10TV: Getting Enough Sleep

You have to have it, but most experts would suggest we aren't getting enough of it. How many hours of sleep do you get a night, and what is causing you to not get the  amount of sleep you need to be productive and healthy.

When we are babies, sleep is such a critical part of our lives. But as we get older, experts say many neglect the thing that is just as important to good long term health.

"30 percent of Americans are getting less than 6 hours of sleep," Dr. Matthew Kunar, director of medical education at OhioHealth Dublin Methodist Hospital told 10TV's Jeff Hogan.

What is causing so many people to lighten up on the proper amount of sleep? Dr. Kunar says being plugged in can be a major problem.

"Have a sleep schedule, try to go to bed at the same time, wake up at the same time, every day, and put those electronics away, turn off the TV, put your phone away from your bedside table if you can," Dr. Kunar told 10TV.

Dr. Kunar says he's had his own struggles with sleep.

Not getting enough sleep can lead to weight gain, hypertension, anxiety, or other health problems.

We all know that getting exercise is a good thing.

"Getting good exercise, even if it's walking your seven thousand steps a day, getting up, moving also helps you sleep at night," Dr. Kunar said.

But the timing of your exercise routine could be impacting your sleep schedule.  Make sure you aren't doing workouts so close to when you plan to go to bed.

To learn more about sleep from the CDC click here.

If you would like to see what sleep services are available through OhioHealth click here.

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