subject: A Guide To Getting A Healthy Nights Sleep [print this page] There are many theories on getting healthy sleep; some people believe that you shouldnt eat cheese before bed among many other strange and quirky pieces of advice. There have been many people who have struggled to get the recommended 8 or ten hours of sleep per night and this can have plenty of negative effects on our health.
A sleepless night can mean we arent fully energized for the next day and can be rather sluggish at work or find were yawning a lot. The occasional night with not much sleep can be normal such as struggling to get to sleep when you are ill but regular lack of sleep can have lasting effects and you may need to see your doctor.
For many people sleep may seem like merely a period of time for the body to rest but sleep studies have found that even though were asleep out brains are still working full time and periods of sleep can help with learning and memory building. Studies have found that people have been able to learn more and concentrate more after a good nights sleep consisting of the recommended 8 hours of sleep.
A lot of other bodily processes occur whilst we are sleeping including healing and growth, it has also been found that less sleep can be a contributing factor in high blood pressure and heart disease. With the amount of sleep affecting our energy levels then it can affect our weight as people with low energy levels can find they dont have the stamina to exercise.
The best way to try and get more sleep is obviously going to bed earlier but many people may end up lying in the darkness still unable to drift off. If this is the case then you may find that doing exercise or even doing a bit of housework. If you have spent up your energy then you are more likely to fall asleep when your head finally hits the pillow. You should also avoid caffeinated drinks such as Coffee and cola in the evening, this can keep you awake until the early hours, instead try some drinks that are believed to help you feel ready for bed such as hot chocolate or Horlicks.
Sometimes small noises and sounds can keep you up, even the ticking of a clock can become an immense distraction so either remove these items from your room or buy some earplugs to help block out any other sounds.
