Q: Why is sleep important?
A: Your body is recovering and your brain is preparing you for the next day when you’re sleeping. Sleep affects so many different parts of our lives. A great night of sleep can help lower stress levels, prevent diseases, help you think more clearly, and put you in a better mood. Sleep can also help you be more productive, feel less hungry, and help your immune system work harder.
Q: How much sleep should I get?
A: You should sleep at least seven to nine hours daily to wake up feeling well rested. Sleeping less than seven hours or more than nine would be considered bad sleep.
Sleeping seven to nine hours lets your body go through the stage of Rapid Eye Movement (REM). REM starts about 90 minutes after you fall asleep. It repeats several times throughout the night. During this time, your body is storing energy, and your brain is storing memories and balancing your mood.
Q: What are the symptoms of bad sleep?
A: There are many symptoms of ‘bad sleep’. Serious symptoms are dozing off while driving or riding long distances in the car, falling asleep while reading a book or watching TV, irritability and poor mood.
Q: What are the long-term effects of bad sleep?
A: Chronic bad sleep has been linked to more serious medical conditions, like heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. Bad sleep could also cause stress at work that results in poor job performance.
Q: How can I get better sleep?
A: To get a good night of sleep, set a minimum of seven hours each day as your sleeping time. The more structured your schedule is, the more likely you will accomplish the task. It’s also important to limit caffeine intake and avoid having electronic devices or ‘blue lights’ in your room.
Q: Does Blue Cross have any programs to help me sleep better?
A: Blue Cross members have a variety of health programs to help you stay healthy, including fitness discounts* and a wellness discount marketplace*.
Blue Cross also offers a wellness coaching program*, available with some plans. A wellness coach can help you determine your bad sleep habits, then provide you with educational materials, support and resources to help you sleep better.