Each month there is a new topic that doctors will discussion with the public.  For December they focused on the importance of exercising during the winter. 

On Sunday, most of us will have to turn the clocks back an hour to mark the end of daylight saving time. Although some might struggle with the change because it gets darker earlier, most sleep experts welcome it. “The change from daylight saving time back to standard time is the better one for our sleep, and it's not because people think we gain an hour of sleep,” explained Alicia Roth, PhD, a sleep psychologist for Cleveland Clinic. “It's because we're going back to standard time, which scientists and researchers in the sleep world all agree is the better time for our bodies.” Dr. Roth said standard time is better aligned with our natural sleep-wake cycle. That’s because more light in the morning signals that it’s time to wake up – while the darkness earlier in the evenings helps our bodies produce melatonin to fall asleep. If you struggle with it getting darker earlier, you can try adjusting your sleep schedule, if possible, to get the most out of the daylight hours. Dr. Roth stressed we’ve already made it past the harder time change in the spring, and it shouldn’t be difficult for our bodies to adapt back to standard time.

Researchers say people's blood pressure control has not improved over recent years, and those high numbers could lead to a higher risk of a stroke. A study led by the University of Michigan Health finds those years of high systolic blood pressure—that's the top number on the blood pressure reading—significantly increase an adult's risk of having the two most common types of stroke. In fact, for every 10 points higher, the risk of ischemic stroke goes up 20% and the risk of brain hemorrhage increases by 30 percent. The physician who led the study says it's essential to get ahead of this condition.

The more alarms you set in the morning to get up could be impacting your overall sleep more than you think.

Getting up and moving during the day, could help you get a better night's sleep.

The first day of school is just around the corner. If your little one has been staying up later than usual this summer, now is the time to work on adjusting their sleep schedule. So, how can you help them adjust their sleep schedule? He recommends trying to get them to bed as early as possible. But if that’s not an option, you could try to bump up their bedtime by an hour each week until school starts. This will make waking up in the mornings a lot easier. As far as how many hours of sleep a child needs, Dr. Chen said it really depends on their age. For example, it can range between eight and ten hours for teenagers.

Gov. Mike DeWine signed the bill into law this week.

While extreme heat can impact everyone’s heart, older people and those with preexisting heart issues are especially at risk. It’s also important to remember that certain blood pressure medicines as well as other medications can increase your risk of dehydration. To avoid issues during a heatwave, Dr. Gonzalez said it’s best to check the weather and try to stay inside at the hottest points of the day.

The American Red Cross will be holding two blood drives in Lima between July 6th and July 10th. 

The temperatures are heating up and that means staying hydrated is crucial, especially if you’re playing a sport or exercising outside. Dr. Kitchell said signs of dehydration include feeling thirsty, having dark-colored urine, increased heart rate, muscle cramps, headache and fatigue. Dehydration can also lead to heat exhaustion and the risk for heat stroke, which is when your body can’t regulate its temperature. Heat stroke can be deadly and needs to be treated immediately.