TORONTO, Dec. 1, 2015 /CNW/ - If you're resolving to make some lifestyle changes to improve your health in 2016, a seemingly simple and pleasant resolution – getting more sleep – should be at the top of your list.
"Each January, Canadians make self-improvement resolutions such as losing weight, getting fitter and becoming more organized but if they're not getting enough sleep they may be dooming themselves to failure," says Sherry Torkos, pharmacist and author of The Canadian Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine. "Sleep impacts every aspect of our lives from health and well-being to productivity to safety."
Heading to the gym will improve your heart health but getting some extra shut-eye each and every night is important too. Studies reveal that poor sleep is linked to high blood pressure and increased risk of heart failure, heart attack and stroke. Weight loss is similarly affected by sleep deprivation. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that people ate an average of 300 fewer calories a day when they were well rested. Lack of sleep can also limit your ability to climb the corporate ladder. A study conducted by Cambridge University and Rand Europe in 2015 showed employees who slept for six hours or less a night were notably less productive than those who got seven or eight hours of sleep.
Although getting more sleep sounds like an easy resolution to keep, sleeplessness is a chronic problem in Canada. A recent survey by Jamieson Vitamins reveals more than 80 per cent of Canadians have sleep issues:
- 47 per cent have trouble falling asleep
- 38 per cent have trouble staying asleep
- 18 per cent have trouble falling and staying asleep
- 66 per cent of those with sleep issues say stress is the most common cause
"Stress is one of the primary causes of the rise in insomnia. Many people are desperate to get more sleep but they are unable to quiet their racing minds," says Torkos. "Establishing good sleep habits takes time and commitment but the benefits are multifold and well worth the effort. To help people improve their sleep quality, I often recommend a natural, non-habit-forming sleep aid containing melatonin and stress-relieving herbs such as Jamieson Healthy SLEEPTM, as it helps you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer."
About Jamieson Vitamins
Established in 1922, Jamieson Laboratories is Canada's largest manufacturer and distributor of advanced natural-health products and a world-leading innovator in the development of proprietary formulas. With corporate offices in Toronto, Jamieson exports products to more than 30 countries. For more information, visit jamiesonvitamins.com, or call 1-800-265-5088. Join us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter @Jamieson_Canada.
SOURCE Jamieson Laboratories
Media Contact: Katherine Clark, Cowan & Company, 416-462-8773 ext. 55, [email protected]
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