Feeling less alert today? Reaching for that extra cup of coffee to stay awake? Your health and sleep habits may be contributing to a lack of good quality sleep, which can lead to other health issues.
Today, March 14, World Sleep Day will be celebrated all over the globe. This annual event is a celebration of sleep and a call to action on important issues related to sleep.
Allison Briggs is a sleep consultant with Sweet Dreams Sleep Solutions. She helps parents teach their children how to sleep through the night and take restorative naps. One in four children will have sleep issues at some point in their childhood.
“Consequences of inadequate sleep for children can be devastating due to the fact that it affects every part of their health,” she said. “It negatively impacts their emotional health, immune system and attention span which therefore affects academic performance.
“Lack of sleep also increases both behavioral problems and childhood obesity. Sleep is a life skill that must be learned and if not taught at a young age it can become a huge problem for teenagers and adults.”
Briggs said childhood sleep deprivation affects not only the child, but also the well-being of the entire family. Sleep deprivation for adults can be a source of weight gain, domestic unhappiness, inability to handle stress, career shortcomings and possible life-threatening situations such as car accidents.
She said there are a number of steps people can take to encourage sleep for everyone in the family:
Establish regular sleep and wake schedules
Have a soothing bedtime routine
Create a sleep conducive environment that is dark, quiet, comfortable and cooln Exercise regularly
For more information on the importance of sleep visit www.sleepfoundation.org and to learn how to teach your children how to sleep through the night call Briggs at 250-503-7719.
