I am hearing about this issue from family members, friends and clients with greater frequency. I am looking forward to reading any posts about improving sleep habits and any successful heathy remedies for insomnia and sleep apnea.
Facts about: Adequate Sleep
• Sleep is the most important aspect of your health.
• You could go 60 days without eating, but you can't go 4 days
without sleep.
• 8 hours is about average sleep each night for most people.
• Let the body determine when it has had enough sleep. The
best thing you can do for your cycle is get rid of your alarm
clock.
• If you get up too early, you're going to have a sleep deficit, as
well as a dream deficit, that you will have to make up at some
future time. In times of these deficits, when allowed, you will
sleep longer and correct both the sleep and dream deficits.
You have to do that to get back to a normal sleep cycle.
• Sleep is necessary for growth, healing, and avoiding anxiety.
• Adequate sleep prevents and minimizes pain.
Lack of Sleep Linked to Weight Gain
Getting a decent night's sleep apparently does more than provide
good rest -- it seems to curb the number of pounds women put on
as they age, according to a new study.
Although the study didn't show a definite cause-and-effect relation-
ship, there was a significant link between inadequate sleep and
weight gain. Women who got only five hours of sleep a night, on
average, gained substantially more weight than those who routinely
rested for seven hours at a time.
In fact, women who got seven hours or more of sleep actually ate
more than those getting just five hours of sleep. Exercise habits
were approximately the same for the two groups-- although the
group that slept seven hours tended to exercise a little more.
The women were part of the Nurses Health Study, which followed
more than 68,000 women for 16 years. They were asked to report
their weight and lifestyle regimen every two years. By the end of the
study, women who slept five hours a night were 32 percent more
likely to experience major weight gain -- defined as an increase of
33 pounds or more -- and 15 percent more likely to become obese,
compared with women who slept seven hours. And women who
slept for six hours were 12 percent more likely to experience major
weight gain and 6 percent more likely to become obese over the
study period, compared with women who slept seven hours a night.
Ways to Overcome Sleep Problems
Most of us have trouble sleeping occasionally: We're worried about
a test or presentation, we're upset over a fight with our spouse,
we've got a new baby at home, we've just gotten laid off, or we're
starting a new job. Many of life's events disrupt our sleep, but
thankfully they are short-lived and resolve rather quickly. If you're
experiencing problems with sleep, here are some general tips on
how to get adequate and more restful sleep:
1. Set a regular sleep schedule and stick to it. Go to bed and get
up at the same time every day, including weekends.
2. Avoid foods and drugs with stimulants in them. Avoid caffeine
after 3 p.m., as its effects can last as long as eight hours.
Watch for hidden caffeine in teas, colas, and chocolate.
3. Beware of medications that may contain stimulants. Some
over-the-counter drugs for colds, cough, and allergies can dis-
rupt sleep— talk with your doctor if you suspect any of your
medications are interfering with your sleep.
4. Don't eat a large meal close to bedtime.
5. Avoid alcoholic beverages close to bedtime.
6. Get moderate amounts of exercise every day.
7. Develop a relaxation ritual right before retiring to bed.
8. Make sure your bedroom is sleep-friendly.
9. If you can't sleep, don't lie awake in bed.
10. If you are short on sleep on any given day, consider taking a
brief (30-minute) nap in the afternoon to give yourself a boost.
If your problems don't resolve, keep a sleep diary. Note your eating
patterns, alcohol and medication usage, sleeping times, and other
behaviors to discern patterns to help pinpoint problem areas.
If you are suffering from chronic insomnia, you should be evaluated
by your physician or by a health-care professional at a sleep disor-
ders clinic.
Source: www.everydayhealth.com, www.sleepdeprivation.com, www.finerhealth.com