We need around 8 hours a night (that can differ depending on the age and the individual), but do you know how to get a good night sleep?
Sleep can affect your hormones, physiological function and your metabolites. Sleep loss can occur for a number of reasons and is generally multifactoral. Rather than treating the symptoms of sleep loss, it is essential to identify the underlying cause(s).
Sleep loss is associated with many disorders, these can include;
- Systemic inflammation
- Reduced immune function
- Cardiovascular disease
- Mental health disorders &
- Type 2 Diabetes.
Sleep loss is not the direct cause of these health issues, yet sleep (or the lack of) does contribute to the development of these disorders.
Good sleep hygiene practices are essential to maintain good quality and quantity of sleep.
Here are some helpful tips if you are struggling, alternatively, please get in contact with me if insomnia or disrupted sleep is an issue for you.
◾️Avoid caffeine before bed. Caffeine is a stimulant. Swap it out for a chamomile, passionflower or lavender tea instead.
◾️Avoid screen time before snoozing. Also grab a pair of blue blockers and pop them on to emit the blue light.
◾️Do a brain dump. Meaning, write down all the issues or concerns you may worry about in your sleep.
◾️Exercise regularly. Around 4 hours before bed has been proven to assist you getting a good night’s sleep.
◾️Try and maintain a regular sleep schedule to create habit.
◾️Cut out the booze before bedtime. You may think it assists in sleep, whereas it actually creates restlessness within your sleep cycles as it’s being metabolised in your body.
◾️Avoid those naps, or if you do have them, make sure they are no longer than 20 to 30 minutes.
◾️Try meditation for 10 to 15 minutes before sleep to slow down the mind and reduce cortisol levels.
If these tips do not assist you, we may need some extra help in the way of herbal or nutraceutical assistance. Please never self prescribe as by doing so can be detrimental to your health.
Hope there is some helpful tips or reminders for you all.
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