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MILWAUKEE (3/5/2007) - As Americans plan to "spring forward" this weekend into daylight-saving time, many will choose to lose an hour of sleep, not realizing that chronic sleep deprivation can be dangerous.
Sleep is important for good health, and yet it is one of the first things sacrificed when life gets busy. In children, inadequate sleep has been linked to poor concentration and performance in school. In teenagers, sleep deprivation has been associated with increases in car crashes. In addition, loss of sleep is hormonally associated with weight gain in children and adults.
"Parents play a key role in helping their children develop and maintain healthy sleep habits," said Lynn D'Andrea, MD, medical director of Pulmonary Services at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. "Talk to your kids about the importance of sleep and make sleep a priority for the entire family."
Healthy sleep habits should start when children are young. The Sleep Center at Children's Hospital makes these recommendations for helping families get more sleep and a better night's sleep:
- Set a consistent bedtime and wake-time (even on weekends) that allows for the recommended nine or more hours of sleep every night.
- Establish a relaxing bedtime routine, such as reading or taking a warm bath or shower.
- Keep the bedroom comfortable, dark, cool and quiet.
- Create a sleep-friendly environment by removing distractions from the bedroom such as a TV and setting limits on usage before bedtime.
- Avoid caffeine after lunch.
It is important for parents to recognize sleep problems early. Signs of sleep problems include difficulty falling asleep, nighttime awakenings, snoring, resisting going to bed, having trouble breathing during sleep and loud or heavy breathing while sleeping. Sleep problems also can show up during the daytime in the form of an overtired, sleepy or cranky child. Children who are having sleep problems should be seen by a doctor.
The Children's Hospital Sleep Center is Wisconsin's only accredited pediatric sleep center with board-certified pediatric sleep specialists dedicated solely to children. They diagnose and treat children of all ages with respiratory, non-respiratory and behavioral sleep disorders.
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