REM Sleep Labs Blog
Date posted: february 09, 2012 05:30pm
Sleep deprivation caused by insomnia and other sleep disorders affects millions of Americans, but reportedly less than half of those people seek out medical attention for their sleep-related symptoms. Studies have shown that people today sleep, on average, 20 percent less than people who lived during the last century. This statistic is thought to have negative effects not only on a personal level, with more people experiencing decreased creativity and alertness during the day, but also on a national level as these symptoms of sleep deprivation affect general productivity of the contemporary American population and, indirectly, American economy and American innovation at large. With the ever present glow of television, computer and iPod screens keeping us all up later and more distracted from our daily tasks, it is very easy to disregard sleep disorders as non-urgent conditions that do not need medical attention. Below is a list of expert tips on how to sleep better at night.
- Regulate your sleep schedule. Behavior therapy has been shown to be most effective in teaching the body how to go to sleep at a desired hour and teaching people how to sleep better with deeper sleep cycles in general. Other behavioral tricks that may help people who need to know how to fall asleep faster include only using the bed for sleeping (and leaving the bed for a while if you lay down and cannot fall asleep quickly) and avoiding daytime naps. Don’t let your body associate lying in bed with being awake.
- Let in some sunlight. Light therapy has also been shown to have a significant effect on regulating circadian rhythm patterns. A mere 15 to 30 minutes of sun exposure per day can dramatically increase your ability to achieve deep sleep cycles at night.
- Drink only milk close to bedtime. Consumption of most foods and beverages, especially those containing caffeine, will negatively affect your insomnia symptoms. Sleep experts working at an Orange County sleep center suggest that limiting yourself to snacks and dairy products containing the natural sleep aid tryptophan may help your body learn how to fall asleep more easily, as the chemical is a natural sleep inducer.
- Take a bath before bedtime. Aside of making your body relaxed and washing away the stress associated with the one’s daily activities, taking a bath at night can help your body to learn how to fall asleep fast because the drop in body temperature after you leave the tub can make you feel drowsy.
- Seek out medical attention if you think you have a sleep disorder. 1 in 4 Americans report having trouble sleeping, according to the National Institutes of Health. Contact sleep experts at an Orange County sleep center if you think you may need special treatment for a sleep disorder or if you think you may benefit from a diagnostic evaluation of your own irregular sleep patterns. A simply overnight sleep study will be able to shed light on your sleep habits and get you on the path to finally having the good night’s rest you’ve been needing.
Discovering the Right Sleep Aids at an Orange County Sleep Center
Contact a sleep expert at an Orange County sleep center if you can’t sleep and if you think that these natural sleep aids and remedies have not been working for your insomnia. Though symptoms of insomnia may worsen with age, it is never too late to confront your condition and possibly lower the risk of serious medical disease in your future. An Orange County sleep center will help you find the best solution to help you learn how to sleep better whether you need medicinal sleep aids or sleep aids in the form of oral appliances or breathing machines such as CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure). Sleep experts at an Orange County sleep center will ensure that you experience in benefits of a good night’s rest and that you no longer suffer with the effects of sleep deprivation during the day.
