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The Benefits of Good Sleep Habits

Most children hate the word “bedtime” while adults cherish it as a favorite part of the day. However, most grownups aren’t getting enough sleep every night. Whether from going to bed late or not sleeping through the night, poor sleeping habits greatly impact our lives. But don’t despair, as there are good sleep habits that can help.

In fact, this recent episode of One-on-One with Steve Adubato examines the importance of good sleep habits. During the segment, show host Steve Adubato, PhD., speaks with Marc L. Benton, MD, about the issue. Dr. Benton is the director of in-patient sleep services at Summit Medical Group. He says that one of the best things a person can do is stick to a steady, healthy sleep schedule.


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Thanks to RWJBarnabas Health for making this video possible.

“The amount of sleep you get matters, and the quality of the sleep that you get matters,” says Benton. “Most of us don’t get enough, and a lot of us don’t get restoratively enough. And it does affect you. No question about it.”

Benton further brings up the idea of “sleep debt” for adults. This term applies to those who just aren’t sleeping enough. (And by “enough,” he means anywhere between 6.5 – 8.5 hours, depending on the person.) Being in a sleep debt, or sleep deficit, affects both your mind and body.

Moreover, you can’t just make up for your sleep debt over the weekend; it’s a constant process, Benton explains. If a person has frequent sleep problems and falls into a sleep debt, this becomes a major issue; if they accrue enough sleep debt, a person can function as if they didn’t sleep at all the night before. In fact, in worse cases, he or she can function like someone with a 0.08 blood alcohol level.

Benton then details some reasons that can hinder a person from getting quality sleep during the night. To learn more about good sleep habits, check out this edition of One-on-One with Steve Adubato.


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One on One with Steve Adubato

Images: © One-on-One with Steve Adubato / Caucus Educational Corporation

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