According to Dr Reese Omizo Director of the Defense Health Agencys DHA joint biotechnology research center Lack of sleep is a high priority problem that is particularly pronounced in the military
In order to combat the sleep disorders in solders the Military Health System MHS has created a new mobile application to help active duty military personnel understand the connection between actions and behaviors with sleep
The Nighttime Alleviation Play and Practice NAPP app is a mobile third person three dimensional role playing adventure gaming application that allows users to learn how healthy behaviors can lead to more productive sleep In the game players go through a simulated 24 hour day in hour increments all of which takes approximately 30 minutes of actual game play
The NAPP app is the first MHS app designed to change behavior in soldiers Through game play users are able to see the relationship between the number of hours a player sleeps and their overall effectiveness in the game
Tony Satterfield US Public Health Service Captain DHA Psychologist and Telehealth and Telementoring Program Manager stated that Some service members may feel they dont need much sleep to function effectively They often view sleep as an unproductive use of time its undervalued
Captain Satterfield continued Most people need seven to nine hours of sleep some do fine with six hours per night but the number should not dip below six
The NAPP app is also designed to help service members continue to lead normal lives after service Dr Omizo who helped develop NAPP elaborates Sleep problems can compromise operational effectiveness and make it difficult for service members to resume their lives after returning home from a deployment Getting enough quality sleep on a regular basis is as important to long term well being as healthy eating physical activity and smoking cessation
The NAPP app will start research trials in 2017 with members of the National Guard and Reserve Omizo believes once rolled out it will make a world of difference
Dr Omizo believes that the NAPP app will help active military service members see improvements in the quality of sleep When people are able to more directly see how sleep affects them theyll understand just how crucial sleep can be for daily functioning and operational readiness Omizo adds To produce real changes barriers to sleep must be understood and overcome NAPP provides more than information and instruction it gets the player involved and more conscious of what they are doing to improve their sleep
The NAPP app currently is not available to the general public but there are other mobile applications that can help improve your sleep For example Sleep Genius is currently available for download on mobile devices and was designed to help astronauts sleep Sleep Genius helps users sleep better by training your brain into natural sleep rhythms
Other apps also available that provide relaxing nature noises soothing music and even hypnosis Simply search for sleep in your mobile phones application store to find the right app for you
Although mobile apps and other sleep aids can help alleviate symptoms of common sleep disorders the best method to sleep better is to visit your local sleep clinic for a professional evaluation If you live in Alaska and would like to speak to a sleep specialist about improving your bedtime routine please click on the link below
