Sleep is something we spend on average 30% of our life doing. It’s an absolutely necessary part of your daily life that many people often neglect. This week, we want to highlight a few ideas to help you sleep better, and have a more productive and enjoyable everyday life. 1. Buy a good bed! People are quick to spend big money on cars, jewelry, and other flashy items, but often skimp on their research and money spent on their bed. Although most people will probably never see your mattress, get a good one. You’ll enjoy its rewards every day. 2. Practice good sleep hygiene. Think about what you do before bed: do you eat? exercise? watch t.v. or work on a brightly lit computer screen? These are all things that could affect your sleep cycle. Try spending 10-15 minutes before … Continue reading
-An article from Reuters Women, try not to think of this if you lie awake at night: having trouble sleeping means you’re likely to gain weight. As if simply getting older weren’t hard enough, new research shows that middle-aged and older women who have trouble falling or staying asleep may pack on more pounds than their well-rested contemporaries. A number of studies have found that sleep-deprived children and adults are more likely to be overweight than those who usually get a full night’s rest. But many of those studies assessed people at one point in time, so it was hard to know which came first, the sleep problems or the excess pounds. A few studies have followed people over time, but they’ve disagreed about whether poor sleep is linked to expanding waistlines. The new findings, reported in the International Journal … Continue reading
by Michael Rea, PharmD Melatonin is a naturally occurring substance that is made in your body to help control sleep function. It is released from the pineal gland about 2 hours before your normal bedtime, and helps control your bodies circadian rhythm, or sleep and wake cycles. As we age, the function of the gland can decrease by as much as 40%, leaving many seniors and baby boomers more sleep deprived and not as cognitively sharp as they may otherwise be. There are several ways to combat this potential sleep problem, one being the supplementation of melatonin. Supplementing your body with melatonin may give your body a boost in falling, and maintaining a proper sleep schedule. It is not for everyone, but may be a good option for those who have had these levels checked by their doctor and have … Continue reading
As a nation that consumes a large amount of caffeine, we thought this article from WebMD by Tim Locke, was fitting and applicable for many of our readers. After reading, let us know what you think. Is your caffeine fix essential to your everyday function at a high level? –Can’t start your day without a coffee? It’s all in your mind, according to University of Bristol, U.K. researchers who’ve found the stimulating effects of caffeine may be just an illusion. Their study involved 379 brave volunteers who went coffee “cold turkey” for 16 hours before being given a caffeine capsule or a placebo capsule containing corn flour. They were then tested for a range of responses, but there was little variation between the real- caffeine group and the placebo group in levels of alertness. Around half of the study participants were … Continue reading
*This post is from the Consumer Reports Health Blog. We felt it fit well as a follow up to our weekly post for May 1st, 2010. “The idea that people need and want less sleep as they get older is a myth,” says Harrison Bloom, M.D., a senior associate with the International Longevity Center USA in New York. But it is true that the type of sleep they get often changes. “People may not sleep as deeply as they did when they were young, and they may awaken more frequently,” Bloom says. That disturbed sleep increases the risk of conditions such as cardiovascular disease, depression, and hypertension. Unfortunately, even many physicians ignore complaints about poor sleep from older people, assuming it’s just part of aging. But health conditions that impair sleep, such as sleep apnea, are often independent problems that respond to treatment. … Continue reading
For millions of Americans, the end of the day brings a time of reflection. This reflection typically includes thoughts about the day that has passed, and concerns that will come over the next day or two. This time of reflection can be stressful with worries that may include relationships, health, work, and money. Ironically, lack of sleep can be a downward spiral, causing your stress to increase in one or several of the areas listed above. So what are some things you can do to fight off this downward spiral of sleep deprivation? The first suggestion is to stick to a daily routine. This routine should include set wake/sleep times, cutting out caffeine and alcohol 4-6 hours before bedtime, and exercising to release stress. Talking about stressful topics should be done several hours before bedtime if possible so the mind … Continue reading
