Focus on sleep

A good night’s sleep can be elusive for many people. Some may have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. They may also have difficulty relaxing or calming down before bedtime. In fact, more than a third of adults do not get the recommended seven hours of sleep per night on a regular basis. Surveys indicate that women ages 40 – 65 are especially affected. People who don’t sleep well can’t function up to their usual capacity, are irritable, and oftentimes take it out on loved ones!

Why we need sleep:

Insufficient sleep can affect work, personal relationships, physical abilities and more. People who consistently miss out on quality sleep time could be harming their health. Insufficient sleep has been linked to the development of many chronic diseases and conditions, including obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and frequent mental distress.

Lifestyle changes:

When my patients experience nighttime challenges, I often suggest a number of lifestyle changes. Those include:

Eating a healthy diet

Regular exercise

Eliminating caffeine after 3 p.m.

Avoiding television or other electronic devices before bedtime.