Health News
Short on sleep? Join the crowd. Many of us have too much to do and not nearly enough time to do it ? and often sleep pays the price.
Health care workers can face exceptional challenges, especially medical residents, who can log up to 80 hours a week. While the number of hours can seem grueling, a few years ago the number was much higher. But six years ago, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) instituted a new policy that limited residents to working a maximum of 80 hours a week, explains Charles Albrecht, M.D., the program director for the Johns Hopkins/Sinai Hospital Residency Program in Internal Medicine and interim chief for Sinai Department of Medicine. Hospitals realize the importance of physicians getting enough rest, he says.
"We are mandated to inform and teach about fatigue," Dr. Albrecht says. "We discuss with our physicians how to recognize the effects of a lack of sleep.
One point made is that residents should recognize whether their sleepiness stems from overwork or from a medical condition, such as hypothyroidism, or a psychological disorder, such as depression. That's true for everyone ? ask your physician if you're getting more than eight to nine hours of sleep, but are still tired.
It's a common fallacy for people to think they can get by on four, five or six hours. The increasing recognition of sleep being critical to successful patient outcomes is a big improvement, Dr. Albrecht says. Nine years ago, when he was a resident, he remembers struggling to stay awake on the drive home after logging a long hospital shift. Since that's a danger for both the doctor and other drivers, Sinai started a transportation fund. If a resident feels sleepy before driving home, the transportation fund is available for use of a taxi.
Recommendations for getting a good night's sleep include making the room very dark, using earplugs, staying away from coffee or trying a cup of herbal tea. Experts also agree that nutritional and fitness routines are key components in a good night's sleep. Stick to a regular breakfast, lunch and dinner schedule, and don't work out too close to bedtime.
Al Kafrouni, M.D., who runs the Sleep Disorders Center at Northwest Hospital, says problems falling or staying asleep are among the symptoms of a sleep disorder.
"There are different modalities for treatment including pharmacotherapy, cognitive and behavioral techniques or a combination of these modalities," he says.
Another common sleep disorder is obstructive sleep apnea, which causes people to be excessively sleepy during the day and experience disruptive sleep during the night. It's also treatable, Dr. Kafrouni says.
In addition to cutting back on caffeine, exercise and good nutrition, Dr. Kafrouni advises:
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- Sleep More, Weigh Less By Dr. Madelyn Fernstrom
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- Sleep Quantity And Quality Are Key To Good Health
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Health News
Skimping on Sleep Can Impact Health
Short on sleep? Join the crowd. Many of us have too much to do and not nearly enough time to do it ? and often sleep pays the price.
Health care workers can face exceptional challenges, especially medical residents, who can log up to 80 hours a week. While the number of hours can seem grueling, a few years ago the number was much higher. But six years ago, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) instituted a new policy that limited residents to working a maximum of 80 hours a week, explains Charles Albrecht, M.D., the program director for the Johns Hopkins/Sinai Hospital Residency Program in Internal Medicine and interim chief for Sinai Department of Medicine. Hospitals realize the importance of physicians getting enough rest, he says.
"We are mandated to inform and teach about fatigue," Dr. Albrecht says. "We discuss with our physicians how to recognize the effects of a lack of sleep.
One point made is that residents should recognize whether their sleepiness stems from overwork or from a medical condition, such as hypothyroidism, or a psychological disorder, such as depression. That's true for everyone ? ask your physician if you're getting more than eight to nine hours of sleep, but are still tired.
It's a common fallacy for people to think they can get by on four, five or six hours. The increasing recognition of sleep being critical to successful patient outcomes is a big improvement, Dr. Albrecht says. Nine years ago, when he was a resident, he remembers struggling to stay awake on the drive home after logging a long hospital shift. Since that's a danger for both the doctor and other drivers, Sinai started a transportation fund. If a resident feels sleepy before driving home, the transportation fund is available for use of a taxi.
Recommendations for getting a good night's sleep include making the room very dark, using earplugs, staying away from coffee or trying a cup of herbal tea. Experts also agree that nutritional and fitness routines are key components in a good night's sleep. Stick to a regular breakfast, lunch and dinner schedule, and don't work out too close to bedtime.
Al Kafrouni, M.D., who runs the Sleep Disorders Center at Northwest Hospital, says problems falling or staying asleep are among the symptoms of a sleep disorder.
"There are different modalities for treatment including pharmacotherapy, cognitive and behavioral techniques or a combination of these modalities," he says.
Another common sleep disorder is obstructive sleep apnea, which causes people to be excessively sleepy during the day and experience disruptive sleep during the night. It's also treatable, Dr. Kafrouni says.
In addition to cutting back on caffeine, exercise and good nutrition, Dr. Kafrouni advises:
- Avoid steady use of sleeping pills.
- Use your bedroom as a place to sleep, not as an office or place to watch television.
- Stop smoking.
- Avoid alcohol before bed.
- End Of Daylight Saving Time, Which Can Disrupt Sleep Pattern, Is A Good Time To Review Your Sleep Habits, Experts Say
Sunday, Nov. 2, is the end of Daylight Saving Time this year and for those who already sleep poorly, it might mean further disruption to their sleep patterns. Turning our clocks back one hour in the fall can be disruptive to our sleep patterns, says Sabrina...
- Number Of Sleep-disorder Facilities Growing As Kentuckians Admit They're Tired
The number of sleep-disorder facilities in Kentucky doubled from 25 to 52 in the past 10 years, part of a nationwide trend to help the 70 million Americans who have trouble getting some shuteye. "Demand growth is a result of more physicians being better...
- Sleep More, Weigh Less By Dr. Madelyn Fernstrom
by Dr. Madelyn Fernstrom Did you know that one of the major factors connected to weight gain is the lack of sleep? With our crazy, busy lives, we?re sleeping less than ever before. Most people are getting six hours or less despite the 7 to 8 hours nightly...
- Daylight Savings Ends Sunday
If you have trouble sleeping, there's good news - you are getting an extra hour this weekend. Don't forget to adjust your clocks an hour back at 2 a.m. Sunday due to the end of Daylight Savings. But you may also want to pause this weekend to ask...
- Sleep Quantity And Quality Are Key To Good Health
In observance of National Sleep Awareness Week (March 1-8), representatives from the Northwest Hospital Sleep Disorders Center will be in the Old Court Cafe March 2 - 6, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sleep quantity and quality are key factors to our health...