Getting a Good Night's Sleep   Frank Barnhill M.D.
 

One of the most common problems we hear about in our family medical office is “I just can’t sleep at night” or “I’m not sleeping well”.

Studies have shown almost 25% of the U.S. teen and adult population has one or more sleep problems per month. It appears the average teen needs 6-7 hours and adults 7-8 hours sleep per night in order to “feel rested”.

Most of us tend to sabotage a good night’s sleep without realizing we’ve done so. Eighty-five percent of the time, what happens immediately prior to sleep determines whether you sleep well or not. Here are a few tips on getting your perfect night’s sleep:

·        Avoid exercising in the two hours prior to bedtime, as this tends to cause a restless night.

·        Do not consume alcohol as a sedative. Studies have shown as soon as your body has metabolized it, you will tend to awake right away.

·        Do not read a book or watch television in bed. Doing so can train you to expect the activity to continue and can lead to early awakening.

·        Eating a light snack such as warm milk, before bed may actually help you to rest better. However, a heavy meal or really rich calorie filled snack eaten just before bed can cause you to toss and turn all night.

·        Maintaining a regular schedule of when to go to sleep and when to awaken will go a long way toward preventing insomnia.

Sleep is the human body’s maintenance time. That means it’s the time we use to repair things that are wearing out or damaged. Surgeons have long known that patients who get adequate rest and good sleep after surgery definitely heal faster and with better results! So, practicing good sleep habits should help you stay healthier for many more years.

I hope all your dreams are in vivid color!

Dr. Frank

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