SEATTLE—
The average American sleeps an hour less each night than they did 40 years ago, but if you think catching up on the weekend will make up for what you lose during the week.Dream on.
We've all had shorter nights of sleep than we should; Staying out too late partying, studying into the wee hours of the morning for an exam or being kept up with a sick child.
So you sleep in on the weekend, problem solved, right?
Don't be duped! Experts say you're still carrying around "sleep debt" and it's hard to pay it back.
Sleep debt is the difference between the amount of sleep you should be getting and the amount you actually get.
It's a deficit that grows every time you skim extra minutes off what should be your 8-hour slumber.
"Many Americans have no idea what's it like to feel really well, and really rested." says Dr. Ralph Pascualy.
Dr. Pascualy, who is the Director of Sleep Medicine Associates at Swedish Medical Center, says research shows chronic sleep deprivation not only makes it more difficult to do virtually everything you have to do in a day, it also hurts the quality of sleep you get when you do get it.
"Chronic sleep loss meaning the short 6 hours a night, starts to become a significant problem, after about 2 weeks," Dr. Pacualy says, "and it's most severe when you're trying to between 3 in the morning and 7 in the morning."
Most people believe "sleeping in" is the answer, but Dr. Pascualy says that's actually counterproductive.
He says it creates a sort of artificial jet lag which throws off your body's natural rhythm.
The key to really catching up? Regulating your bedtime and when you wake all 7 days of the week.
Doctor Pascualy says turning off TV's, computers, and phones at least 2 hours before you hit the hay will help you fall into a deeper, healthier sleep.
"The right amount of sleep, the right amount of exercise, and the right diet is what you need to be really healthy and feel well."
So what's that perfect amount of sleep? Doctor Pascualy says 7-9 hours a night and nothing less than 7 hours.
Sweet dreams everyone!
