A good night’s sleep is a necessity
There is an infinite amount of research to prove the importance of a good night’s sleep. Sleeping is essential for a healthy lifestyle, much like diet and exercise. It is common to experience nights of bad sleep, but chronically poor sleep can greatly impact your health and need to be addressed and examined. While some consider sleep a regular part of your day, there is work that needs to be put into it in order to get the most out of it.
With the rise of stressful global issues, endless exposure to screens and blue light, plus daily personal anxieties all around us, we are seeing sleep quantity and quality on the decline. The team at Breathe Clear Institute is determined to help people find their way to reliable and good sleep in order to live healthier and longer lives.
What is bad sleep?
There are many factors throughout the day that can contribute to a bad night of sleep. Stress is the most common cause of poor sleep and needs to be managed throughout the day in order for it to subside at night. Stress can come from any aspect of your life and manifest itself in many different ways like muscle and headaches, racing thoughts, restless behavior, triggering over- or under-eating, and in turn bad nights of sleep.
Some people cope with stress by consuming caffeine and alcohol, but they are directly linked to poor sleep. Caffeine is an upper and increases your heart rate and anxiety levels. Alcohol is a depressant and might make you feel sleepy, but actually interferes with the brain’s normal circadian, in turn creating a bad night of sleep. Overuse of caffeine and alcohol can lead to dependency, chronic fatigue, subsequent weight gain, and increased stress levels.
There are, however, many cases where bad sleep is due to a sleep disorder like insomnia or sleep apnea. A diagnosis will come from your doctor and be managed through various treatments customized to your specific issues.
How to improve your sleep
Eliminating food and beverages that negatively impact your sleep is the first step in improving your sleep. Next, creating a sleep routine is key – set nightly times to be away from your phone, turn off all screens, calm your nerves, and dedicate the next eight hours to rest. A comfortable and peaceful sleeping environment is also important, dedicating the bedroom a space only for rest and relaxation. Daily exercise not only tires people out but it releases chemicals in the brain that helps prepare for good sleep.
The benefits of good sleep
Better nights of good sleep means better days all around. Good sleep not only makes people feel good, but decreases chances of obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and early death. Furthermore, good sleep means more energy throughout the day, better concentration, and being in an overall better mood. There are no known negative effects of a good night of sleep.
Learn more about your sleep by scheduling an appointment with Breathe Clear Institute
If you want to improve your sleep or look into sleep problems in greater detail, we are here to help. First, take our Sleepiness Quiz to see how your current sleep affects your life. We’re ready to help you get a better night’s sleep and into a healthy sleeping routine.