night. Keep lights down to a dim lamp or nightlight to
make the room dark enough for good sleeping.
• Keep electronics out or off. Electronics produce a blue
light that sends a signal to your brain to stop the release
of melatonin, making it harder to fall asleep. On top
of wanting to text with friends or check social media,
children and teens will give any excuse to stay awake.
Electronic devices are best left in the dark at bedtime.
BAD HAIR DAYS?
SLEEP YOUR WAY TO A HEALTHIER YOU If you seem to be having a stint of bad hair days, maybe
your body is trying to tell you something. Poor hair condition
could be a sign of physical or psychological issues.
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 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 children 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 have
seen the negative effects and often assume they are symptoms
of ADHD, when these distracting behaviors could easily be
reduced or even eliminated by an earlier bedtime. KEEPING AN EYE ON YOUR HAIR
• Increase water intake. Dehydration becomes evident
in many forms, but one lesser known form is brittle
hair. Increasing water consumption has many benefits,
including improving the look and feel of your hair.
• Hair loss may be a sign of bigger issues. It is normal to
lose between 80 and 100 hairs per day. Feel like you are
losing more than that? Stress and anxiety could be the
cause. If you can’t identify specific stressors, talk to your
doctor. Excessive hair loss could be a sign of other health
problems.
• Eat well for luscious locks. Think your diet has nothing
to do with the way your hair looks? Think again.
Hair quality can change over time with continual
consumption of processed foods. Keep a healthy diet full
of nutrient-rich foods including healthy fats, dark leafy
greens, and fish, and you’ll be on your way to radiant hair.
MAKE SLEEP MATTER
• Set bedtimes and wake times. You can start to make sleep
a higher priority for your kids by setting a good example
and getting enough sleep yourself. Start by setting
bedtimes and wake-up times that you can adhere to on
weekdays and weekends. Creating a pattern will help
your body understand its sleep cycle, allowing for more
restful nights.
• Create wind-down activities before bed. The half-hour
before bed should be free of high-energy activities. Start
a bedtime routine that includes calming activities like
bathtime or reading.
• Make a bed sanctuary. As adults, nothing is better than a
comfortable place to sleep at night. Make your children’s
beds the same for them. Add extra pillows for comfort
and a favorite stuffed animal to keep them company at
HEAR ALL ABOUT IT
Although hearing loss is most commonly associated
with aging, it could happen at any time and can be caused
by environmental conditions like working in a noisy
environment, earwax buildup, or inner ear damage. According
to the National Center for Health Statistics, the average
person waits six years after the first signs of hearing loss to
get checked by a doctor. Hearing problems are considered an
undertreated issue for reasons including patient denial, vanity,
and less awareness of issues associated with hearing loss. With
Baby Boomers starting to enter their 70s, an age at which
many individuals start seeking medical attention for hearing
ailments, it is important to take charge at the first signs of
trouble.
A study on the psychological effects of hearing loss was
done for the American Psychology Association. The National
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Sewickley | Winter 2017 | icmags.com 1