Newswise — Americans will "fall back" to Standard Time Sunday, October 30—but this may not mean an extra hour of sleep for many of us. According to Joanne Getsy, MD, professor and director of the Drexel Sleep Center at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia: "Many people have trouble adjusting to both time changes," not just to the spring change when we "lose" an hour for daylight saving time. "Anytime you have a disruption in regular sleep patterns," she says, "it will affect how you feel."
That's not good news for a sleep-deprived nation.
A recent study by the National Sleep Foundation found that more than one-third of Americans said they are so sleepy during the day it interferes with their activities at least a few days a month. Sixteen percent reported these symptoms a few days a week or more. Young adults between the ages of 18 and 29 were the most likely to say they experienced daytime sleepiness.
Joanne Getsy's clinical area of expertise is in sleep disorders. Her research has focused on sleep apnea, cardiopulmonary disorders during sleep, and the link between sleep disorders and motor vehicles crashes. Current studies are investigating the connection between sleep apnea and congestive heart failure.
She notes that daytime sleepiness can be the result of a sleep disorder--and she can share some of the common causes and symptoms of sleep disorders and provide insights on how to get help.
Dr. Getsy can explain how to make the Standard-Time transition easier, physically and mentally and she is an excellent source on how many Americans can get a better night's sleep--no matter what the calendar says.
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