Sleep disorders self-care tips

You’re tired. You don’t know when it started or how to get relief. Does this sound like you? Over 80 million Americans suffer with some type of sleep disorder.  You may be feeling frustrated with your situation and for good reason! Sleep is necessary for the body and mind to function properly. Without quality REM sleep your vitality will diminish drastically and result in serious health problems. High blood pressure, stress, and even strokes can result from not getting good quality sleep. This is not about how many hours of sleep you get each night. Medical studies have proven that only a few hours of deep, restorative sleep are necessary for the body to function at optimal levels.

The interruption of REM sleep is at the heart of sleep disorders. The lack of resorative rest adds up quickly and soon you will feel the negative effects. Your physical health is only the tip of the iceberg. Your psychological and emotional health may also be altered dramatically, if a sleeping disorder is left unchecked. Aside from seeking help from a qualified professional there are some things you can do at home to lessen the effects of your condition. Follow these easy sleep hygiene tips to alleviate the problems associated with any sleep disorder. However, if these simple techniques do not resolve the sleep problems you are experiencing, you should speak to your physician and discuss other options.

Exercise

Most problems associated with health can be alleviated through good old-fashioned exercise. If the thought of doing a sit-up makes you cringe, then here is some good news: Walking is exercise. Taking a brisk walk every evening will help get your body into shape while keeping your interest up. After a few weeks of walking you will begin to notice that your stress levels will lower and you should be able to get better quality sleep. You should not exercise right before you go to bed, the positive effects of the exercise could keep you awake.

Lose weight

Excess pounds are to blame for many of types of sleeping disorders. If you are having trouble staying on an exercise plan and need to lose weight there are other options. Controlling your weight through diet is an excellent way to lose fat while raising the quality of your health. Choosing foods rich in vitamin C, D, and E can help you maintain optimum health, which may translate into better sleep. If you are at a loss at to which foods to cut out and which ones to add, remember this: Think green, eat clean. Add more green leafy vegetables to your diet while eliminating greasy, overly processed foods. This one step will greatly improve your success with overcoming your condition.

Quit bad habits

Are you smoking? Do you drink excessively? Are you a slave to coffee? These things add a lot of stress to your system which may directly effect your sleeping patterns. If you stop or reduce your intake of things like nicotine, alcohol and caffeine you will see an immediate improvement in the quality of your sleep.

Remember that no amount of self-care can substitute speaking with your physician and seeking an individualized diagnosis. Taking these measures should only be used as a supplement to work in conjunction with your personal health care professional. Taking these steps may help in putting your sleep disorder in check and get you back on the road to good health.

Our Sleep Center

Have you tried all the self-help sleep methods? Do you need to speak with a health professional about sleeping? If you answered yes, our Sleep Center can help. Click the Get Started Image to the left to get started on your road to better sleep.