The start of a new year means the start of new goals. Whether your goals are going to the gym more, eating healthy, or saving money, this year you are guaranteed to be doing one thing every day: sleep. Although resolutions related to physical fitness or diet are great for your health, often sleep is overlooked as highly impacting our health as well. Adults are suggested to get at least 7 hours of sleep per night, but studies have found that nearly a third of American’s are getting less than that. The consequences of a lack of sleep can be detrimental to our health. It can weaken your immune system, which can make you more susceptible to illnesses like the flu. Even more dangerous, not getting enough sleep can cause cardiovascular diseases, such as high blood pressure and increased heart rate. If you can relate to this issue, there are many steps you can take to improve your sleep hygiene. Avoid stimulants such as caffeine or nicotine throughout your day. That morning cup of coffee is far enough from bedtime to affect your sleep, but instead of reaching for that second cup during the midday crash, try going for a walk to perk up instead. If your new year resolution includes more trips to the gym, you are in turn promoting sleep as well. As little as 10 minutes of anaerobic exercise can promote sleep quality drastically. It is also important to make sure there is no medical condition that prevents you from getting a good night’s sleep. Sleep Apnea is just one disorder that can interfere with sleep. If you, or a loved one snores call us today for a consultation to determine if your lack of sleep is caused by something more serious.