We all want to look and feel great, but whilst exercise and a healthy diet are key to this, there’s one more key ingredient: a good night’s sleep! Scientists estimate that anywhere between six and eight hours sleep a night is optimal for good health, but too many people struggle to achieve this. If you know that feeling all too well, here are three of the most common causes of sleeplessness, and how to overcome them.
Stress And Anxiety
We live in an increasingly fast-paced world, with many of us juggling high-pressure jobs with even more high-pressured parenthood, not to mention a whole range of other activities that take up our time and energy. When we go to bed thinking about work difficulties, family struggles or financial problems, it can be very hard to get to sleep, and this means that we wake up tired and irritable, which can exacerbate any problems we already have. To combat this, try to avoid all stress before going to bed by spending a period of time in silent meditation. Avoid looking at your mobile phone or other screens during or after this time, as the blue light they emit has been shown to interrupt sleep patterns. A great way to overcome this issue is no screen time for an hour before bed or wearing orange glasses an hour before bed to filter out the blue light. Check out this infographic for a detailed explanation of the effects of electronic devices on sleep.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is often associated with snoring, but it can be a very serious condition that has a huge impact on a person’s ability to sleep. In simple terms, it refers to a condition where a man or woman stops breathing during their sleep, thus waking them up, and this can occur hundreds of times every night in severe cases. This can have a profound effect on the physical and mental health of a sufferer, as well as putting a strain on relationships. If you, or a loved one, have sleep apnea, you should seek help from an expert physician, such as an otolaryngologist, as soon as possible, or visit the specialist website Apneatreatmentcenter.com for advice and information.
An Uncomfortable Mattress
The bed is the most important piece of furniture in our home, and the mattress upon it just as important, yet it’s all too often neglected. If you’ve been sleeping poorly, and it isn’t due to sleep apnea or another condition, then it could be because you have a bed that’s uncomfortable or that simply isn’t giving your body the support where it needs it most. A high-quality mattress like the Layla Mattress can help you get an uninterrupted sleep, but they can’t simply be left in place and expected to provide the same comfort day in and day out. Experts recommend that we flip our mattresses over every six months, and they should also be replaced every seven to ten years.
Sleeping poorly can affect every aspect of your life, and can also impact upon those you love most, so it’s important that you don’t suffer in silence. Changing your mattress may help, and some people swear by meditation before bedtime. It may also be worth seeing a physician, however, as if you do have sleep apnea there are treatments available that could make a big difference in how you sleep and how you feel.
