FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM SEPTEMBER 17, 2020 • HEALTH • THE QUEENS COURIER 29
health
How healthy sleep can set students up for success
Healthy sleep is vital as students prepare
for success in school. Yet, a new survey
from the American Academy of Sleep
Medicine (AASM)* shows that many
students are not getting enough sleep,
according to more than half of American
parents surveyed. No matter where classes
are held - in-person, online or in a hybrid
format - the AASM is highlighting the
importance of healthy sleep for students
during the fi rst-ever Student Sleep Health
Week, Sept. 14-20, 2020.
“As many parents and caregivers try to
create a routine for their kids, incorporating
the right amount of healthy sleep
is an important component,” said AASM
President Dr. Kannan Ramar.
What’s keeping kids up
on school nights?
From classwork to social media use,
there are many things competing for the
attention of school-aged children and
teens, interfering with their nightly sleep.
According to 90% of parents, homework
and early school start times are the top
barriers impacting the healthy sleep students
need each night, followed by time
with friends (87%), social media/electronics
use (86%), hobbies (86%), sports
(85%), chores or jobs (83%), and band/
music/clubs (78%).
COVID-19 impact on
sleep consistency
Another disrupter to sleep? Th e
COVID-19 pandemic. One of the biggest
challenges students have been facing during
the pandemic has been maintaining a
consistent and healthy sleep/wake schedule.
According to the AASM, four out
of 10 parents acknowledge that remote
learning aff ects their children’s bedtime
and/or waketime consistency.
“Even though students may not need to
catch the bus or carpool this school year,
they should continue with morning and
bedtime rituals, including getting up and
going to bed at regular times so they get
enough sleep,” added Dr. Ramar.
Parents are aware of
impact of sleep
About 94% of parents acknowledge that
sleep impacts their children’s mood, and
93% understand its correlation to performance
in school. Impacts on physical
health (92%), mental health (90%),
and performance in sports or other activities
(90%) are also widely reported by
parents.
Getting the recommended hours of
healthy sleep on a regular basis is associated
with better outcomes, including
improved attention, behavior, learning,
memory, emotional regulation, quality
of life, and mental and physical health.
Suffi cient sleep also helps students:
• Excel in the classroom by maximizing
attention, memory and learning abilities
• Perform better in sports by being faster,
stronger and more accurate
• Feel their best and have a more optimistic
attitude toward life
• Look their best and maintain a healthy
weight
• Have fun and enjoy life by making better
decisions and staying safe
Th e benefi ts of healthy sleep require
not only adequate sleep duration, but also
appropriate timing, daily regularity, good
sleep quality and the absence of sleep disorders.
Th e AASM recommends children
6-12 years of age sleep nine to 12 hours
on a regular basis to promote optimal
health, while teenagers 13-18 years of age
should sleep eight to 10 hours per night.
For more information, please visit
sleepeducation.org/student-sleep-healthweek.
— BPT
/WWW.QNS.COM
