Do Not Let The Time Change Disrupt Your Sleep Patterns

Santa Barbara chiropractic Weekly health Alerts:

Hit the sack an hour earlier before switching to daylight saving time this weekend, expert says. Worried that your potential sleep patterns will be disrupted when the clocks move ahead 60 minutes this weekend? The key is getting enough sleep in advance, says one sleep expert. First, be certain you’re well rested prior to the switch to daylight savings time on March 13, advises Dr. Aparajitha Verma, medical director of the Sleep Disorders Center at the Methodist Neurological Institute in Houston.

One method to do that is to start switching your sleep habits in the days before the time change; for example, start getting up and going to sleep at least an hour earlier, Verma said.

You can also take a nap on Sunday afternoon if you feel you need to and you’ve got enough time. But avoid napping within a couple of hours of your regular bedtime because that may disrupt your nighttime sleep, she added.

As you try to adapt to the time change, understand that certain persistent problems may indicate a more serious sleeping disorder. Included in this are: remaining awake after 30 minutes of trying to go to sleep; excessive daytime sleepiness; or sleeping for seven or even more hours and waking up tired.

If you experience such problems, you might want to consider participating in an overnight study at an accredited sleep study center. Verma suggested.

More information

SOURCE: Methodist Neurological Institute, news release, March 7, 2011