Vim & Vigor - Fall 2013 - Community Healthcare - (Page 26)
Sleep
Is your
shut-eye serving you well?
When it comes to getting a good night’s rest, not all sleep is
created equal. Various elements factor into what constitutes
restful sleep, and different people have different needs. So how
do you know whether you’re really getting the rest you need?
And what can you do to improve your sleep habits? Read on.
By ellen
olSon
Top Sleep
DiSorDerS
1
2
3
4
Insomnia
T
rouble falling or
staying asleep
Sleep apnea
B
reathing interruptions
during sleep
Restless legs
syndrome
A tingling sensation
in the legs
the StageS
of Sleep
To understand sleep problems, it helps to first
understand the sleep cycle.
Stage 1
is light sleep, when
muscles begin to
relax. In this stage,
you can be awakened
easily and muscles
twitch occasionally.
Narcolepsy
Daytime “sleep attacks”
40 million
26
Fa l l 2 013
Stage 2
is the official onset
of sleep when you
become disengaged
from your surroundings and your heart
rate and breathing
are regular.
Number of Americans who suffer from
chronic, long-term sleep disorders.
Stages 3 + 4
are the deepest and
most restorative stages
of sleep—necessary for
feeling well-rested and
energetic the next day. If
you’re sleeping through the
night but still not waking
up refreshed, you may not
be getting adequate deep
sleep. Talk to your doctor about whether a sleep
study is necessary.
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