The Big Picture: Dr. Shelandra Bell, Family Medicine. says, “Having a consistent sleep schedule may be more important than the number of hours you sleep for good health.”
Doctor’s Expert Insights About Sleep Health and Your Health in Georgia
Know this: “Creating and maintaining a regular sleep schedule has many positive health benefits to your overall health outcomes. When you get aligned with a sleep schedule, your body learns to fall asleep faster and many people report that they emerge in the mornings more rested and ‘fresh.’ The fact that this study shows that sleep regularity significantly influences mortality risk is something that should be more closely noted. Also, of note, if you’ve tried maintaining a sleep schedule and still find problems, it may be important to have a sleep study conducted. Many people have undiagnosed sleep apnea, and the negative effects of untreated sleep apnea can be quite injurious to your health. Finally, you should know that poor sleep can lead to depression and mental health problems. ” Dr. Adriana Davis, Family Medicine.
Beyond the news: Emphasizing consistency in sleep schedules might lead to broader and more effective public health campaigns.
Atlanta Focus: Watch a Short Video about Good Sleep and Longevity.
Health Alert for Atlanta
Key Drivers in DeKalb County:
The study analyzed over 10 million hours of accelerometer data from 60,977 UK biobank participants.
Interestingly, “Participants in the top four quintiles (SRI 71.6–98.5) had a 20%–48% lower risk of all-cause mortality compared to those with SRI scores in the bottom quintile (SRI < 71.6).”
The study concluded that “sleep regularity was a stronger predictor of all-cause mortality than sleep duration.” These findings were robust across adjustments for various factors, including physical activity, sociodemographic status, and preexisting health conditions.
Key Resource: The American Psychological Association offers a Sleep Health Questionnaire, which you can complete…
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