FORT KNOX, Ky. (Nov. 17, 2014) -- Long day at work, helped the children with homework, made dinner, cleaned up the house and its 10 p.m. at night. It's "me time" and time to catch up on the latest TV shows on the DVR. After a few hours, it's 12:30 a.m. and the alarm is set for 5 a.m. for work.
Sleep deprivation can be constant in a busy everyday life -- an unhealthy lifestyle according to one Army Reserve physical therapist.
"Most people have sleep deprivation because of what's going on in their lives," said Maj. Doug Lyle, who is assigned to the Army Reserve's 4010th U.S. Army Hospital, based in New Orleans. "Most people are sleep deficient by choice."
Sleep is one of they three pillars of the Army's Performance Triad, and nearly 400 Soldiers participated in the Army Reserve's pilot Performance Triad program Nov. 1-13 here learned about the importance of sleep. Sponsored by the 200th Military Police Command, the Performance Triad is a comprehensive plan to improve readiness and increase resilience through public health initiatives and leadership engagement.
The focus of the Performance Triad is on Sleep, Activity, and Nutrition - key actions that influence health in the "Lifespace" of time that isn't spent with a health care provider.
Lyle said sleep is important, just like the recover time from physical fitness exercises.
"Sleep is critically important because that's when your body heals itself," he said. "Daily stress and the activities of a normal life is your body at work. All these things are done when you are awake. If you don't allow your body to heal itself and give it that time to sleep, then you are constantly deficient in your body's ability to heal."
The human body is a well-oiled machine, according to Lyle. It will always break itself down, but will always look for ways to heal itself if given time.
"If you don't give it time to heal itself and your not letting it do its job," he said. "Sleep is important for cognitive, memory and intellectual functions. If you don't sleep those things will degrade."
He said, after time, those day-to-day life activities will build up and Soldiers will see difficulties in attention and exercise without adequate sleep.
"You can exercise all you want, but if you don't give your body time to let it heal itself by sleep, you are more susceptible to injuries."
Typically, a general gauge for an average person is an eight-hour sleep window, according to Lyle. "Most people don't get eight hours," he said. "You have a life you have to live, but sleep is important if you commit to it."
Lyle's biggest advise for Soldiers is simple. "Turn the TV off in the bedroom," he said.
Unlike sleep, Lyle warns that naps will only give people short, brief periods of relaxation.
"It's not giving the body a full generation of sleep," he added. "We typically need rapid eye movement sleep which typical takes a four-hour cycle. That's why most people would like to see eight hours of sleep because you can get two full cycles of REM sleep."
Lyle said after the program, Soldiers must maintain their new-found knowledge and carry that information back home.
"We want Soldiers to know how to properly care for their bodies," he said.
Lyle said as Soldiers attended the on-site triad program, he wanted them to understand that it's a yearlong program, and they must continue to exercise, eat healthy and have proper sleep.
"Personal accountability is critical for this performance triad to be a success," he said. "We've armed them with mobile apps, Fitbit arm bracelets, websites, books and knowledge to succeed. Hopefully in a year, we will see a return investment in Soldiers who have continued with the program and learned to live a healthier life."
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