MPR News with Angela Davis

Are you feeling sleepy? Here’s how to get a better night’s rest

Woman sleeps in bed next to phone
About 35 percent of working Americans report that they don’t get adequate sleep, which is defined as seven hours or more.
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Have you had trouble sleeping this week?  

On Sunday, we reset our clocks from Daylight Saving Time, messing with our sleep schedules. And on Tuesday, you may have been up late watching election results. Or maybe you are just someone who has trouble with sleep in general!  

Sleep is linked to both your physical and mental health. But a recent Ball State University study found that about 35 percent of working Americans report that they don’t get adequate sleep — we need at least seven hours.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two sleep experts about why rest is so important for your body and your mind, and how to deal with common sleep problems.

Guests:  

  • Dr. Michael Howell is a neurologist who specializes in sleep disorders. He is the program director of the Clinical Sleep Medicine Fellowship at Hennepin Healthcare and the University of Minnesota, as well as the medical director of the Fairview Sleep Center-Edina. 

  • Dr. Virend Somers is a Mayo Clinic cardiologist with expertise in the metabolic and cardiovascular aspects of sleep.