Camarillo Chiropractic Weekly Health Alert:

Hit the sack an hour earlier before switching to daylight saving time this weekend, expert says. Worried your sleep patterns might be disrupted when the clocks move ahead 60 minutes this weekend? The secret is getting enough sleep ahead of time, says one sleep expert. First, make certain you’re well rested before the switch to daylight savings time on March 13, advises Dr. Aparajitha Verma, medical director of the Sleep Disorders Center at the Methodist Neurological Institute in Houston.

A great way to do that is to start changing your sleep habits in the days before the time change; for instance, start getting up and going to sleep sixty minutes earlier, Verma said.

You may also take a nap on Sunday afternoon if you feel you need to and you have enough time. But avoid napping within a couple of hours of your regular bedtime because that would disrupt your nighttime sleep, she added.

As you try to adapt to the time change, remember that certain persistent problems may indicate a more serious sleeping disorder. Included in this are: remaining awake after 30 minutes of trying to go to sleep; excessive daytime sleepiness; or sleeping for seven or more hours and getting out of bed tired.

If you experience such problems, you may want to consider participating in an overnight study at an approved sleep study center. Verma suggested.

More information

SOURCE: Methodist Neurological Institute, news release, March 7, 2011