Insufficient Sleep Affects Work, Safety and Relationships

National Sleep Awareness Week March 3-9

[March 03, 2008]  PEORIA -- Each year as we "lose" an hour of sleep with the return to daylight saving time, the National Sleep Foundation takes the opportunity to focus on sleep-related issues by sponsoring National Sleep Awareness Week. This year's observance is March 3-9, and daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. Sunday.

To address sleep disorders, which affect an estimated 40 million Americans, the Illinois Neurological Institute opened its first sleep center, located at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, in 2001. It has been operated under direction of Dr. Sarah Nath Zallek, board-certified sleep specialist and neurologist, since its inception. In 2007, a second sleep center, located at the OSF Saint Francis Morton Health Center, was opened, and a second board-certified sleep specialist and neurologist, Dr. Bradley Gleason, was added.

According to the experts, individuals experiencing problems related to sleep should initially take steps to resolve the problems on their own by practicing good sleep hygiene for one month, including:

• Reserving sleep for the bedroom.

• Making the bedroom off-limits to any activity except sleeping and intimacy.

• Creating an environment in the bedroom that is conducive to sleeping. The bedroom should be dark, quiet and on the cooler side. Make sure the bed and bedding are as comfortable as possible.

• Eliminating or limiting caffeine, depending on your tolerance of it.

• Maintaining a regular sleep schedule, especially the wake-up time.

• Trying to get eight continuous hours of sleep each night. But if you can't sleep, it is advisable to get up rather than continue trying harder to fall asleep.

• Engaging in some physical activity, even light stretching, every day. This should be done at least three hours before bedtime to make sure it does not interfere with ability to fall asleep.

• Drinking alcohol in moderation and earlier in the evening, if at all, so that it does not disrupt your sleep.

The consequences of sleep deprivation can be serious. For example, individuals who drive while sleep-deprived put themselves and others at risk. People with untreated sleep disorders are up to seven times more likely to fall asleep at the wheel. Drivers who have been awake for 24 hours continuously have a driving performance equal to that of a person with a blood alcohol level of 0.10, which is more than the legal limit for driving, according to Zallek.

People who work unusual or late-night shifts are prone to accidents at six times the normal rate. The impact of sleep deprivation on society also takes the form of lost productivity. Individuals who are insufficiently rested perform at 70 percent of their usual productivity.

Individuals who continue to experience sleep problems after attempts to resolve them on their own should consult their primary care physician for a possible referral to the Illinois Neurological Institute Sleep Center. More information about the services offered there may be obtained by calling 624-9960.

"Sleep affects so many pieces of our lives, including health, driving, relationships and work," Zallek said. "It's important for people to know that sleep disorders are very diagnosable and treatable."

[Text from file received from Illinois Neurological Institute]