SLEEP! CELEBRATE NATIONAL WOMEN'S HEALTH WEEK, MAY 12-18, BY GETTING SOME SLEEP

Dover, DE - One important health message for women is best shared in a hushed voice: go to sleep. Sufficient sleep is not a luxury and should be recognized as a necessity for good health. During Women's Health Week, May 12-18, the Delaware Office of Women's Health (OWH) encourages women to take the time to get a good night's sleep.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, insufficient sleep is associated with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression-which threaten our nation's health. Notably, insufficient sleep is associated with the onset of these diseases and also poses important implications for their management and outcome. Moreover, insufficient sleep is responsible for motor vehicle and machinery-related crashes, causing substantial injury and disability each year. In short, drowsy driving can be as dangerous-and preventable-as driving while intoxicated.

More than one-quarter of the U.S. population report occasionally not getting enough sleep, while nearly 10 percent experience chronic insomnia. A poll by the National Sleep Foundation revealed that women are more likely than men to have difficulty falling and staying asleep and to experience more daytime sleepiness at least a few days a week.

Getting the right amount of sleep is vital, but just as important is the quality of sleep. The changing levels of hormones that a woman experiences throughout the month and over her lifetime, have an impact on sleep. Understanding the effects of these hormones, environmental factors, and lifestyle habits can help women enjoy a good night's sleep.

For better sleep, a few tips:

• Go to bed at the same time each night and rise at the same time each morning.
• Make sure your bedroom is a quiet, dark, and relaxing environment, which is neither too hot or too cold.
• Make sure your bed is comfortable and use it only for sleeping and not for other activities, such as reading, watching TV, or listening to music. Remove all TVs, computers, and other gadgets from the bedroom.
• Avoid large meals before bedtime.

To learn more about women's health, sign up for the OWH newsletter (or e-mail with any question), e-mail owh@delaware.gov .

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.