Sleep is one of the many things all humans need, but there is still a lot we don’t know or understand about it. For example, during the about seven or eight hours of sleep we should get nightly, our metabolism drops about 15%, our body temperature drops about two degrees, and we only spend two hours of that dreaming. We also sleep in cycles of non-rapid eye movement (REM) and REM sleep up to six times a night.
While there is a lot we don’t understand about sleep, we can all agree it is something we need and if you’re not getting enough of it, it can affect your body in a variety of ways. Let’s see what we can do to help you get better sleep by examining the importance of it, the common reasons you may have problems getting it, and how you can improve it.
Residents of the Glendale, Arizona area looking for better rest can find help with Dr. Sarah Patel and their medical team at Sonoran Sleep Center.
THE IMPORTANCE OF SLEEP
Our hustling and bustling world demands a lot of us during the day, with occupational, educational, and many other responsibilities to balance. It can easily take a toll on the amount and quality of sleep you get and can affect your daily life and long-term health in numerous ways:
Brain function: getting a good night’s rest is vital to preserving memory, decision making, focus, and judgment
Regulating normal body function: good rest also helps regulate the calories you take in, your risk of gaining weight, helps the immune system, and lowers inflammation
Mood: sleep also improves your mood, which affects how you interact with everyone around you in social and personal environments
Fatigue: sleep also helps avoid issues with daytime sleepiness, which can lead to functional problems performing routine tasks
Heart health: better rest means better regulation of blood pressure and reduces risks of sleep disorders that affect heart health
COMMON REASONS YOU CAN’T SLEEP
Disruptions to your sleep cycle can result from many different problems, but the common reasons include:
INSOMNIA
This very common condition makes getting to sleep or staying asleep very difficult, resulting in getting up too early, getting up in the middle of the night, and having difficulty focusing on daily tasks.
SLEEP APNEA
This is a condition where you experience periods of not breathing throughout the night because of obstructions blocking your airway or improper brain signals to breathing muscles.
NARCOLEPSY
This chronic condition causes overwhelming sleepiness during the day and to fall asleep suddenly. This directly affects how well you function during the day, and can even cause hallucinations.
RESTLESS LEGS SYNDROME
In the evening hours while sitting or laying down, this condition creates the uncontrollable urge to move in your legs. Also known as Willis-Ekbom Syndrome, there is no known cause for this condition, though it does sometimes run in the family.
WAYS TO GET BETTER REST
While some sleep disorders require medications, devices, or surgical care, there are some basic methods you can use to improve your nightly rest. Sleep hygiene is about creating an environment where getting to sleep and staying asleep is easier to do, and some lifestyle changes can get you better results, like:
Creating a pre-sleep routine: start employing a set of activities you do to help induce sleep, like warm showers, comfortable sleepwear, and sleep mediation
Keep your bedroom comfortable: keep your bedroom cool, dark, and as noise free as possible when trying to sleep at night
Reduce eating and drinking before bed: eating and drinking before bed will likely have you up in the middle of the night going to the bathroom, so avoid it
Keep a regular sleep schedule: going to sleep around the same time every night increases the chance of you getting more consistent rest
Stay more active during the day: increased physical activity during the day will create more fatigue around bedtime and help you sleep easier
These methods can help you get better rest, but if they are not enough, we are dedicated to helping people with a variety of sleep disorders including the ones mentioned above and can help you get better rest. If you’re ready to get a good night’s sleep, make an appointment with Dr. Patel and Sonoran Sleep Center today.