You might just think this Friday, March 14, is just a normal Friday. Well, it's not - in fact it's World Sleep Day, the annual celebration of healthy sleeping patterns.
With this year’s theme focusing on Make Sleep Health a Priority, it’s the perfect time to highlight the importance of quality rest.
Sleep health is now ranked alongside nutrition and exercise as one of the three pillars in leading a healthy life. However, it's now thought that one in five of us in the UK are classed as being sleep deprived. Sleep deprivation not only affects us physically but mentally as well.
Sleep Medical aims to provide bespoke and effective solutions for patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnoea, understanding the profound impact this can have on patients’ wellbeing. It was set up in Lurgan in 2023 by Niall Totten, who graduated in 2008 in Respiratory Sleep Physiology before going on to work in the Northern and Belfast Trusts.
Niall developed a passion for a good night’s sleep through family experience with sleep disorders and hopes to use his new platform to educate and improve sleep experiences across Northern Ireland.
Sleep Medical will be celebrating the 17th year of World Sleep Day alongside sleep consultants, sleep physiologists, healthcare scientists, nurses and researchers involved with sleep medicine.
World Sleep Day is an excellent opportunity to celebrate sleep and to issue a call to action around some really important sleep related issues.
Check out Sleep Medical's five top sleep health tips so you can make sleep health your priority today!
1. Sleep is vital
Understand that sleep is equally important as nutrition and exercise as all three go hand-in-hand. If we don't sleep well we normally don't eat well and lack the motivation to exercise.
2. Sleep is essential for mental health
Recognise that sleep is essential for your mental wellbeing. Research shows that lack of good quality sleep increases the risk of developing or exacerbating mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.
3. Routine is a must
You should aim to go to bed and wake up at the same time even on weekends. This promotes a good sleep routine so that you sleep better and feel more refreshed the following day.
4. Sleep for 7 hours
We should aim for a minimum of 7 hours sleep every night. Anything less than 7 hours means your body is sleep deprived which may increase stress levels, anxiety and result in poor concentration, memory and mood.
5. Get screened for OSA
If you snore and feel fatigued the following day, speak to your GP regarding the possibility of being tested for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). You could also contact Sleep Medical for advice who provide a screening service. If OSA is left untreated, you're at higher risk of heart attack, stroke and road traffic accidents.
Check out Sleep Medical on Facebook and Instagram and also their website www.sleepmedicalni.com. Also check out The Sleep Charity and Sleep Apnoea Trust.
This week is also Healthcare Science Week, so a massive shout out to all the brilliant Healthcare Scientists and Sleep/Respiratory Physiologists across Northern Ireland.
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