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Do you have trouble falling asleep? If so, to say you are not alone in your plight is a serious understatement. You’d be hard-pressed to find even one person who has not had difficulty falling asleep at some time or another. Many individuals have such a severe struggle with sleep that they turn to sleep-inducing medications. What’s more, trouble falling asleep only increases as we age.
If one would be mentally, emotionally and physically healthy, he or she must get sufficient amounts of deep sleep. In fact, “The way you feel while you’re awake depends in part on what happens while you’re sleeping. During sleep, your body is working to support healthy brain function and maintain your physical health,” writes the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The struggle to get to sleep is real, and the fight is worth pursuing.
Are those who don’t sleep well doomed to a lifetime of fatigue? No way! For those who have issues with sleep, there is much hope. Here are a few sleep-promoting tips provided by Dr. Julie Carrier, scientist with the Centre for Advanced Research in Sleep Medicine in Montreal:
1. Give up smoking, alcohol and coffee. (Easier said than done!)
2. Don’t eat or exercise too close to bedtime. Give your body time to wind down.
3. See that your bedroom is dark, quiet, and maintains a comfortable temperature.
4. Try to get to bed at the same time every night.
5. Do your best to steer clear of stress in the evenings.
6. If nothing seems to help you sleep, don’t hesitate to consult with a physician. It’s possible that a medical condition underlies your issue with sleep.
Which of these tips will you put into practice tonight?
Physiotherapy Can Improve Quality of Sleep
Did you know that physiotherapy can improve quality of sleep for some people? It does this by lowering a person’s pain level, as pain has the ability to impede on sleep. In the article How Physical Therapy Can Help You Sleep Better, Dr. Dan Skulavik explains, “Some people sleep longer because they are in pain, while others cannot sleep at all. Pain affects the way a person sleeps, and a lack of sleep can intensify pain. Individuals who suffer from chronic pain may experience sleep disorders. In fact, pain is one of the causes of insomnia.”
If pain is stealing your sleep, take a step toward restful nights by consulting with a physiotherapist. Physiotherapists are highly educated medical professionals who are skilled at reducing bodily pain.
What do you do to get to sleep? Help out your fellow readers by leaving a comment below.