosenberg, Ph.D. “Sleep is restorative—physically and mentally. It’s vital to our survival,” he says. “It’s as vital as water, air and food. It’s something you can’t cheat without consequences.” WHY SLEEP MATTERS People who are chronically sleep-deprived may see an impact on their metabolism and hormones. In fact, poor sleep habits have been connected with slowed glucose processing and weight gain. While not a guarantee of disease, Rosenberg adds, “[lack of sleep] does put you at higher risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.” It also increases your risk for accidents and makes it hard to concentrate on work and other tasks. “Several nights of sleep deprivation is comparable to a blood alcohol level of 0.08,” notes Tracey Marks, M.D., a psychiatrist, psychotherapist and author of Master Your Sleep: Proven Methods Simpliﬁed. “That’s how impairing it can be to your judgment and reﬂexes.” If you’re tired of feeling tired, our 30-day plan is just what the doctor ordered. Take the time to examine your habits, reset your internal clock and get the sleep you need. PHOTOGRAPHY BYVEER Let’s get started. Vim & Vigor · FAL L 2012 11

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Fall 2012 - Gwinnett Medical Center

Vim & Vigor - Fall 2012 - Gwinnett Medical Center
Contents
Phil’s Feature
Good Times for a Good Cause
Warm Fuzzies
30 Days to Better Sleep
I Can’t Ask My Doctor That!
He Said, She Said
Hold On to Your Health
Still A Screening Star
Your Joints: An Owner’s Manual
Weighing Your Options
No Greater Gift
Weather Alert
Virtual Health
PrimeTime Health
From the Heart
Putting Everything in Place
Out of the White Coat
Transforming Healthcare

Vim & Vigor - Fall 2012 - Gwinnett Medical Center