Make Sleep A Priority



Family Medicine Gynecologic Oncology Heart Disease in Women



Women's Health





Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

Make Sleep A Priority, Summer 2008

Women tend to devote more time to caring for others than they do to caring for themselves — often sacrificing sleep, says Margaret Park, MD, sleep specialist at Rush University Medical Center. Park recommends treating sleep like the medical issue that it is and being aware of the medical consequences.

“If you don’t take care of yourself, you’re not going to be able to take care of everything around you,” Park says. “People tend to be less productive, efficient and accurate when they’re sleep-deprived.”

People who are sleep-deprived also tend to have poor eating and exercise habits. Since exercise can help some people deal with stress, cutting it from your schedule eliminates an opportunity to reduce the stress of caregiving. Sleep deprivation can also affect your sex drive and sexual function.

“I think a lot of women will find that if they make sleep a priority, their ability to effectively accomplish what they want to will improve,” Park says.

Furthermore, you can improve the quality of the sleep you do get by establishing regular sleep-wake routines and avoiding caffeine and alcohol in the evening.

If you feel anxiety or depression is affecting your sleep, it’s important to talk to your doctor. To receive a referral for a physician at Rush, call (888) 352-RUSH (7874).

You can also visit www.rush.edu/sleep for a free interactive tool that focuses on your specific sleep problems.

Sleep Disorders Services
at Rush

Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois, is home to the world-class Sleep Disorders Services and Research Center, where we take a multidisciplinary approach to evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders. The center includes specialists in pulmonary medicine, neurology and psychology, who are all board-certified in sleep medicine. The center is nationally known for its leadership in the field of both sleep medicine and research.

For more information about care for sleep disorders at Rush visit the Sleep Disorders Services and Research Center home page.

Or find out more information about your particular sleep problems with our unique, interactive conversation about sleep. This Web-based tool uses a friendly, conversational tone to help you explore your personal sleep issues in depth by asking pertinent questions that lead you to targeted information.

Looking for Other Health Information?

Visit our Health Information home page.

or
Visit Discover Rush’s Web Resource page to find articles on health topics and recent health news from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. You will also find many helpful links to other areas of our site.

Looking for a Doctor?

Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois, is a leader in caring for people of all ages, from newborns through older adults.

Just phone (888) 352-RUSH or (888) 352-7874 for help finding the Rush doctor who’s right for you.

Clinical Trials

Looking for Information About Clinical Trials at Rush for Sleep?

Visit the Sleep Research Studies home page.

Looking for Information About Clinical Trials at Rush for Other Disorders?

Visit the Clinical Trials home page.



Archive of Past Issues Discover Rush, 2008 - Spring Make Sleep A Priority, Summer 2008