Amada Baldovinos 
Rio Grande Valley – 7 to 8 hours of sleep is the recommended time adults should be getting in order to maintain a healthy sleeping schedule and prevent illnesses such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and strokes.
Lack of sleep can be extremely dangerous as it can cause brain fog and people to feel sleepy, affecting their performance throughout the day.
If you are driving while you are sleepy the chances of you having an accident are pretty significant” said Mario Gomez, pulmonary and critical care doctor at the pulmonary sleep center of the valley.
Daisy Yanez, a biology major at UTRGV, said living with a lack of sleep has not been easy.
“So yeah, definitely mood swings, since I’m tired throughout the day, I do see myself falling asleep during class so obviously I’m not paying attention and that reflected on some quizzes and exams,” said Yanez.
Doctor Gomez explained the usage of electronics before bed is one of the main factors keeping people awake at night.
“What happens is you are getting exposed to the light from the machine and that will prevent your brain from releasing a substance called melatonin that will help you fall asleep,” said Gomez.
The Clinic is offering a polysomnography test used to diagnose sleep disorders and help doctors come up with proper resolutions.
