By Dr.N.Ramakrishnan
Finding and maintaining the right temperature for sleep sounds easy…. but it isn’t. Every sleep researchers fail to agree on the ideal temperature. In general, most sleep scientists believe that a slightly cool room contributes to good sleep. That’s because it matches what occurs deep inside the body, when the body’s internal temperature drops during the night to its lowest level. (For good sleepers, this occurs about four hours after they being sleeping).
But how cool should the bedroom be? And what should couples that share a bed but disagree about the desired sleep temperature do? Turning the thermostat down at night in cold weather saves on fuel bills and sets the stage for sleep. Blankets or comforters can lock in heat without feeling too heavy or confining. An electric blanket may help. Or the heat-seeking partner might dress in warmer bedclothes (even socks!) while the warmer partner might shun sleep clothes or bed covering.
In summer, a room that’s too hot can also be disruptive. In fact, research suggests that a hot sleeping environment leads to more wake time and light sleep at night, while awakenings multiply. An air conditioner or fan can help.
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If too dry an environment is your problem, consider a humidifier. Clues like awakening with a sore throat, dryness in your nose, or even a nosebleed are signs of too little humidity. Note: Be sure to change the water daily. Want a better night’s sleep? Try the following:
Ø Consume less or no caffeine and avoid alcohol.
Ø Drink less fluid before going to sleep.
Ø Avoid heavy meals close to bedtime.
Ø Avoid nicotine.
Ø Exercise regularly, but do so in the daytime, preferably afternoon.
Ø Try a relaxing routine, like soaking in hot water (a hot tub or bath) before bedtime
Ø Establish a regular bedtime and wake time schedule.
Keep a sleep diary before and after you try these tips. If the quality of your sleep does not improve, share this diary with your doctor.
Body heating and sleep
Interestingly body – heating can have a very different effect from a warm room during sleep. Some studies suggest that soaking in hot water (such as a hot tub or bath) before retiring to bed can ease the transition into a deeper sleep.
This may be due to a temperature shift (core body temperature drops after leaving the tub, which may signal the body it’s time to sleep). Or the sleep improvement may be related to the water’s relaxing properties, which may also have sleep-promoting effects.
A pre-bedtime bath may set the mood for children and adults alike. Why not try soaking in hot water to ease your journey to sleep?
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Are you enlightened about light and dark?
People who work at night know all too well the problem of trying to sleep when the world around them is wide-awake. When the sun’s rays come streaming in, it’s even harder. But the same is more than a signs that it’s daytime. Light is the most powerful regulator of our biological clock. The biological clock influences when we feel sleepy and when we are alert.
When do you get your sunlight exposure? People who are housebound get little. In fact, the reason for your sleep difficulty may be just that: too little exposure to sunlight.
If you find yourself waking earlier than you’d like, why not try increasing your exposure to bright light in the evening? If sunlight isn’t available, consider a light box (or light visor) available from a specialty store. Either way, as little as one to two hours of evening bright light exposure appears to help you to sleep longer in the morning. This may be especially helpful for the elderly.
During sleep, bright lights can disturb your sleep. Keep your bedroom dark (consider light – blocking shades, lined drapes, even an eye mask) so light doesn’t interfere with your passage to slumber
A sleep specialist can help determine whether changing your exposure to light might improve your sleep, and when would be the best time for your to experience bright light.
What’s all the Noise about?
Do you find your sleep disrupted by noises such as the screech of sirens, the rumble of trains, the rise and fall of conversation, aeroplanes overhead, a dog’s barking, or a partner’s snoring? A steady stream of noise may surround you or it may occur in sudden peaks.
Older people may be particularly bothered by noise. Because their sleep may be frail, it is more likely to be disturbed by lower levels of noise.
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Noise Control
If noise is disturbing your sleep, consider:
- Ear plugs
- White noise, which comes from a noise-making machine such as a fan or generator
- Rugs
- Heavy curtains or drapes
- Double – pane windows
- Relaxing music or tapes
Pic courtesy: freemedicalschool.net
Is your Bed all that it can be?
Many people change where they live or what they drive more often than they change their mattress or pillows. Yet nothing lasts forever.
Although there isn’t much published research no mattresses, mattress quality may affect how sleep feels to the sleeper. Discomfort can make falling asleep more difficult and lead to a restless slumber.
Does your mattress provide the support you like? Do you wake with your back aching? Is there enough room for you and your sleep partner? Do you sleep better, or worse, when you sleep away from home?
Mattresses may be made of inner springs, foam, fabric, water or air. They may be firmer or more responsive to your body. This, in turn, may affect body temperature and humidity as well as comfort.
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What does your bed mean to you?
If you can fall asleep easily on your sofa or chair, and it is difficult to fall asleep in your own bed, you may be associating your bed with everything but sleep. Do you use your bed for work? Balance your checkbook while propped against the pillows? Watch Television there? These are ways to tell your body to be alert in bed, not to go to sleep.
To teach patients to associate their bed and bedroom with sleep, sleep specialists advise a strategy called stimulus control, performed under the supervision of a specialist. Patients lean to use their bed only for sleep and to follow a regular wake-up schedule.
Another effective approach involves restricting your time in bed, initially to the number of hours you actually sleep. The, as you can rely on sleeping these hours regularly, you increase your time in bed by 15 – 30 minutes per night. A less dramatic approach would be to decrease your time in bed by 30 to 60 minutes.
Reclaiming your bed for sleep
- Use your bed only for sleep and sex.
- Only get into bed when you’re tired.
- If you don’t fall asleep within 15 minutes, get out of bed. When you’re sleepy, go back to bed.
- While in bed, don’t dwell on not sleeping or your anxiety will increase.
- Think relaxing thoughts: picture your self-soothed in a tub of hot water or drifting to sleep, each muscle relaxed.
Are you trying too hard?
Some sleep specialists’ say that anxiously watching the clock while focusing on how much time you have yet to sleep may actually cause insomnia. Try setting your alarm, then hiding it and your watch before you go to bed.
Are you playing by the numbers?
The time you go to sleep and the time you rise may sometimes seem beyond your control. Consistent bedtimes and wake times are advisable for those experiencing insomnia. ‘Sleeping late’ may make for a more enjoyable weakened, but Monday morning- and Sunday bedtime may suffer as a result. You choose: sleep late on the weekend or feel refreshed and alert every morning?
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Napping Notes
To nap or not to nap, that is the question. If you suffer from insomnia, try not taking a nap. If the goal is to sleep more during the night, napping may steal hours desired later on. However, napping can help promote short-term alertness, for example, to prepare for driving or in the middle of a long car trip.
Napping Tips
- Plan on a nap of just 20- 30 minutes
- If driving, nap in a safe place, such as in your locked car in a well-lit rest stop.
- Don’t use a nap to try to substitute for a good night’s, sleep. If you have the habit of napping regularly, and experience difficulty falling or staying asleep at night, give up the nap and see what happens.
How can you relax?
Relaxing may mean choosing the bedtime ritual that’s right for you. Does gentle music lull you to sleep? A warm bath? Cozy pajamas? Cuddling with your partner? Meditation or a prayer? Find what works for you and do it! Sweet dreams.
If you find your thoughts turning to worries when bedtime approaches, keep a worry book by your bedside. Jot down a brief note about what’s on your mind. Schedule time the next day to focus on the problem and a solution. Problems often seem smaller in the daylight. However, if problems persist, consider talking to your doctor or a psychotherapist.
Getting help
If your sleep problem persists, there may be an underlying cause that can be successfully treated or controlled once properly diagnosed. Sleep disorders centers are staffed by physicians and other medical professionals who specialise in helping people with persistent sleep problems.
Pic courtesy: Healthyayurveda