subject: How To Maintain Good Sleep Hygiene [print this page] How To Maintain Good Sleep Hygiene How To Maintain Good Sleep Hygiene
Sleep hygiene is referred to as the habits of an individual that is related to sleep. Insomnia affects the life of millions of people. This is one of the most common sleep disorder experienced by the people of modern age. With some exceptions such as obstructive sleep apnea, most cases of insomnia are related to stress,
mood or appear for no clear reasons. Although many drugs are available to treat insomnia, these drugs become less effective in long run. Whether you are a chronic insomnia sufferer or experience occasional insomnia and whether you are on medication or without medication, you need to follow some guidelines to maintain good sleep hygiene. Given below are some useful tips on how to maintain good sleep hygiene i.e. habits. The first tip that can help you in maintaining good sleep hygiene is to avoid heavy meal immediately before sleep time. If you go to bed just after consuming a heavy meal then it may increase your acidity and reflux problems. Taking an antacid prior to bedtime is a good option. Experts suggest that heavy workout should be avoided before bedtime. You should exercise at least 4 to 5 hours before going to sleep. The reason behind this is that during vigorous exercise, adrenaline and other stress hormones are produced, which can keep you fresh, energetic and wide awake.
The next tip to maintain good sleep habits is to avoid the consumption of excessive alcohol. Even if you take alcohol in the morning or daytime, it can keep you wide awake at bedtime or even in the middle of the night. Another useful tip is to restrict caffeine consumption or other stimulating stuffs prior to your sleep time. This is because caffeine can keep you awake and since it is also a diuretic, it can make you to visit your bathroom several times. The next important tip to maintain good sleep habits is to make sure that you are sleeping in the right environment. Most people get sound sleep in a quiet, cool and dark room. And some prefer night light for better sleep. Maintain the right temperature of your bedroom. Too cold or hot room cannot provide you good sleep. You should keep in mind that during sleep, the body temperature drops down. So use cotton or silk light sheet or a blanket to cover your body when needed.
