Page 73 - Prevention (February 2020)

Are You Getting

Enough Sleep?

There’s a difference between time
in bed and optimal shut-eye, Panda
points out. The optimal sleep amount
is at least seven hours, according to
the Centers for Disease Control, but to
pull that off, slide between the sheets
eight hours before the alarm sounds.
You’ll have unhurried time to fall
asleep and accommodate unplanned
night waking. It is normal to wake up
during the night or toss and turn a
bit. But taking more than 30 min-
utes to fall asleep again is known
as “sleep maintenance insomnia.”
If you’re having issues with night
waking, try avoiding naps altogether
during the day, Dr. Mathew suggests.