Fredericksburg Parent

20 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • Winter 2020 Ask the Expert a sk t h e e x p e rt Q: What role does sleep play in our overall health? DR. MARU: Sleep affects us from head to toe. Adequate sleep plays a role in car- diovascular health, brain health, our immune system's ability to fight off infections, as well as our overall quality of life. When we don't get adequate sleep, it can exacerbate mood disorders, chronic pain and other problems. Without adequate sleep, not only are we not going to feel rested, but we are also more prone to having accidents. When accidents hap- pen, people get hurt. I want to try to avoid that. INTERVIEWED BY EMILY FREEHLING Keeps You Healthy from Head to Toe Q: How much sleep is enough? DR. MARU: Teenagers and adolescents generally need between nine and 10 hours of sleep, and most adults need between seven and nine hours. That's on a bell curve, so we have to understand that some people will be able to get by with less than these averages, and some individuals will need more. Every individual is differ- ent, but when I tell adults how to build schedules that support healthy sleep habits, I tell them to make sure they block off at least eight hours that are dedicated to sleep. But quantity is really only one part of get- ting adequate sleep. We also have to look at the quality of sleep you are getting. It's hard to overestimate the importance of getting enough quality sleep. Good sleep keeps us healthy, improves our quality of life and lowers our risk of injury from accidents. But according to a survey by the National Sleep Foundation, Americans report feeling "sleepy" an average of three times per week, with impacts on their daily activities, mood, mental acuity and productivity. The Mary Washington Sleep Medicine team includes board-certified physicians trained to work compassion- ately with you to diagnose and treat a full range of sleep disorders, including sleep apnea, sleepiness and fatigue, insomnia, narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome, sleep walking and teeth grinding. Neal K. Maru, MD, joined Pascal Ngongmon, MD in the Mary Washington Sleep Medicine practice in October. Dr. Maru completed a sleep medicine fellowship at George Washington University, and was drawn to the practice because of the power sleep has to improve our health and quality of life. As our December expert, Dr. Maru shares tips on building healthy sleep habits, and where to seek help when the 40 winks just aren't coming. GOOD SLEEP

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