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Yawn….A Good Night's Sleep May Be More Important Than You Think!
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By Dr. Don Van Fossan, a Neurologist in private practice in Jackson
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Snooze and Lose? A Real Wakeup Call
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Generally, our body and common sense tells us that a good night's sleep is fundamental to a healthy, productive lifestyle, yet sleep is often the first thing we sacrifice in order to accommodate the rest of our priorities. This may be causing problems in many avenues of busy lifestyles. Occasionally cutting back on a good night's sleep is common, but frequently missing precious sleep can spill-over into our daytime lives.
According to a Gallop Poll conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, 49 percent of Americans don't get enough sleep on a regular basis. What's more, many of those polled didn't seem to think that missing sleep was a cause for concern.
But missing sleep for extended periods of time can cause a daytime fog, which can lead to problems functioning during the day. Most sleep experts agree that sleep deprivation can cause impaired judgment, inability to concentrate, reduced communication skills, slower reaction times, poor hand-eye coordination and decreased ability to learn and remember. Sleep also has restorative effects on the body and it improves our brains' functions. While many people believe that the brain rests when the body sleeps, the opposite is true. Some parts of the brain are actually more active during sleep. Some experts believe that the brain is processing information accumulated when we are awake. Since the brain is no longer taking in new information, the brain works to organize the information it received during the day and form memory. When we are sleep deprived, this may not occur as needed.
Sleep is important to a human's mental, physical and emotional health. Sleep, proper nutrition and exercise are the three fundamental elements our minds and bodies require to function properly. Though we may have become experts at "masking" sleep deprivation through the use of stimulants, such as caffeine, there simply is no substitute for a good night's sleep.
Obviously, the comfort of your bed, your pillow, your bed clothes, the temperature of the room and noise all have an effect on your sleep. But you can do other things to promote a good night's sleep. Relaxation techniques before bed time, including a warm bath, quiet music and reading all help relax a body to feel comfortable to sleep. Exercise (moderately) in the afternoon or early evening and avoid taking naps if possible. Avoid stimulants such as caffeine (found in coffee, tea, cola drinks, and so on) for at least 3 or 4 hours before bed time.
Enjoy a light bedtime snack such as a glass of warm milk -- it contains a natural sedative-like amino acid.
Avoid sleep medications if at all possible. Sleeping medications should be used only as recommended, and only for a short time, especially for the elderly since they respond differently to medications than younger adults. It is very important to consult with a health care provider before taking medications for sleep. Some are addicting, others may build up in your body, some have side effects and toxic effects can develop if they are taken for a long time. Alcohol at bedtime may make you feel sleepy, but it should be avoided because alcohol can also increase awakenings later in the night.
In today's busy society, it has become a badge of honor to say that we are getting by on a few hours of sleep…but is ‘getting by' what we really want?
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How to Get a Good Night's Sleep
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Obviously, the comfort of your bed, your pillow, your bed clothes, the temperature of the room and noise all have an effect on your sleep. But you can do other things to promote a good night's sleep. Relaxation techniques before bed time, including a warm bath, quiet music and reading all help relax a body to feel comfortable to sleep. Exercise (moderately) in the afternoon or early evening and avoid taking naps if possible. Avoid stimulants such as caffeine (found in coffee, tea, cola drinks, and so on) for at least 3 or 4 hours before bed time.
Enjoy a light bedtime snack such as a glass of warm milk -- it contains a natural sedative-like amino acid.
Avoid sleep medications if at all possible. Sleeping medications should be used only as recommended, and only for a short time, especially for the elderly since they respond differently to medications than younger adults. It is very important to consult with a health care provider before taking medications for sleep. Some are addicting, others may build up in your body, some have side effects and toxic effects can develop if they are taken for a long time. Alcohol at bedtime may make you feel sleepy, but it should be avoided because alcohol can also increase awakenings later in the night.
In today's busy society, it has become a badge of honor to say that we are getting by on a few hours of sleep…but isbut is ‘getting by' what we really want?
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