Happy Sleep Week! We can’t help but wonder if it is a coincidence that this sleep awareness week falls around daylights savings time… This week’s sleep topic, daytime sleepiness, is apropos as many of us will be feeling a bit sluggish as our bodies adjust to the time change. Most of us can deduce that daytime sleepiness is a result of poor or inadequate amount of sleep, however, it is worthwhile to assess other potential causes as it can have significant health and safety consequences.
Not only do we not feel well when sleepy, daytime sleepiness contributes to over 100,000 automobile accidents, approximately 71,000 personal injuries, and 1,500 deaths each year (aafp.org). It also contributes to poor health and cognitive performance. This can affect the ability to gain or maintain employment, decrease job satisfaction, as well as impact personal relationships.
Though most cases of daytime sleepiness can be linked with lack of sleep, it can also be caused by certain medications, illicit substance use, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and mental health issues. Don’t push on through daytime sleepiness or self-medicate with caffeine. Instead, have a conversation with your health care provider and create a better plant to help overcome it. When you do, bring a journal of your own assessment of hours slept, quality of this sleep, amount of caffeine and/or alcohol consumed, level of physical activity, and perceived level of stress. Your own self-assessment may bring to light things that you can begin to change on your own. As always, the Health and Wellness is happy to help you trouble shoot your sleep issues.
The final sleep topic next week will review restless nights and what can be done to start repairing poor sleep.
Don’t miss the “I Love Sleep” lunch and learn on Friday, March 15 at 12pm in Blue Jay. To learn more or access the Skype link, visit the I Love Sleep Lunch and Learn page on NL TODAY.