Are you finding yourself counting more sheep than catching Zzzs here lately? During Sleep Awareness Week, our team at AFC Urgent Care Knoxville wants to help you start getting the sleep you need in order to conquer the day and feel your best! Your Health Is Crying Out for Sleep! According to the American Sleep Association, more than 50 million Americans have been diagnosed with a sleep disorder. Although we might not necessarily think of sleep as part of a healthy routine, lack of sleep can actually hurt our health more than we realize. For one, sleepless nights can lead to an increased risk of accidents on the roadways. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, fatigue causes approximately 100,000 auto crashes in the United States each year. Driving while sleep-deprived is just as dangerous as drinking and driving, although many do not realize the harm it can bring. Therefore, help keep yourself and others safe while on the road by getting a good night’s sleep. Second, suffering from a sleep disorder can also put you at an increased risk for other health conditions, including:

• Diabetes
• Heart attack
• Heart failure
• High blood pressure
• Irregular heartbeat
• Stroke

Third, if you are going to keep your mind healthy, you are going to need your sleep. Have you ever stayed up too late and then weren’t mentally prepared for the following day? Remember how much of a fog you were in? Don’t allow those days to be the norm in your life. Find ways to get more sleep so your mind is sharp and clear. Find More Sleep in Your Life Let’s take a look at ways you can improve your sleepless nights, starting tonight! First, aim to go to bed at around the same time every night. Rather than staying up late on weekends, keep the same bedtime schedule so that your body and sleep schedule don’t get off course. Second, don’t go into the light! Technology is great. But it can wreak havoc on your sleep. By continuing to look at your smartphone, reading on your iPad or watching television late into the evening, your mind is thinking that it is still time to be up—when really it is time for sleep. Start turning off all technology at least an hour or two before bed. Finally, never underestimate the power of a good workout. Exercise is another great way to help achieve a better night’s sleep. Just be sure to knock out your workout at least a few hours before bedtime to give yourself ample time to wind down. If you’re having trouble sleeping at night, be sure to speak with one of our physicians who can help get you to get back to sleeping. With so many fun activities happening in and around Knoxville, like the 2018 Knox St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Lucky Kidney Run, you don’t want your lack of sleep keeping you at home! Is something keeping you up at night? Visit AFC Urgent Care Knoxville today for a complete physical exam to ensure there isn’t an underlying medical cause!