Bedtime—many people’s favorite time of the day.
But according to the National Sleep Association, 50-70 million Americans have some type of sleep disorder. That's why people in Mid-Michigan are looking at their sleep habits and why sleep is so vital to one’s overall health.
"Basically if you don't get a good night's sleep, you're not going to function well,” sleep medicine Dr. Oktai Mamedov said.
Dr. Mamedov has been practicing sleep medicine for over 20 years and practices at Comprehensive Center located in East Lansing. He told us that not getting enough shut-eye can be detrimental to a person’s health. Heart problems, high blood pressure and depression can all be results of a person not getting enough sleep.
"Well we spend one-third of our life in sleep. Because sleep deprivation is so common in the United States and it’s very important, I would advise anybody and everybody to get more sleep,” he said.
To get a better night’s rest, Dr. Mamedov told us that people should reduce their caffeine intake. In addition he advised people to put down their phones at least an hour before bedtime. This can be a tough task however, many use their phone as a way to wind down after a long day at work or school.
"I'm usually on YouTube for about an hour or so before I go to bed generally. Text messages, Snapchat, last minute social networking before I go to bed," Michigan State University senior Alexander Ilieve said.
"A bad habit is my phone for sure. My brain is always like calm down, do something to kind of relax you,” Emergency Room physician’s assistant Sarah Lilleboe said. “So I play games just to kind of have my brain not focus on something. It's not a good habit though, and I know the whole screen thing."
Dr. Mamedov said that many people have sleep problems and don't even know it. This is where a spouse or partner can come in. He said if a person notices kicking or snoring while his or her partner is asleep, it could be the result of an underlying issue. He also added that people need to pay attention to how their body and mind feels during the day.
"If you still feel sleepy during the day, tired, you can't function, you really need a nap during the day, or you're not really well focused or having problems with concentration, I think it’s a good time to talk to your primary care doctor or checked at a sleep center,” he said.
