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Sleep program offers simple sleeping tips

Written by: David Castillo on February 23rd, 2010

Sleep program offers simple sleeping tips

Woman lying under covers in bed, eyes closed | read this item

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine accredited a program at Lexington Medical Center, which offers tips on how to get a good night’s sleep.

Officials claim that the staff evaluate, treat, and provide follow-up care for sleep disorders, like insomnia, narcolepsy, and sleep apnea. And the doctors say that the results have been favorable, helping patients get their much needed eight hours of sleep a night.

Here are some of the sleeping tips that were published, as explained in wltx.com:

1.   Optimal sleep time is seven to eight hours. Not getting enough sleep can have a serious affect on your health, your ability to concentrate, and minimize personal productivity due to fatigue. When a person’s health is affected, they may show signs of irritability, high blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias, emotional mood swings, lack of concentration or hyperactivity.
2.   We as a society do not allow ourselves enough time to sleep. We live by clock time versus the natural day/night behavior. When given the opportunity to sleep naturally, most people would get seven to eight hours of sleep waking with daylight and physically winding down for bedtime as the day became dark. Society has taught us to enjoy the fast-paced lifestyle trying to squeeze too much into a short period of time. All forms of entertainment are available 24 hours a day. We take medications to assist with going to sleep and then we take medications to stay awake, confusing our bodies even more.
3.   Most sleep disorders are easily treated. Obstructive sleep apnea and snoring are two of the most commonly treated, with treatment options of CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure), surgery, and positional therapy. Periodic limb movement disorder is treated with medications. Insomnia would be the most difficult to treat. With insomnia it is not just a physical situation; it is about behavior modification as well.
4.   Mattress and pillows play a big part in our sleep. If a mattress is too soft or too hard, a person will be unable to get comfortable. Mattresses and linens need to allow body temperature to adjust. Having too many pillows can cause head position to obstruct a person’s airway. Pillows are a great for assisting with propping of arms and legs to minimize body aches. Mattresses and pillows are a source for allergens to hide; using good protective covers will help to minimize this exposure.
5.   A good rule for people is to “park” their day prior to climbing into bed. Take a pad of paper and write down all of the things that are worrying you so you can start back up with them in the morning. A lot of people lay in the bed worrying about things that they can not do anything about at bedtime, then they worry that they will forget what they are worrying about, and it becomes an insomnia night of worrying. By “parking” your thoughts on a piece of paper, those thoughts will be waiting for you in the morning to deal with.

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