HEALTH – Antelope Valley Hospital will offer a free community health lecture on the importance of sleep, hosted by Ravi Shankar, M.D., an Internist specializing in Pulmonary Medicine.
The lecture, titled “Sleeping Better Will Help You Live Longer,” will discuss the possible effects of sleep deprivation, offer information on the benefits of adequate sleep, and explain ways to improve the quality of sleep.
As a result of today’s fast-paced society, millions of Americans of all ages experience the harmful effects of sleep deprivation every day. Some of the dangers of sleep deprivation include fatigue, stress, memory problems, and the increased chance of becoming sick. There are also indicators that chronic sleep deprivation increases the risk of early death due to a greater risk for heart disease, diabetes and obesity.
“Many people don’t understand how important sleep is, and what the health consequences are of not getting a good night’s sleep on a regular basis,” says lecture host, Ravi Shankar, M.D., a member of the AVH medical staff and an internist specializing in pulmonary medicine. “Sleep is just as important for overall health as diet and exercise.”
If you’re having trouble sleeping, there are many solutions, such as avoiding watching TV or talking on the telephone in bed. Following good sleep hygiene practices, including cutting back on caffeine and alcohol, creating a relaxing bedtime routine, and keeping a regular sleep schedule can also improve the quality of sleep.
“For most people, getting less than six hours sleep translates into more serious consequences than they may realize. Improving their quality of sleep will improve their quality of life,” said Edward Mirzabegian, AVH Chief Executive Officer. “Antelope Valley Hospital provides these free health lectures to educate the community about different diseases and treatment options available right here in the Antelope Valley,” Mirzabegian said.
The free AVH health lecture on Thursday, May 24, 2012 will begin at 6:30 p.m. It will be held at the AV Outpatient Imaging Building, located at 44105 15th Street West, (the corner of J-5 and 15th Street West) on the 4th floor, in Conference Room 15. To reserve a seat, call (661) 726-6499 or send an e-mail to communityrelations@avhospital.org. Leave your name, contact number, and number of guests attending the lecture.
(Information via press release from Antelope Valley Hospital.)
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