Select Comfort Observations: New Year Resolution to Sleep More Could Help Your HeartBy now you probably know that the National Sleep Foundation recommends getting 7-8 hours of sleep each night; a recommendation I strongly support based on hundreds of clinical sleep trials and research I’ve been a part of. With 2009 approaching quickly, you may be thinking about what your resolutions will be… could SLEEP be something you decide to take more control over in 2009? New research supports the importance of sleep. A new report published in the Dec. 24 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, and written about in the NY Times concludes sleeping an extra hour a night may help control coronary artery calcification which is a major risk factor for heart disease. Calcification is characterized by an accumulation of calcium plaque in the arteries that supply blood to the heart. The researchers at the University of Chicago noted that the effect one extra hour of sleep had on reducing calcification was the equivalent of lowering systolic blood pressure to a normal 120 from 136. This comes as no surprise to those of us here at Select Comfort. One more hour of sleep can help extend your life by reducing several mortality causing illnesses including obesity, Type 2 diabetes, etc. which you can read more about in my previous Sleep Number Sleep-in Challenge post. If the quality or quantity of your sleep is something you want to take control of in 2009, I invite you to check out these other resources for tips and sleep information: - Select Comfort Clinical Research page with links to studies from Stanford, Duke, tips for sleeping well, etc. - National Sleep Foundation website - Harvard Medical School, Division of Sleep Medicine My resolutions in 2009 are to sleep 2,920 hours, and run 2,920 miles (365 x 8). What’s yours? Share your resolution(s) by posting a comment below.
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UPDATED: Take the Sleep Number® Sleep-In Challenge Today!The Sleep Number® Sleep-In Challenge has officially begun! At Select Comfort, we’re thrilled with the positive comments we’ve already heard about this Challenge and congratulate you on taking an important step in adopting better sleep habits and better health. For those of you who haven’t heard about the Sleep-In Challenge, we are challenging exhausted Americans like you to take the Sleep-In Challenge, commit to getting just one more hour of sleep each day, and start thinking about a better sleep routine. Just as people pay more attention to their diet, exercise, yard work and social lives during the summer, sleep is an often overlooked necessity with significant long-term effects on a person’s health. Just one additional hour of sleep each day can help extend your life by reducing mortality-causing illnesses including obesity, Type 2 diabetes, respiratory disorders and high blood pressure, according to exciting new medical analysis. In addition, those who sign up for the Challenge and help get others involved have the potential to win a set of Sleep Number pillows or even a new Sleep Number bed. To sign up, visit www.sleepinchallenge.beds.com and pledge to have a healthier, better rested summer. Once you register, you will receive a Sleep-In Challenge badge to add to your blog, message board, profile or Web site that looks like this:
But don’t just post the badge, tell your story. We’re interested to hear why are you taking the Sleep-In Challenge and what benefits you want to gain from getting an extra hour of sleep each day. We encourage you to continue your participation in the Sleep-In Challenge and share your stories on your site and on the Slumber Party blog. During the length of the sweepstakes we will post survey questions and start group discussions to get your feedback, so stay tuned. Sign up and tell your friends about the Sleep-In Challenge too, and let them know how they can join. After all, the more people you tell, the better your chances of winning a new Sleep Number bed!* Sleep Well! *See official contest rules for more information.
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Select Comfort Observations: Recent U.S. News & World Report Sleep ArticleI recently read Dennis Thompson’s, June 8th, U.S. News & World Report story about sleep being a necessity and wanted to share it with you. The title of his article was “Sleep: A Necessity, Not a Luxury.” To me, this headline sounds like a no brainer. However, 40 million American don’t get a good night’s sleep and struggle with some type of sleep disorder each year. Is the phrase ‘get your sleep’ on track to become as commonly ignored a phrase as “stop smoking” or “watch your weight?” At Select Comfort, we certainly hope not. The problem is you may not realize you have a sleep disorder, or just don’t think the recommended amount of sleep fits into your current lifestyle. Try to get the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep and do all you can to ensure it’s the best quality of sleep it can be; not just wasted time in bed. One additional sleep tip I would add to Thompson’s story is that clinical studies prove your bed is vitally important in helping you achieve a deep restorative sleep. You can read additional Sleep Number bed research on the Select Comfort Web site. If you think you’re doing all you can to get a good night’s sleep and still suffer during the day (or night), it might be a sleep disorder condition, and you should seek help. But try to adopt better sleep practices first! Read Thompon’s article and write a comment to let me know what you think.
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Taking Advantage of Better Sleep MonthNow that we’re into the first week of May, who has taken advantage of Better Sleep Month to get more sleep? Winter is officially over and while we enjoy the longer days, we also are exerting more energy. To keep up with outdoor sports, family activities and extended daylight, sleep is essential. Yes that’s right. Sleep is essential, not optional, nor a negotiable need. You can’t “learn” to get by on less. Eventually the need for sleep takes over all other needs. Saying “I can get by on 6 hours of sleep,” is as misguided as saying, “I can get by being 40 pounds overweight.” You can, but the consequences are never good with either condition. Six hours of sleep for five consecutive nights can create the same performance deficit as pulling an all-nighter. Not exactly how you want to feel when it’s beautiful outside. So what are some things you can do to maximize your time when asleep and awake?
For more information about Better Sleep Month visit, http://www.bettersleep.org/. Here’s to a happy, healthy and well-rested month! Sleep well,
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