Sleep Advice
Sleep and your health
Lack of sufficient sleep can have the following results:
- Impaired performance the next day
- You feel stress and anger more keenly
- You have trouble concentrating
- You can be more prone to injuries and health problems
- Impaired judgment (for example, driving after 17-19 continuous waking hours is the equivalent to being legally drunk)
- Children can become irritable, restless, moody and lacking self-control
Sleep Tips
- Avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol in late afternoon and evening
- Exercise regularly, but not within three hours of bedtime
- Don’t nap during the day
- Establish a regular bedtime routine to wind down (avoid stressful and stimulating activities during this time)
- Make your sleep environment pleasant, comfortable, dark and quiet
- Lower the room temperature
- If you don't fall asleep within 30 minutes, don’t stay in bed. Get up and read or listen to soothing music until you feel sleepy
- Keep a “sleep diary” for at least 7 days, recording when you sleep, wake and eat to help your doctor pinpoint the causes of poor sleep
- Examine your mattress:
How old is yours?
Is it still providing the comfort and support you need?
While some sleep problems are medical, stress-related or a result of bad sleep habits, it is not uncommon for people to discover that all they needed was a newer or better mattress.
