Weekly
Healthy Advice From VÄXA
Get to Sleep!
When
was the last time you got a good night's sleep? Can't remember?
Then you're not alone. It's estimated that nearly half of
the American population is sleep deprived.
Being sleep deprived goes way beyond tossing and turning at
night. The symptoms of sleep deprivation are common: fluid
retention, heart burn, being overweight, waking up with headaches
in the morning, feeling irritable and fatigued, twitching
during sleep, loud snoring, skipping or racing heartbeat during
the night and difficulty concentrating during the day.
Getting a good night's sleep is as important as eating a healthy
diet. While sleeping, your brain is very active. Studies have
shown that sleep is essential for normal immune system function
and to maintain the ability to fight disease and sickness.
Sleep also is essential for normal nervous system function
and the ability to function both physically and mentally.
In addition, sleep is essential for learning and for normal,
healthy cell growth.
Sleep restriction - restricting where one sleeps to only the
bed is recommended for those who suffer from any form of
insomnia. The basic idea is to sleep only in bed and to stay
in bed only when asleep. Do not lie awake in bed for hours
on end. If you do not fall asleep after about 25 minutes,
get out of bed and do something calming, like read a book.
This helps reduce the anxiety-provoking association of being
awake while in bed, and ultimately may create the positive
association of sleeping well in bed. When restricting sleep
in this manner, you will eventually become so tired that you
become sleepy earlier in the evening, relieving insomnia.
Given how tired one will be when beginning this regimen, activities
where safety is an issue, like driving, should be avoided.
Homeopathy offers tremendous help for those who struggle with
insomnia and sleep deprivation. |
