National Sleep Awareness Week

After a long day of work and play, we often can't wait for bedtime. But for some, falling asleep can be elusive and stressful. In fact, most people experience difficulty falling asleep at some point in their lives. National Sleep Awareness Week is an opportunity for us to stop and think about our sleep habits, realize how much they impact our well-being, and take a step towards improving them.

This year, National Sleep Awareness Week takes place March 2-8, 2015; which coincidently ends on the day we lose an hour of sleep to Daylight Saving Time.

This annual public education and awareness campaign, spearheaded by The National Sleep Foundation, promotes the importance of sleep, focuses on understanding the benefits of good sleep habits and highlights the value of identifying the signs of a sleep disorder.

Most researchers report that adults need approximately seven to eight house of sleep per day. When you think of what happens to your body when you don't get enough sleep, the first things that probably come to mind are fatigue, irritability and headaches. However, not getting the sleep your body needs can actually lead to more serious health risks. Studies have shown that individuals who sleep less than five hours per night are one-third more likely to develop diabetes; data indicates women under the age of 60 that get five or fewer hours of sleep per night have double the risk of heart disease than those who sleep more than seven hours each night; and research has found that long term sleep deprivation can increase the body's insulin resistance, which can lead to diabetes.

In conjunction with this nationwide awareness week, Bold Tranquility, a sleep-based meditation company, is hosting an online global sleep summit. The second annual Sleep Summit for Women's Health and Power will feature a unique lineup of speakers and provide tools to help people get a better night's sleep. Free, web-based presentations will be available between March 2-8, visit Women's Sleep Summit for additional information.

Check our social media and blog page often for more information to help improve your sleep habits and make the most of those essential zzz's!