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Health Watch - Getting a better night's sleep |
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Thursday, 02 September 2010 14:49 |
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Every Thursday we try to keep you healthy with information from our team of local experts. This week we hear from Dr. Nancy Babbitt from Creekside Family Practice. Sleep maintenance insomnia is a common problem so I'd like to give you some tips on how to get a better night's sleep.
First avoid stimulants like caffeine especially in the afternoon and evenings. Also it's best to not take naps and you definitely should not fall asleep while you're watching TV just before bed. Also exercise can improve your quality of sleep but it's best to not to exercise right before you go to bed at night. And you really should be on a sleep schedule. Most adults only need about six to seven hours of sleep at night. So if you get up at six in the morning you really don't need to go to bed until about eleven o'clock at night. And if you have a bad night's sleep it's not good to go to bed the next night earlier to try and catch up. You want to really try and stay on the same schedule going to bed at the same time and getting up at the same time every day. Also don't eat or drink too much just before bed and start learning how to relax before you go to bed. Sometimes taking a hot bath or even learning how to meditate before you go to bed helps you sleep better. Finally your bedroom should be a sleep sanctuary. Your mattress should be comfortable and your bedroom should be cool, dark, and quite. I hope these tips help you get a better night's sleep. I'm Doctor Nancy Babbitt from Creekside Family Practice. |
