The old adage spring forward, fall back affects more than just our clocks twice a year. For people with sleep disorders, this bi-annual transition can be a difficult one to make.
“A consistent routine is a huge part of getting a good night’s sleep,” says Michelle Zimmerman, nurse practitioner with the Sleep Disorder Center of Louisiana. “When you already have trouble sleep-
ing at night, losing or gaining an hour of sleep can wreak havoc.” As America plans to shift back to standard time at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 4, Zimmerman offers these tips to adjust to the change. Prepare early: While staying up later isn’t a problem for most people, some find it difficult. If you’re one of these people, try starting early by staying up a little later each night leading up to the time change. Consider when to change your clocks: It’s automatic for most people to take care of this chore the night before the time change. In the fall, if you change the clock the night before, you will gain an hour of sleep, which is good for many, but not all. If you don’t change your clocks until the next morning, then you will get the same amount of sleep you normally do, assuming a regular sleep and wake time is kept. Avoid exercise, caffeine or alcohol close to bedtime: All three can disrupt your ability to sleep and it’s always a good
idea to avoid them near bedtime. Get plenty of light: This time change marks the beginning of shorter and darker days and since sunlight is needed to keep your circadian rhythms on track, the fall and winter months can lead to sleeping difficulties and depression for many. To adjust for this, be sure to get plenty of light in the morning and throughout the day. Natural sunlight is best, but if the days are cloudy or you’re up before the sun, turn on lights in your house. What about the little ones? Some kids have a difficult time adjusting, particularly young children who are still napping. A few days before the time change, try to push their naps a little later each day to eventually line them up to where they will be after the time change. For more information on sleep disorders or answers to your sleep related questions, call (337) 310-7378 or visit www.sleepdisordercenterofla.com.
Women and Children’s Hospital’s
Healthy Woman Event Women & Children's Hospital will host their next Healthy Woman event, “Cars, Colds and Christmas,” on Nov 7 from 5:30 -7 p.m. in the Nissan of Lake Charles showroom located at 1700 Siebarth Drive. This special holiday event is open to both men and women and will feature short presentations on “Getting PAGE 14
OCTOBER 24, 2013
Your Car Ready for Winter” by Jason Benoit of Nissan, “Preventing the Cold and Flu this Season” by Joshua Whatley, MD with Lake Area Family Medicine, and “Decorating for the Holidays” by A Daisy A Day Flower & Gifts. Register at www.womenchildrens.com/healthywoman or call 475-4064. Volume 1 • Issue 10