What You Should Avoid Before Going to Bed
Sure, if someone were to ask you what the number one thing you shouldn’t do before going to bed, you’d probably say “drink coffee” – but there’s much more to this equation of getting a good night’s sleep. Of course, it’s also deeper than simply going to bed at a reasonable time; rather, it’s all about planning your nighttime routine so that you avoid sleep-depriving bad habits.
The Ways Alcohol Affects Sleep and the REM Stage
You should know by now that a good night’s sleep is necessary for our well-being and overall health, but were you aware that consumption of alcohol and drugs can actually impact sleep in negative fashions? Indeed, they can, and in this post we’re going to look at the different ways substances can influence your sleep patterns, right up to and including the arrival at the REM (rapid eye movement)
How Weight Affects Obstructive Sleep Apnea
In obese people, fat deposits in the upper respiratory tract make the airway narrow, leading to a decrease in muscle activity in this region and, ultimately, apneic and hypoxic episodes – thus, sleep apnea. These episodes lead to an oxygen decrease in both blood vessels and body tissues, and this decreased oxygenation is a contributor to tissue hypoxia, the primary aggressor of atherosclerosis.
From Awake to REM: Understanding the Stages of Sleep
When we’re young, we really don’t think about it too much, but after we’ve put some years behind us and have to catch a good night’s rest in order to function at a job in the adult world, we come to understand the value of sleep. According to research we’ve looked at and analyzed, the average human being spends a third of their life sleeping, and it should come as no surprise that good sleep equates to good health.
The Intricacies of Sleep: Exploring the Profound Impact on Health and Well-being
The Connection Between Sleep and Mental Health
The Effects of Food on Sleep
When we think about foods or beverages that may keep us up at night, we immediately conjure up visions of coffee, cola, chocolate and all other manner of sugary delights. But what about foods that can actually help us sleep better?
The Good, The Bad and The Restless: Understanding the Negative Effects of Stress on Sleep
Sleep, like anything else, can be good or bad in quality, and often times it’s everything in-between – including restless. One of the major causes of this broken, restless sleep is stress…Read more
Supplements and Their Role in Better Sleep
Most of these will be over-the-counter remedies (i.e. “sleeping pills”) from either name brand companies or generic variants, yet the results should remain the same: assistance in lulling yourself to sleep when your mind and/or body just won’t let you.