Don’t sleep on the importance of sleep

After losing an hour this past weekend for daylight saving time, people might be more aware of their sleep — or lack of sleep — than normal. This loss of an hour coincides with the National Sleep Foundation’s Sleep Awareness Week, which runs from March 8 through 14 this year. 

The National Sleep Foundation recommends seven to nine hours of sleep per day for adults, with different amounts recommended for children of different ages — with newborns needing the most, at 14 to 17 hours.  

There isn’t one distinct reason why we need sleep, but there are different theories about sleep’s key role in our lives. During sleep, the body can restore energy, and muscles can grow and repair themselves after physical activity.   

Sleep also plays a role in daytime memory and learning; when people have not gotten an appropriate amount of sleep, they find it harder to remember things. It’s recently been found that when the central nervous system functions, there are metabolic products created in the body, and during sleep, the body clears these out. If these were to build up in the body, this could lead to Alzheimer’s disease or other neurocognitive diseases.  

People can experience irritability, cognitive impairment, memory problems and hallucinations. They may also experience issues with their immune system being able to fight off infections and the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.  

Good sleep is also important to maintaining a healthy weight and for prime athletic performance. Sleep deprivation impacts the hormones that affect a person’s appetite.  

Sleep deprivation can also be dangerous — drivers who haven’t gotten enough sleep can be falling asleep at the wheel and also experience decreased reaction time.   

While adults may experience sleepiness, kids can become hyperactive when they don’t get enough sleep.  

If you are regularly having problems falling asleep, staying asleep or waking up too early, it’s a good idea to get that checked out. Meet with a primary care practitioner who can then refer you to a sleep medicine specialist, if needed.  

Although many people experience issues with their sleep, that doesn’t mean it’s normal. If something is wrong, see a medical professional who can help get you back on track.