Kelly Stafford might be the poster-child for sleep deprivation. Just days leading up to Super Bowl LIX, the wife of LA Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and the mother of four daughters under the age of seven opened up about the Staffords’ partnership with Sleep Number, her family’s recent battle with the flu, their escape from the LA wildfires and the importance of asking for help.
Good Sleep Is A Game-Changer
“Good sleep has helped our marriage,” reveals the Georgia native, adding that “it’s been a game-changer.”
Stafford acknowledges what scientists have long said about sleep deprivation: irritability, arguments with her husband, mental health struggles and taking out her frustration on her kids are commonly associated with poor sleep.
I appreciate Stafford’s honesty and vulnerability. She’s not alone. When it comes to poor sleep habits, an estimated 50 to 70 million Americans have chronic sleep disorders.
While I cannot relate to the rigorous demands placed on an NFL quarterback, physicians like me can relate to long hours, grueling schedules and chronic sleep loss. In fact, studies have clearly associated poor sleep with several chronic conditions including heart disease, stroke, cancer and dementia.
Lack of sleep also adversely impacts athletic performance. Increased risk of injury and decreased endurance, accuracy and reaction time are just a few ways that reduced sleep hurts players like Matthew Stafford. It’s not just the pros who are affected. Sleep deficiency is associated with increased falls, broken bones, car crash injuries and death in adults, teens and children.
The good news is that we know what tools are needed to optimize sleep. Good sleep hygiene includes going to bed at the same time every night, avoiding heavy meals or caffeine several hours before bedtime and using the bed for only sleep and sex—no television, reading, phone or other devices. How much sleep is enough? The NIH recommends seven to eight hours of sleep each night for adults. The key is to aim for quantity AND high-quality sleep.
Support Systems Are Key
Stafford openly credits many individuals who help her deal with daily stressors. “I am blessed with an incredible support system in my extended family,” shares the podcast host. In their early years, a woman named Tatiana “saved me” and made it possible for the Staffords to raise young children in a city where they had no family. She also praises her NFL star husband for his “calm demeanor” and being the reason she can “get through it all.”
Relying on a solid support system is crucial for our mental and physical health. Decreased stress, improved emotional and fewer physical health problems are just some of the benefits of leaning on others. But people still hesitate asking for help, especially women who are judged differently by society, according to Stafford. Women, indeed, face a double-standard to be “perfect” and to hide their pain with a smile. “I feel like our society shames women for asking for help and I hate that. Women need to be able to ask for help and receive it.” I couldn’t agree more with Stafford on this issue. Asking for help is neither a weakness nor a luxury, but a necessity.
Fires And The Flu
Stafford feels very fortunate to have safely evacuated from the devastating wildfires that ravaged Los Angeles. Her family is safe and she is immensely grateful. She asked that people give whatever they can as the community continues to struggle. Stafford also imparts tremendous praise on the first responders in L.A. who “are the heroes, and we don’t ever thank them enough.”
The mother of four young girls had also shared a frightening experience with influenza. She and two of her daughters were very ill from the viral infection. Thankfully, they are all healthy now. But it’s a good reminder to all that it is still respiratory viral season, and the best way to protect ourselves from RSV, COVID-19 and influenza is by staying home if you’re sick, washing hands and getting vaccinated (if eligible). If you’re sick but need to go out, then wear a mask and practice distancing.
As we head into Super Bowl weekend, I will wear my ‘doctor-hat’ and reiterate Kelly Stafford’s health message to get high-quality sleep, practice self-care and ask for help—from serving appetizers to cleaning up after the game!
