March is when spring begins, which means it’s that time of year to spring your clock forward and unfortunately lose an hour of sleep. If you’re unhappy about this, you certainly aren’t alone. No one wants to wake up more tired than they did the day before. The best thing to do to avoid this is to be prepared so you don’t forget and wake up feeling exhausted. Or worse- not waking up and being late for something important.
Stay Strong and Sleep On!
Trying to operate on too little sleep has very bad side effects, some of which we all know about- not being able to function properly, having a shorter temper, and not being able to remember details as well. However, there are a lot of even worse symptoms that sleep deprivation can cause- especially if you don’t sleep well in general. While everyone occasionally has trouble sleeping, chronic poor sleep can have extremely serious consequences for your health, one of which is a weakened immune system.
When your immune system is weakened, you might not notice at first. But pretty quickly you’ll be catching colds and viruses because your body is too weak and tired to fight them off. While you might not think a little cold is that big of a problem at first, it can very quickly turn into something more serious. Because your body will be too weak to fight off the illness quickly, it will take a bigger physical toll on you, which could turn into a very severe health problem.
Getting good, quality sleep is the best thing you can do to help your body keep those pesky viruses and bugs away. It is recommended that adults aim for 7-9 hours of sleep per night, while children and teenagers require even more. To promote good quality sleep, it is important to establish a consistent sleep routine, avoid caffeine and alcohol before bedtime, create a comfortable sleep environment, and limit exposure to electronic devices before bed.
Make MercyOne Urgent Care Your Next Rest Stop.
If you find yourself feeling a little under the weather, MercyOne Urgent Care Care is here to help you get back on your feet. We treat illnesses such as colds, coughs, flu, and can see patients as young as three months old. To schedule a visit with us in advance, or to learn more, visit our website.