Healthy sleeping habits and a good night’s sleep (at least seven hours) allow the body time to do important physiological maintenance. During the initial phase of light sleep, the vast amount of information received that day is erased, and only the memories of importance are kept.  Then one goes into deep sleep during which growth hormone is released, and lots of bodily repair and housekeeping is performed.  During deep sleep muscles relax, and heart rate and blood pressure decreases. In order to assist the body to do the necessary maintenance during sleep, it is important to implement healthy habits to improve your sleep: Use your bedroom for sleeping only and not for other activities, such as watching television. The body

  Age Group Recommended hours of sleep needed Newborns (0-3 months) 14-17 hours Infants (4-11 months) 12-15 hours Toddlers (1-2 years) 11-14 hours Preschoolers (3-5) 10-13 hours School-age children (6-13) 9-11 hours Teenagers (14-17) 8-10 hours Young adults (18-25) 7-9 hours Adults (26-64) 7-9 hours Seniors (65 and older) 7-8 hours   HEALTH INSIGHT MARCH 2017

Sleep is powerfully rejuvenating and a vital ingredient for good health! There are two kinds of sleep – rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and nonREM (NREM) or slow wave sleep.  REM sleep is characterized by rapid eye movements that occur during this stage of sleep.  NREM sleep is divided into four stages.  As a person begins to fall asleep, one enters stage one and two of slow wave light sleep, followed by 70 to 100 minutes in stages 3 and 4 of deep sleep.  During deep sleep muscles relax, heart rate and blood pressure decreases, and no eye movements occur.  Sleep then lightens and a REM period follows.  This cycle is repeated at about 90 minute intervals throughout the night.