IN McKeesport Winter 2019 | Page 12

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION: HEALTH & WELLNESS Building a Better You! HEALTHY ADVICE FOR ALL STAGES OF LIFE. O ur bodies are all different from head to toe, and staying healthy and feeling your best is important at any age. And healthy bodies make us happy—and happiness is good for your health. SLEEP YOUR WAY TO A HEALTHIER YOU By now, you’ve most likely heard the news on the numerous benefits of sleep on overall health. From improving brain function to assisting in weight loss, getting the recommended hours of sleep fit for your age is essential to staying healthy. The message is loud and clear to adults, who still fight sleep to watch late-night television or finish one more 10 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE ❘ icmags.com chapter of a good book. You may let children do the same: stay up to finish homework or to play a little while longer. You may think you are making your child happy with the extra time awake, but the effects are ultimately hurting their ability to fully function during the day. The National Sleep Foundation recommends that children between the ages of 6 and 10 get 10-11 hours of sleep per night, while 11 to 17-year-olds should get 8.5 to 9.5 hours. A poll done by the foundation last year revealed that children were falling short and losing out on the benefits of a good night’s sleep. Research shows that less sleep leads to learning and behavior problems, directly affecting cognitive ability, concentration, and problem-solving skills. Many families