As a concerned chiropractor I am not only interested in the health of the musculoskeletal system of my patients’ bodies, but in the overall health of their entire body. After all, despite the best efforts of some in the medical community to focus on “body parts,” as if the human body were an automobile, the human body is, in fact, an elegant, holistic system. In order for individuals to be maintain health and wellness, it is important that they eat right, move right, and sleep right, the “trifecta” for good health, so to speak. Over the years, I have noticed that the last one, i.e., getting enough sleep, can show up more quickly in a variety of poor health conditions, than the other two. Why is sleep so important, and why is the lack of it so detrimental to a person’s health? Well, for one thing sleep is “food for the brain.” During sleep, important body functions and brain activity occur.
Human beings of every age require sleep, though recent research is finding that as we age, we need slightly less. Seniors often have trouble sleeping often as the result of the aging process. They want to get a good night’s sleep, but can’t seem to most of the time. However, it’s those who can sleep, and need sleep even more than their elders, that I am writing about here: Those wonderful, energetic, daydreaming, sleep-skipping teens!
Teens who skip slip look bad, feel moody, and perform poorly in school, in the classroom and on the field. Not getting enough sleep can limit a teens ability to learn, listen, concentrate and solve problems, and to forget important information like names, numbers, his or her homework, or even a date with a special person. In addition, teens who don’t get enough sleep are more likely to get sick, have an accident, or get injured. A brain that is “hungry” for sleep will get it, sometimes when least expected. Drowsiness and falling asleep at the wheel cause more than 100,000 car crashes every year.
It is important for parents and teens to make sleep a priority. Naps can be a good “pick me up,” and help a teen to work (and play) more efficiently, but naps that are too long or too close to bedtime can interfere with regular sleep. Remember, no pills, vitamins or drinks can replace good sleep. Furthermore, consuming caffeinated drinks, such as coffee, tea, carbonated beverages, and chocolate close to bedtime can interfere with restorative sleep.
So, daydreaming is great. It’s what teens do best! But, remember, they need to get around 9 hours of sleep each night in order to stay healthy and safe enough so that those daydreams can come true!
As an Oak Lawn, Illinois, chiropractor, I naturally have a keen interest in the human brain, especially as it relates to the body’s nervous system that chiropractic adjustments affect. I found this article very interesting. chiropractor Oak Lawn