Are you a Sleep Savvy Sage, a So-So Sleeper or a Sleep Zombie? This week is National Sleep Awareness Week and you can take the NSF Great American Sleep Challenge to find out!The Great American Sleep Challenge is an online campaign to helppeople get the most out of their sleep and to teach them about how sleep impacts health, safety, productivity, mood, and relationships.
Since sleep disorders are a major part of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and IC Disease, I thought this was an important national health awareness to cover.
Is insomnia affecting your life?
According to the National Sleep Foundation, almost 1/3 of Americans experience insomnia at some point during their adult lives. Insomnia is more frequent among women, shift workers and older people. Women tend to have more difficulty sleeping during periods of hormonal changes: menstrual cycle, pregnancy, & menopause.
Sleep Disorders In CFS, FM & Other IC Disease
Sleep disorders are one of the mian symptoms in the above chronic illnesses that these patients find hard to overcome. In order to relieve some of our symptoms (pain, fatigue, brain fog, etc.) we need to sleep properly (8 hours or more a night), but because of the nature of the illnesses, sleep often fails to come.
With sleep medications, and with developing some proper sleep habits, the sleep disorders can be lessened, although they will never completely leave us.
It is also important to find out if there are other conditions besides your CFS, FM, IC, etc. that could be causing sleep issues: Restless Legs Syndrome, narcolepsy, sleep apnea or acid reflux.
The National Sleep Foundation has some great information on their website that you can view. Here are some important links you should check out:
ABCs of ZZZZs – When You Can’t Sleep
How Much Sleep Do We Really Need
Sleep-Wake Cycle: Its Physiology & Impact On Health
Ingredients for Slumber: How Food and Beverages May Affect Your Sleep
Download a 2-week Sleep Diary from the National Sleep Foundation
We even dedicate a week for sleep awareness. That’s how sleep is important in our lives.