Get Some ZZZs March 15, 2012My LifeOff

Yaaawn. What were you saying?

If your “get up and go” attitude got up and went, you could be one of the nearly 40 million Americans suffering from a sleep disorder.

National Sleep Awareness Week reminded us that women are particularly prone to sleep problems: studies show nearly 30 percent use a sleep aid more than once a week.

“[Many] women find late evening hours are the only personal time in their day,” says Dr. Suzanne Griffin, faculty member at Georgetown University medical school and a former sleep specialist.

Pregnancy, menopause and menstruation can interfere with a good night’s sleep. So can the demands on professional women.

“They use this time to enjoy a book, pay bills, do laundry,” Griffin explains. “Then they need the caffeine to be alert the next day.”

And the cycle continues.

A report by the Better Sleep Council found women ages 40 to 60 reported getting about 5 hours of sleep each night. The amount required varies per person, but most studies show less than 7 hours a night hinders work performance.

To get more shut-eye, experts recommend avoiding things like daytime naps, emotional discussions in bed and falling asleep with the TV on. “Making sleep a priority is the first step,” Griffin says.

Bonus PINK Link: Find out more on supplements and snacks that can help you get some sleep.

By Rachel Pomerance

“A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor’s book.”
Irish proverb

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