March 2024 Newsletter
Fun Fact…
Green was introduced to St. Patrick’s Day festivities in the 18th century, when the shamrock (which is, of course, green) became a national symbol. Because of the shamrock’s popularity and Ireland’s landscape, the color stuck to the holiday. 🍀🍀
March is Sleep Awareness Month
Sleep is a complex process that occurs in stages, and we cycle in and out of these stages during the night. The two main components of normal sleep are REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, when the most vivid dreaming occurs, and non-REM sleep (NREM).
NREM sleep consists of several stages, labeled N1 through N3, indicating the depth of sleep. Stage 4 is REM sleep.
- Stage 1/N1: This is the “dozing off” transition period from wakefulness to falling asleep. It typically lasts one to five minutes. As you drift off to sleep, you may still be aware of your surroundings. Your body hasn’t fully relaxed yet, and it’s easy to wake up during this time.
- Stage 2/N2: This is when the body enters a more relaxed state; temperature drops and breathing and heart rate slow. Brain activity generally slows as well, although there are short bursts of activity, called sleep spindles. These are believed to help stabilize memory.
- Stage 3/N3: This is deep sleep, during which the body relaxes even more. Some experts believe this stage is critical for restorative sleep. Deep sleep typically occurs in the first half of the night, and lasts for 20-40 minutes in each sleep stage cycle.
- Stage 4/REM: REM sleep is thought to be essential for cognitive functions such as memory, learning and creativity. Vivid dreams may occur during REM sleep. Generally, a person enters a REM sleep stage after they’ve been asleep for about 90 minutes. REM stages make up about 25% of sleep in adults, with each stage getting longer and longer; the first stage may last a few minutes, while later stages may last for up to an hour.
Citation- www.sleephealth.org
March is National Drug & Alcohol Facts Month
According to the CDC:
- Alcohol is the most commonly used substance among young people in the U.S.
- Underage drinking is a significant public health problem in the U.S. Excessive drinking is responsible for more than 3,900 deaths and 225,000 years of potential life lost among people under age 21 each year.
- About 1 in 5 emergency department visits associated with the misuse of prescription medicines also involved alcohol in 2016.2
- One in 7 Americans reports experiencing a substance use disorder.
