If you feel like sleeping in or taking a nap this week, you鈥檙e about to be given the perfect excuse to do so.

From March 5 to 12, it is National Sleep Awareness Week, a time to reflect on the importance of sleep.

This event comes before World Sleep Day on March 17, where 72 countries from around the world will bring together sleep health professionals and patients for the important cause of sleeping.

Allan O鈥橞ryan is the executive director of the World Sleep Society and explains the focus of World Sleep Day is to bring awareness to the many burdens of sleep problems.

鈥淲orld Sleep Day publicly displays efforts being taken toward prevention and management of sleep disorders,鈥� he stated in a release. 鈥淭his focus is purposefully broad in meaning, as it is to relay the message that quality of life with a sleep disorder can be improved, but also recognizing the importance of sleep on overall health and well-being.鈥�

Most sleep disorders are preventable or treatable, according to O鈥橞ryan, although less than one-third of sufferers seek professional help.

World Sleep Day aims to inform the world about the importance of treating even mild sleep disorders. Individuals who struggle to get an entire night鈥檚 sleep without any interruptions experience higher rates of high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and other chronic illnesses.

鈥淒uring sleep, energy is conserved due to suspended activity, movement, and sensory responses, and is redirected to restore and replenish proteins and their assemblies into cellular structures,鈥� said O鈥橞ryan.

In 91大黄鸭, a community sleep coach will be available to speak to the community about sleep disorders.

Alena Krizek will hold a Educational Open House on March 17, from 12 to 3 p.m. at #610 鈥� 773 Glenmore Road.

Krizek is a certified clinical sleep educator and has been involved in the field of sleep medicine for the past 20 years, primarily in a clinical setting as a Registered Polysomnographic Technologist.

Community Sleep Coach services include sleep education, preliminary sleep assessments and mobile sleep consultations.

Organized by World Sleep Society, World Sleep Day is founded by World Association of Sleep Medicine (WASM) and World Sleep Federation (WSF).

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