Sleep Aid Center http://www.sleep-aid-center.com Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:45:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 en hourly 1 http://www.sleep-aid-center.com http://www.sleep-aid-center.com/favicon/favicon.ico Sleep Aid Center Optimal Temperature for a Good Sleep http://www.sleep-aid-center.com/optimal-temperature-for-a-good-sleep/ http://www.sleep-aid-center.com/optimal-temperature-for-a-good-sleep/#comments Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:44:02 +0000 Andy http://www.sleep-aid-center.com/?p=364

The right room temperature plays an important role in your sleep.

Studies have found that in general, the optimal temperature for sleep is quite cool, around 60 (15.5 C) to 68 (20 C) degrees Fahrenheit. For some, temperatures that fall too far below or above this range can lead to restlessness.

Temperatures in this range, it seems, help facilitate the decrease in core body temperature that intemperature-sleep-300x199 Optimal Temperature for a Good Sleep turn initiates sleepiness. A growing number of studies are finding that temperature regulation plays a role in many cases of chronic insomnia. Researchers have shown, for example, that insomniacs tend to have a warmer core body temperature than normal sleepers just before bed, which leads to heightened arousal and a struggle to fall asleep as the body tries to reset its internal thermostat.

Experts agree the temperature of your sleeping area and how comfortable you feel in it affect how well and how long you snooze. Why? “When you go to sleep, your set point for body temperature — the temperature your brain is trying to achieve — goes down,” says H. Craig Heller, PhD, professor of biology at Stanford University, who wrote a chapter on temperature and sleep for a medical textbook. “Think of it as the internal thermostat.” If it’s too cold, as in Roy’s case, or too hot, the body struggles to achieve this set point.

For normal sleepers, the drop in core temperature is marked by an increase in temperature in the hands and feet, as the blood vessels dilate and the body radiates heat. Studies show that for troubled sleepers, a cool room and a hot-water bottle placed at the feet, which rapidly dilates blood vessels, can push the internal thermostat to a better setting.

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Listen to Relaxing Music to help you Sleep http://www.sleep-aid-center.com/listen-to-relaxing-music-to-help-you-sleep/ http://www.sleep-aid-center.com/listen-to-relaxing-music-to-help-you-sleep/#comments Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:51:09 +0000 Andy http://www.sleep-aid-center.com/?p=359

The relaxing music and nature sounds must be carefully chosen for their ability to aid sleep, reduce stress, and provide a relaxing atmosphere for activities such as yoga, tai-chi, and meditation.

Study:

Researchers have shown just 45 minutes of relaxing music before bedtime can make for a restful sleep-music-300x225 Listen to Relaxing Music to help you Sleepnight.

The Taiwanese researchers studied the sleeping patterns of 60 elderly people with sleep problems.

They told the Journal of Advanced Nursing, how the technique was easy to learn and lacked the side-effects of other treatments.

If anyone is a bit agitated before they go to bed then anything that can help calm them down and relax is a good thing.

Professor Jim Horne, from the Sleep Research Centre at Loughborough University

The study participants were either given a choice of music to listen to before going to sleep or nothing at all.

The music group were able to choose from six tapes that featured soft, slow music - around 60-80 beats per minute - such as jazz, folk or orchestral pieces.

Listening to music caused physical changes that aided restful sleep, including a lower heart and respiratory rate, the researchers found.

Sweet dreams

The people in the music group reported a 35% improvement in their sleep, including better and longer night-time sleep and less dysfunction during the day.

Lead author Professor Hui-Ling Lai, of the Buddhist Tzu-Chi General Hospital and the University of Taiwan, said: “The music group reported a 26% overall improvement in the first week and this figure continued to rise as they mastered the technique of relaxing into sedative music.”

Professor Jim Horne, from the Sleep Research Centre at Loughborough University, said: “If anyone is a bit agitated before they go to bed then anything that can help calm them down and relax is a good thing.

“Some say making sure older people sleep less in the afternoon and get plenty of exposure to daylight can help them get a better night’s sleep.”

http://news.bbc.co.uk/

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Herbal Tea Solutions for Sleeping Insomnia http://www.sleep-aid-center.com/herbal-tea-solutions-for-sleeping-insomnia/ http://www.sleep-aid-center.com/herbal-tea-solutions-for-sleeping-insomnia/#comments Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:18:20 +0000 Andy http://www.sleep-aid-center.com/?p=350

According to professional herbalists not only herbal tea can naturally relieve insomnia but also correct the imbalances within the body that cause those symptoms. The herb that constitutes a major percentage of herbal tea contains a variety of active constituents and has a main action and several subsidiary actions, which determine the conditions for which it is most appropriate. Some common natural herbs like hops and valerian are effective in relaxing the nervous system for a natural and restorative sleep. In many other forms of herbal tea sleep inducing capacity, which is very much effective in the treatment of insomnia. Studies have shown that it not only helps in bringing a restful sleep without morning sleepiness but also is also extremely beneficial effect among poor or irregular sleepers, particularly women, and in people having difficulty in falling asleep. Herbal tea also makes a pleasant-tasting tea that helps to calm the body and relax the mind to promote a deep restful sleep. Other than these qualities some specific varieties have excellent natural flavor and acts as a supplement to maintain calm and mental equilibrium, and to soothe the nerve system for better sleep quality.

Herbs act as gentle cleansers and purifiers of toxins in our body. They have detoxicating and anti-inflammatory effects. Strong antioxidants in herbs cleanse the colon and stimulate the blood circulation in our body. Improved blood circulation in turn regularizes sleep patterns. Therefore, drinking tea made from the combination of herbs will help you unwind and deal with your insomnia.

Herbal Teas that would help you manage your insomnia:

Calm tea: A relaxing blend of Chamomile Flower, Peppermint Leaf, Catnip Leaf, Strawberry Leaf, sleep-tea-300x225 Herbal Tea Solutions for Sleeping InsomniaLinden Leaf and Flowers, Passion Flower Herb, Skullcap, Licorice Root and Valerian Root will help you reduce stress. This combination also reduces mucous and muscle cramps.

Digestive Tea: A combination of soothing herbs like Peppermint, Papaya Leaf, Hibiscus, Mint helps digestion and is good for heartburn, indigestion, circulatory problems, and nausea. The blend specially helps for gas, diarrhea and ulcers. Improving your digestive system by taking this tea will help reduce stress and therefore control the insomniac symptom.

Sleepy Tea: A combination of Valerian root and Chamomile flowers is the right combination for relaxing moments before bed. It helps in relieving stress and anxiety, indigestion, and insomnia.

How to prepare herbal tea:

Boil desired amount of water in a stainless steel pot. When the water boils turn the heat off. Now add the herbs in an infuser, muslin bag or tea ball. For a single cup of tea add one to two teaspoons of herbs. Allow the herbs to infuse for up to five minutes and then mix it with lemon and organic honey or Stevia. Drink three to four cups of this herbal tea everyday and observe the considerable changes in your insomnia symptoms

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Sleep facts and statistics http://www.sleep-aid-center.com/sleep-facts-and-statistics/ http://www.sleep-aid-center.com/sleep-facts-and-statistics/#comments Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:46:07 +0000 Andy http://www.sleep-aid-center.com/?p=344

We spend about a third of our life sleeping. The average adult sleeps 7 to 8.6 hours a day. Children statistics-292x300 Sleep facts and statisticssleep more than adults; they spent about 10 hours a day sleeping. Newborns, however, may sleep for nearly two-thirds of their day. There is an age-related difference in average time spent sleeping. As a person ages, they require less sleep. The elderly only spent around 6.5 hours a day sleeping.

The amount of time spent sleeping may be genetically influenced. Deprived of sleep, we run the risk of fatigue; depressed immune system; impaired concentration, creativity, and communication; irritability; and deteriorated performance. In the long-run, sleep deprivation may contribute to obesity, hypertension, and memory impairment.

Who is More Stressed?

- 26% of women report trouble sleeping at least once a week compared to only

- 16% of men

- 19% of individuals ages 45-64 admit to losing sleep due to stress a few nights per week

Sleep Facts

- Up to 15% of people is sleep walking

- Approximately 15% of people have restless leg syndrome

- Vehicular crashes are the third leading cause of death and injury in the United States, and up to 20% of them are sleep related

- Untreated sleep apnea causes 500,000 motor vehicle crashes annually

- One in 20 men have sleep apnea

- Seizures occur more commonly during sleep than during waking hours

- Many tranquilizers actually decrease deeper stages of sleep that are

required for the restoration and fresh feeling in the morning

- Jet Lag is worse when traveling toward the East

- Sleep loss of four hours is equivalent to being drunk with a blood alcohol

level of 0.1%

- One-third of young adults are pathologically sleepy during the day

40 Interesting facts about sleep you probably didn’t know…

-The record for the longest period without sleep is 18 days, 21 hours, 40 minutes during a rocking chair marathon. The record holder reported hallucinations, paranoia, blurred vision, slurred speech and memory and concentration lapses.

- It’s impossible to tell if someone is really awake without close medical supervision. People can take cat naps with their eyes open without even being aware of it.

- Anything less than five minutes to fall asleep at night means you’re sleep deprived. The ideal is between 10 and 15 minutes, meaning you’re still tired enough to sleep deeply, but not so exhausted you feel sleepy by day.

- A new baby typically results in 400-750 hours lost sleep for parents in the first year

- One of the best predictors of insomnia later in life is the development of bad habits from having sleep disturbed by young children.

- The continuous brain recordings that led to the discovery of REM (rapid eye-movement) sleep were not done until 1953, partly because the scientists involved were concerned about wasting paper.

- REM sleep occurs in bursts totalling about 2 hours a night, usually beginning about 90 minutes after falling asleep.

- Dreams, once thought to occur only during REM sleep, also occur (but to a lesser extent) in non-REM sleep phases. It’s possible there may not be a single moment of our sleep when we are actually dreamless.

- REM dreams are characterised by bizarre plots, but non-REM dreams are repetitive and thought-like, with little imagery - obsessively returning to a suspicion you left your mobile phone somewhere, for example.

- Certain types of eye movements during REM sleep correspond to specific movements in dreams, suggesting at least part of the dreaming process is analagous to watching a film

- No-one knows for sure if other species dream but some do have sleep cycles similar to humans.

- Elephants sleep standing up during non-REM sleep, but lie down for REM sleep.

- Some scientists believe we dream to fix experiences in long-term memory, that is, we dream about things worth remembering. Others reckon we dream about things worth forgetting - to eliminate overlapping memories that would otherwise clog up our brains.

- Dreams may not serve any purpose at all but be merely a meaningless byproduct of two evolutionary adaptations - sleep and consciousness.

- REM sleep may help developing brains mature. Premature babies have 75 per cent REM sleep, 10 per cent more than full-term bubs. Similarly, a newborn kitten puppy rat or hampster experiences only REM sleep, while a newborn guinea pig (which is much more developed at birth) has almost no REM sleep at all.

- Scientists have not been able to explain a 1998 study showing a bright light shone on the backs of human knees can reset the brain’s sleep-wake clock.

- British Ministry of Defence researchers have been able to reset soldiers’ body clocks so they can go without sleep for up to 36 hrs. Tiny optical fibres embedded in special spectacles project a ring of bright white light (with a spectrum identical to a sunrise) around the edge of soldiers’ retinas, fooling them into thinking they have just woken up. The system was first used on US pilots during the bombing of Kosovo.

- Seventeen hours of sustained wakefulness leads to a decrease in performance equivalent to a blood alcohol-level of 0.05%.

- The 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill off Alaska, the Challenger space shuttle disaster and the Chernobyl nuclear accident have all been attributed to human errors in which sleep-deprivation played a role.

- The NRMA estimates fatigue is involved in one in 6 fatal road accidents.

- Exposure to noise at night can suppress immune function even if the sleeper doesn’t wake. Unfamiliar noise, and noise during the first and last two hours of sleep, has the greatest disruptive effect on the sleep cycle.

- The “natural alarm clock” which enables some people to wake up more or less when they want to is caused by a burst of the stress hormone adrenocorticotropin. Researchers say this reflects an unconscious anticipation of the stress of waking up.

- Some sleeping tablets, such as barbiturates suppress REM sleep, which can be harmful over a long period.

- In insomnia following bereavement, sleeping pills can disrupt grieving.

- Tiny luminous rays from a digital alarm clock can be enough to disrupt the sleep cycle even if you do not fully wake. The light turns off a “neural switch” in the brain, causing levels of a key sleep chemical to decline within minutes.

- To drop off we must cool off; body temperature and the brain’s sleep-wake cycle are closely linked. That’s why hot summer nights can cause a restless sleep. The blood flow mechanism that transfers core body heat to the skin works best between 18 and 30 degrees. But later in life, the comfort zone shrinks to between 23 and 25 degrees - one reason why older people have more sleep disorders.

- A night on the grog will help you get to sleep but it will be a light slumber and you won’t dream much.

- After five nights of partial sleep deprivation, three drinks will have the same effect on your body as six would when you’ve slept enough.

- Humans sleep on average around three hours less than other primates like chimps, rhesus monkeys, squirrel monkeys and baboons, all of whom sleep for 10 hours.

- Ducks at risk of attack by predators are able to balance the need for sleep and survival, keeping one half of the brain awake while the other slips into sleep mode.

- Ten per cent of snorers have sleep apnoea, a disorder which causes sufferers to stop breathing up to 300 times a night and significantly increases the risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke.

- Snoring occurs only in non-REM sleep

- Teenagers need as much sleep as small children (about 10 hrs) while those over 65 need the least of all (about six hours). For the average adult aged 25-55, eight hours is considered optimal

- Some studies suggest women need up to an hour’s extra sleep a night compared to men, and not getting it may be one reason women are much more susceptible to depression than men.

- Feeling tired can feel normal after a short time. Those deliberately deprived of sleep for research initially noticed greatly the effects on their alertness, mood and physical performance, but the awareness dropped off after the first few days.

- Diaries from the pre-electric-light-globe Victorian era show adults slept nine to 10 hours a night with periods of rest changing with the seasons in line with sunrise and sunsets.

- Most of what we know about sleep we’ve learned in the past 25 years.

- As a group, 18 to 24 year-olds deprived of sleep suffer more from impaired performance than older adults.

- Experts say one of the most alluring sleep distractions is the 24-hour accessibility of the internet.

- The extra-hour of sleep received when clocks are put back at the start of daylight in Canada has been found to coincide with a fall in the number of road accidents.

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7 Easy Remedies to Stop Snoring http://www.sleep-aid-center.com/7-easy-remedies-to-stop-snoring/ http://www.sleep-aid-center.com/7-easy-remedies-to-stop-snoring/#comments Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:53:44 +0000 Andy http://www.sleep-aid-center.com/?p=341

To stop snoring would be a priority for health reasons alone, however there are other concerns. Could it be affecting your relationship? Over half the adults who snore sleep in separate rooms to their partners, doesn’t argue well for marital bliss does it?

Snoring can leave you tired and cranky in the morning. Follow these seven steps for sound sleep:

1. Change Sleep Position

There are many experts that recommend avoiding sleeping on the back if snoring is a problem. Changing the sleeping position can help to increase the ease of airflow that can occur through the nose, mouth and to the lungs. Therefore, sometimes, the culprit of snoring can be seen in the sleeping position. Experts recommend sleeping on your side for best results when trying to quell snoring.

2. Lose Weight

Overweight people tend have bulky neck tissue which increases snoring risk. If you are overweight, losing just modest amount of weight - even just 10% of your body weight — can help you stop snoring.

3. Use a Good Pillow

A good pillow, how old is yours? You don’t want to know what can live in old pillows! Should it be consigned to the rubbish bin? Could it be causing allergies?

4. Avoid Alcohol and Pills

Both alcohol and sleeping pills can depress your central nervous system and relax the muscles of your throat and jaw, making snoring more likely. These substances are also known to contribute to sleep apnea, a dangerous condition that has been linked with cardiovascular disease. And they should never, ever be used together.

5. Try nasal strips to stop snoring.

Studies show that nasal strips can provide temporary relief from congestion and may also help some people stop snoring.

6. Buy Stop Snoring Devices

Your dentist or doctor may be able to prescribe an antisnoring mouth guard that holds the teeth together and keeps the lower jaw muscles from becoming too lax.

7. Inhale Steam before bed to stop snoring.

Nasal congestion can often cause snoring. Clarke suggests you try to reduce congestion before bedtime by deep breathing steam through your nose.

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Reflux Devense System http://www.sleep-aid-center.com/reflux-devense-system/ http://www.sleep-aid-center.com/reflux-devense-system/#comments Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:44:30 +0000 Andy http://www.sleep-aid-center.com/?p=336

Stomach ulcers form when acid comes into contact with unprotected tissues in the lining of the stomach. The healthy stomach protects itself from erosion through a mucosal layer secreted by special cells on the stomach wall. Occasionally however, this protection breaks down for various refluxdefenseheader-300x60 Reflux Devense Systemreasons. The result is basically an open sore that develops on the lining of the stomach. Most people used to think that ulcers were caused by stress or by eating too much spicy food. While either of these can cause more acid in the stomach, it has now been found that most ulcers are caused by H. pylori, but only when certain conditions are present. In fact, many people have H. pylori in their gut, but never develop ulcers.

What causes Stomach Ulcers?

The direct cause of peptic ulcers is the destruction of the gastric or intestinal mucosal lining of the stomach by hydrochloric acid, an acid normally present in the digestive juices of the stomach. Infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori is thought to play an important role in causing both gastric and duodenal ulcers. Helicobacter pylori may be transmitted from person to person through contaminated food and water. Antibiotics are the most effective treatment for Helicobacter pylori peptic ulcers.

Acid Reflux occurs when the tube that you uses to intake the food from the throat to stomach is not strong enough to handle the acid. The food intaken by you is digested by the stomach with the help of an acid produced and stored by it. The stomach walls are built strong enough to store that acid without causing damage.

Here is Remedies for Acid Reflux Disease, Reflux Foods and Side Effects of Antacids.

Injury of the gastric mucosal lining, and weakening of the mucous defenses are also responsible for gastric ulcers. Excess secretion of hydrochloric acid, genetic predisposition, and psychological stress are important contributing factors in the formation and worsening of duodenal ulcers.

Another major cause of ulcers is the chronic use of anti-inflammatory medications, such as aspirin. Cigarette smoking is also an important cause of ulcer formation and ulcer treatment failure.

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How Do Not Waste your Sleep: 10 Bad Sleep Habits http://www.sleep-aid-center.com/how-do-not-waste-your-sleep-10-bad-sleep-habits/ http://www.sleep-aid-center.com/how-do-not-waste-your-sleep-10-bad-sleep-habits/#comments Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:01:04 +0000 Andy http://www.sleep-aid-center.com/?p=333

Manny people waste hours and hours in bed for no good reason. The purpose of this post is to help you, not only to fall asleep faster, but also to improve your sleep system – the idea is that you will ultimately waste less time in bed because you will require less sleep and fall asleep faster. If you don’t have enough sleep, it can lead to depression, high blood pressure and lower productivity at work.

Here are 10 bad sleep habits:

1. Limit time spent in bed. Regardless of how long you slept, don’t spend more than 8 hours in pet-in-bed-300x200 How Do Not Waste your Sleep: 10 Bad Sleep Habitsbed. Get out of that bed! Unless of course you and your better half have morning activities of some sort planned.

2. Having pets sleep in your bed: Animal hair can trigger off asthma and other allergy attacks, so it is advisable to keep your furry friends out of your bed. Even children’s stuffed toys can be carriers of dust mites. And that is something you need to watch out for.

3. Slow Bed Movements. Instead of tossing and turning in bed, move around slowly if you absolutely have to move around. Frustration feeds on fast movements. Gentle, slow movements will make you yawn and feel more tired.

4. Cleaning your bedroom: Many disinfectants have chemicals that can irritate your skin, nose, throat and lungs when you sleep. So avoid cleaning your room in the evening, but clean it & give it a make-over in the morning.

5. Don’t concentrate on falling asleep. You should never actively pursue sleep. If you stress because you feel that you must be asleep by a certain time or simply put too much effort into focusing on falling asleep, you will decrease the likelihood of your falling asleep.

6. Putting flowers in your bedroom: Fresh flowers and their sweet scents are great to have in your room. But not while you sleep and in your bed room. Flowers have pollen that could trigger off an allergy attack in allergy-prone folks. Sunflowers are the worst offenders. If you still insist on flowers, have some low fragrance types that can minimize allergy attacks.

7. Don’t eat heavy meals in the evening. Your digestive system slows down during the night, so your system will use a lot of energy digesting late meals—energy that should have been used to rejuvenate your body! So, avoid heavy eating before bedtime.

8. No stressful activities such as decision making, quarreling or working before you sleep. No television, no mobile gadgets to stimulate your mind. Wind down instead. Read a book or say your prayers.

9. Sleeping face down: Sleeping face down can wake you up in just a little while because of the disrupted nocturnal breathing that this can result in. You will not be able to breathe properly when sleeping face down and this will wake you up.

10. Don’t waste your money on sleep-inducing medications. Don’t pop sleeping pills at night. They work for just a few nights but not for long term. Moreover medications contain side

effects.

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Sleep Deprivation World Record: Randy Gardner, stayed awake for 264 hours (eleven days) http://www.sleep-aid-center.com/sleep-deprivation-world-record-randy-gardner-stayed-awake-for-264-hours-eleven-days/ http://www.sleep-aid-center.com/sleep-deprivation-world-record-randy-gardner-stayed-awake-for-264-hours-eleven-days/#comments Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:44:26 +0000 Andy http://www.sleep-aid-center.com/?p=327

How long can humans stay awake?

J. Christian Gillin, a professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego, conducts gardner-sleep-295x300 Sleep Deprivation World Record: Randy Gardner, stayed awake for 264 hours (eleven days)research on sleep, chronobiology and mood disorders. He supplies the following answer.

In 1964, as a 17-year-old high school student in San Diego, California, Gardner stayed awake for 264 hours (11 days) with the help of friends, TV reporters, and shooting hoops His stunt was part of a school science project on sleep patterns.

The effects of sleep deprivation on Randy Gardner included moodiness, problems with concentration and memory, paranoia and hallucinations. After four days, he had the delusion that he was a famous American football player winning the Rose Bowl. He also mistook a street sign for a person.

On the 11th day, he was asked to subtract seven repeatedly, starting from 100. He stopped when he got to 65… and said he had forgotten what he was doing.

On his final day without sleep, Gardner presided over a press conference where he spoke without slurring or stumbling his words and in general appeared to be in excellent health. “I wanted to prove that bad things didn’t happen if you went without sleep,” said Gardner. “I thought, ‘I can break that (Peter Tripp’s 1959) record and I don’t think it would be a negative experience.’” Sleep experts now believe that such sleep deprivation stunts are dangerous.

After his marathon, Gardner slept for nearly 15 hours and returned to a normal sleeping pattern within days. Unlike Peter Tripp (who incidentally used stimulants to stay awake) there were no reports of any long term personality changes.

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10 Good Sleep Habits Tips for Better Sleep http://www.sleep-aid-center.com/10-good-sleep-habits-tips-for-better-sleep/ http://www.sleep-aid-center.com/10-good-sleep-habits-tips-for-better-sleep/#comments Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:43:35 +0000 Andy http://www.sleep-aid-center.com/?p=323

Good sleep habits can help you get a excellent night’s sleep. With correct sleep habits, it is easier to fall asleep and stay asleep. Several good sleep habits include avoiding caffeine and other stimulants late in the day, getting regular exercise, and going to sleep at the same time each night.

Below is a list of things that typically help people sleep better:

1.Bedtime routines are helpful for good sleep. Keep routines on your normal schedule. A cup habits-300x225 10 Good Sleep Habits Tips for Better Sleepof herbal tea an hour before bed can begin a routine.

2. Exercise Regularly. Another way to develop better sleep habits is to exercise regularly. Your body uses sleep to recover and repair so exercise promotes your body’s need to rest.

3. No napping. Some people can take a short afternoon nap and still sleep well at night. However, if you are having trouble sleeping at night, try to eliminate napping. If you must nap, do it in the early afternoon, and sleep no longer than about thirty minutes.

4. Eat Moderately, No Caffeine, No Smoking . Caffeine and nicotine are stimulants and can keep you from falling asleep. Alcohol can cause you to wake in the night. It also interferes with sleep quality.

5. Medicines and other drugs - Some drugs can affect sleep because they are stimulants. If you are taking medicine it is worth checking with your pharmacist or doctor. Examples are

certain drugs for asthma and for migraine. Sleeping tablets, whilst they can help in the short term often cause sleep problems as they interfere with the quality of sleep and can alter sleep

patterns. They should only be taken for very short periods.

6. Use the bed for sleeping. Avoid watching TV or using laptop computers. Know that reading in bed can be a problem if the material is very stimulation and you read with a bright light. If it helps to read before sleep make sure you use a very small wattage bulb to read. A 15 watt bulb should be enough. Bright light from these activities may inhibit sleep.

7. If you have a sleeping partner, ask them if they notice any snoring, leg movements and/or pauses in breathing . Take this information and try the sleep test. You may have a sleep disorder or you may just need to increase your awareness about your own sleep need. If you have any concerns see your doctor.

8. If you can’t fall asleep and don’t feel drowsy, get up and read (or do something that is not overly stimulating) until you feel sleepy.

9. Avoid looking at the clock if you wake up in the middle of the night. It can cause anxiety. This is very difficult for most of us, so turn the clock away from your eyes so you would have to turn it to see the time. You may decide not to make the effort and go right back to sleep.

10. Keep the noise level down. Too much noise- loud outside conversations, televisions blaring, traffic noise - can make it difficult to sleep well. When the source of outside noise can’t be eliminated, sometimes it can be masked. A fan or white noise machine can help block outside noise. Some people enjoy recordings of soothing sounds such as waves, waterfalls or rain. Earplugs may also help, although you want to make sure they don’t block out important noises like an alarm clock if you use one.

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Power Nap - A Complete Guide http://www.sleep-aid-center.com/power-nap-a-complete-guide/ http://www.sleep-aid-center.com/power-nap-a-complete-guide/#comments Wed, 23 Sep 2009 07:24:46 +0000 Andy http://www.sleep-aid-center.com/?p=318

The power-nap is a short sleep which terminates before the occurrence of deep sleep or slow-wave sleep intended to quickly revitalize the subject. (wikipedia)

“A power nap is a short nap, normally between 10 and 30 minutes long, taken in the middle of the day in order to reinvigorate and refresh you for the next part of the day.” Power naps are not similar to normal sleep, so you will not be groggy after taking one. While you might have “dreams”, power naps are more similar to meditation, where thoughts are allowed to move from the sub-conscious mind to the conscious mind and back again without you concentrating on them. Research says that taking a nap of 30 minutes a day is better than sleeping 30 minutes later in the morning.

10 Healthy benefits of the power nap:


1. boost in productivity and energy at workpower-nap-300x195 Power Nap - A Complete Guide

2. increased motivation

3. improved ability to concentrate,

4. better mood

5. improved hand-eye coordination

6. improve emotional state

7. increased learning

8. maintain peak brain activity during the course of the day

9. protect yourself from sleepiness

10. decrease and eliminate stress

How to Power Nap Effectively:

- Don`t be shame - be proud of your nap, announcing your intentions in advance to workmates or family members. Napping is great for your health and productivity.

- Choose a time of the day when you are most likely to crash, such as the mid-morning or in the middle of the afternoon. Plan to nap between 10 and 30 minutes in your quiet spot during those times. The time limits may vary depending on how much sleep your body will need to renew its energy.

- Choose a quiet, location to power nap. One thing you want to make sure is that you have a silence place that you can power nap without being interrupted or distracted by environmental factors, such as cars or ground maintenance workers. If you choose to power nap in your office, then make sure that you post a sign that lets people know that you are power napping and not to disturb you.

- Collect your equipment blankets, pillows and, where possible, a foldout bed will ensure you get the most out of the rest, and help you separate naptime from the rest of the day

- Eat right - Avoid caffeine and sugar. If you choose to practice power napping, then you want to make sure you avoid eating too much caffeinated or sugary products before you power nap, as these can obviously obstruct with your ability to sleep.

- Turn off the phone. If you are power napping in your office, so have certain you have your principal telephone turned away or switched to quiet style. The same holds true with your cell phone if you are power napping away from work.

- Add darkness to your room if you wish, such as turning off the lights. If you are in your car, wear sunglasses. Darkness is known for helping you fall asleep faster. Use a blanket to stay warm if necessary, since your body temperature drops during sleep.

- Find some music to listen to if that helps you fall asleep. Light sounds such as classical, jazz or new age may help to relax your mind so that you can go to sleep. The music is most helpful if you have had a stressful day.

- Wake up on time - Plan the length of your nap and set an alarm for your desired awakening time. Set your alarm (clock or phone) for 15 minutes’ time, or get someone reliable (who is not after your job) to wake you.

  • Some famous self-proclaimed nappers include Albert Einstein, Leonardo Da Vinci , Thomas Edison, Winston Churchill, Johannes Brahms, John D. Rockefeller, Eleanor Roosevelt, Gene Autry, Nikola Tesla, Bill Clinton, John F. Kennedy, Napoleon Bonaparte, Salvador Dali and Sylvester Stallone.

So, remember: The truth is that a short 20-minute power nap helps to revitalize the mind and keep you performing at the highest peak performance levels possible throughout the day and naturally, without any drugs or chemicals.

Napping can be good for the old as well as the young.

Happy napping!

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