Students suffer from 'bad sleep hygiene'

Students suffer from 'bad sleep hygiene' Falling asleep during a lecture class can be explained by more than a boring professor, according to Nursing Professor Terri Weaver. It could be a sign of bad sleep hygiene. Weaver, a member of the Center for Sleep and Respiratory Neurology, said college students are likely to have many of the same symptoms associated with sleep disorders, because of their erratic sleeping patterns. But she added that normal, healthy college students should not have disorders, convincing researchers that students can improve their habits and get more restful sleep. Weaver said there is no determined standard for hours of sleep needed each night. "In my opinion, the average adult needs at least seven to eight hours of sleep a night," she said. "If you get less than six, it affects performance during the day." However, if adequate sleeping time is not an option, Weaver suggests making the most out of available sleep time. "If you have had a good night's sleep, you should be able to wake up before your alarm goes off in the morning," she said. Weaver said that students need to train their bodies to know when to sleep and when to wake. "The sleep habits of students are not optimal," she said. "College students tend to have different bed times every night." According to Weaver, a vital part of good sleep hygiene is a standard sleep schedule with bed times and wake-up the same every day. "When people stay out late on the weekends and sleep late on Saturday and Sunday, they end up starting Monday morning off on the wrong foot," she said. Weaver suggests turning the clock around when trying to sleep so the mind is not aware of what time it is. "It's even harder to fall asleep when you are thinking 'I have to get up in four hours to take a test,' " she explained. Weaver added that students should keep studying and recreational activities separate from their sleeping area. "You should use your bed for nothing other than sleep," she said. "When you watch TV or read, you train your body to use the bed as a place of work and not relaxation." Weaver also said students should avoid caffeine, alcohol or any type food right before bed, explaining that eating and drinking can disrupt sleep. She added that researchers are still trying to figure out why sleep is such an important biological function. "The National Sleep Association has been doing a study linking drowsiness and fatigue to single vehicle crashes," she said. One study determined that 70 percent of all train drivers say they doze off from time to time. It also found that 57 percent of accidents involving truck drivers had some sort of fatigue involved. "Several major accidents like the Exxon-Valdez and the space shuttle have questioned whether fatigue was a factor," she said.