Any healthcare provider will tell you how important sleep is! No matter your age, you need quality, undisturbed sleep every night in order to maintain good health.

Nightly sleep allows your immune system to function more efficiently, and it can even reduce your risk of certain diseases. Check out our AFC Urgent Care Monroe Road team’s blog all about the importance of sleep below.

How Much Sleep Is Recommended?

It depends on how old you are! For adults, the CDC recommends getting between seven and nine hours of sleep each night. This might seem like a lot of sleep, especially if you have young kids in your house or you have a particularly busy schedule, but if you don’t aim for this, you will feel the effects every day.

For kids and teenagers, this number is even higher. Children who are 3 to 5 years old should be getting between 10 and 13 hours of sleep at night, while teenagers should be getting between eight and 10 hours a night. This also may seem like a lot, especially for your teenagers. Try limiting screen time in the evenings as early as possible to help encourage an easier transition to bedtime.

Signs You Aren’t Getting Enough Sleep

• Fatigue throughout the day, especially in the afternoon
• Under-eye circles or red eyes
• Difficulty concentrating during the day
• Difficulty waking up with your alarm or in the morning

Why Is Sleep Good for My Health?

Quality sleep is one of the best building blocks for your health. It is so important, in fact, that it can actually help you avoid serious diseases like heart disease and dementia. In addition, it also reduces your risk for obesity and can help you lose weight if you are hoping to drop a few pounds.

It is also crucial for your brain function! Proper sleep allows you to focus better throughout the day and can actually improve your memory. If your child is having trouble concentrating in school, take a look at his or her sleep schedule and consider moving bedtime up a bit to see if it helps.

Habits to Improve Sleep

• Be consistent with your routine.
• Make your bedroom dark and relaxing.
• Remove screens like TVs, phones and tablets.
• Avoid large meals, caffeine and alcohol right before bedtime.
  

We are always here for you. Stop by AFC Urgent Care Monroe Road for quality care today.