02/14/2023
Ok, lets talk about sleep for a minute.
When was the last time you got a good night's sleep?
Do you wake up rested or are you dragging through the day?
Do you know that lack of sleep can have real and severe impacts on your body?
Lack of sleep can impact your immune system, weight, mental clarity, and can increase your risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. (1)
It is important to get adequate sleep, but some of us just wonder how we can fit more time in the day or even how we can get quality sleep. Here are some tips for healthier sleep hygeine.
1. Set a routine! As much as you can, go to bed at the same time every day, and wake up at the same time every day. This allows your body to set it's circadian rhythms. Set your alarm clock even on weekends.
2. Turn off the electronics. Your brain will suppress the natural release of melatonin (the sleep hormone) when exposed to blue lights from our electronics. The phone, tablet, and even television will emit blue light. Next time you want to reach for the phone until you are tired, grab a book instead.
3. Take a hot shower. If you take a hot shower about an hour before bedtime, the cooling process your body goes through afterwards can have a relaxing effect.
4. If you cant fall asleep within 20 minutes, get up. It doesn't help to just lay in bed if you are not able to sleep. Get up, grab that book, and read for 30 minutes, then try again.
5. Talk to your doctor. There are other therapies and things you can do. There are a variety of supplements and other therapies, but also, insomnia can be caused by medical reasons that can be treated.
We have a variety of supplements here in the office and therapies that are great options. We have an amazing provider, Dr. Jerry Davis, DO. He can help you with your struggles and get to the source of the issue instead of just covering up the problem.
Photo by Quin Stevenson on Unsplash
(1) Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Sleep Medicine and Research; Colten HR, Altevogt BM, editors. Sleep Disorders and Sleep Deprivation: An Unmet Public Health Problem. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2006. 3, Extent and Health Consequences of Chronic Sleep Loss and Sleep Disorders. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK19961/