January 26, 2012
Are You Set Up To Sleep Well?
By Josh Goldstein
I am constantly amazed by how important getting a good night's sleep is to how I function the next day, and for a more extended period of time beyond the next day.
Sure, it seems obvious a good night's sleep is critical to how we function, but somehow I'm still surprised how my ability to perform even routine tasks has diminished the afternoon following a bad night of sleeping.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, creating a healthy sleep environment is a critical – and I suspect often overlooked – element of getting to sleep and staying asleep.
Some things that can harm your sleep are noise, temperature, light and space.
The Foundation has these suggestions:
- Keep your bedroom quiet or use earplugs, or a white noise machine.
- Find the right temperature – it's better to stay on the cooler side.
- Make sure the room is dark.
- Allow plenty of room in your bed to stretch out and get comfortable.
- Choose a comfortable mattress and pillow.
Moreover, the group recommends addressing issues with your partner that can disrupt sleep, such as TV watching and snoring.
For many people, creating the right environment for sleep is all that's needed. If, however, you are one of the millions of people in this country with a sleep disorder such as insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy or restless legs syndrome, the Jefferson Sleep Disorders Center can help.
The Center was established in 1978, and is the Philadelphia region's longest operating sleep program. It is also accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
The Center's staff continually interact with experts from other medical specialties including psychiatry, psychology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, otolaryngology, pediatrics, neurology, internal medicine and pulmonary medicine.
To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-JEFF-NOW (1-800-533-3669) or visit our appointment page online.