Could 1 extra hour of sleep really lower your child’s risk for Type 2 Diabetes?
You may already know that children need more sleep than adults but you recent evidence suggests that a major health issue is present. Children are not getting adequate sleep which could cause serious health problems in the future.
A study published by the Journal of Pediatrics concluded that sleep deprivation could be linked to major health issues after researchers studied the sleeping patterns of nearly 5,000 9-10 year old children. The children in this study slept an average of 10.5 hours per night.
Health experts recommend children between the ages of six and twelve years old get around 9 to 12 hours of sleep every night. Younger children should sleep even more.
The amount of sleep children get a night appears to be connected to risk factors for their overall health.
Researchers found, when children increase the amount of sleep they got per night, risk factors for Type 2 Diabetes, such as body mass index, body fat, insulin resistance and glucose levels dropped. This does not prove a direct correlation but there does appear to be a connection based on the findings.
Type 2 Diabetes occurrences have increased in the last 15 years in young people. Perhaps an improvement in the amount of sleep children get is a step in the right direction.
What can parents do to help their children sleep better?
- Limit screen time before bed. You may be able to set parental restrictions on some devices.
- Keep a bed time routine. Setting a bed time routine in childhood can help your children sleep better in the future.
- Avoid caffeine and chocolate before bed. Caffeine inhibits good sleep even when you don’t realize it.
- Assess the mattress your child sleeps on. Is it still a good fit?
Ensure your child, and yourself, get enough good quality sleep so you wake up feeling refreshed. If you have any questions about sleep visit a sleep specialist at Mattress Direct. #sleeprules
Get the restful restoring sleep you need every night.
If you wake up sore, feel tired in the morning or throughout the day then visit a Mattress Direct showroom and let our sleep specialists get you sleeping your very best. Sleep is so important. We have always known this but research is finally explaining why we feel so much better when we get good sleep.
Mattress Direct is a factory direct showroom for Tempur-pedic, Sealy, Stearns and Foster, iDirect, King Koil, and Campbell Mattress of Missouri. We proudly carry mattresses made in USA such as the Sealy Posturepedic, King Koil, Sealy Posturepedic Hybrid, Sealy Conform, Tempurpedic Cloud, Tempurpedic Conform and Tempurpedic Flex, Stearns & Foster Estate, Stearns & Foster Lux Estate, Stearns & Foster Reserve and Stearns & Foster Hybrid. We are locally owned and operated serving the greater St. Louis area and growing. Please visit our factory direct mattress showrooms so you get the lowest price and the very best mattress for your particular needs.