The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) recently added new recommendations for sleeping restfully through the night. “Comprised of six members appointed by the NSF and 12 selected by groups including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Neurological Association, the 18-member expert panel announced new recommendations,” a Feb. 2 CBS News report reveals. Here are some of the key findings.
Answers To Age-Old Questions
The NSF reports that two-thirds of Americans have problems sleeping at night. Put another way, the Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC) reports that 50 to 70 million Americans are sleep-deprived. Doing something about it requires some answers — answers to questions like, “How much sleep do people really need?”
It is widely accepted that people of different ages need different amounts of sleep. Exactly how much was up for debate, until now. Toddlers should get 11 to 14 hours per night, teenagers eight to 10, and most adults need just seven to nine hours, according to comprehensive findings. Americans can use this new, concrete knowledge to adjust their children’s (or their own) habits.
Devices Are Interfering With Sleep
Smartphones and tablets are keeping us up at night, according to research by the Regional Center for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare in Norway. Turn off your phone before you go to sleep, and avoid the temptation to check your email or go on Facebook one more time before bed. (Doing so might keep you up all night!)
In addition to powering off devices a half hour before bed, there are other things you can do to promote sleep comfort and a good night’s rest. Do whatever you can to get comfortable. Wear silk pajamas, and sleep on satin sheets, if that helps you. If you are continually tossing and turning — or if you suffer from headaches, back pain, neck pain, or tooth grinding — adjustable bed mattresses are a great possible solution. For instance, Craftmatic adjustable beds are available with optional heat and soothing massage that may provide temporary relief from low back pain, poor circulation, edema and swelling of the legs, mild arthritis, or just poor sleep. Craftmatic mattresses are a safe bet; they have sold over 40,000 adjustable bed mattresses in over 40 years of business.
Don’t ignore this important new information from the NSF. Get the recommended amount of sleep, and keep devices off before bed to sleep better than before.
