Sleep Remedies Blog

WHAT IS PROBLEM SLEEPINESS?

Everyone feels sleepy at times. However, when sleepiness interferes with daily routines and activities, or reduces the ability to function, it is called “problem sleepiness.” A person can be sleepy without realizing it. For example, a person may not feel sleepy during activities such as talking and listening to music at a party, but the same person can fall asleep while driving home afterward. You may have problem sleepiness if you:

• consistently do not get enough sleep, or get poor quality sleep

• fall asleep while driving

• struggle to stay awake when inactive, such as when watching television or reading

• have difficulty paying attention or concentrating at work, school, or home

• have performance problems at work or school

• Are often told by others that you are sleepy

• have difficulty remembering

• have slowed responses

• have difficulty controlling your emotions

• must take naps on most days

What Causes Problem Sleepiness?

Sleepiness can be due to the body’s natural daily sleep-wake cycles, inadequate sleep, sleep disorders, or certain drugs. Sleep-Wake Cycle Each day there are two periods when the body experiences a natural tendency toward sleepiness: during the late night hours (generally between midnight and 7 a.m.) and again during the mid-afternoon (generally between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.). If people are awake during these times, they have a higher risk of falling asleep unintentionally, especially if they haven’t been getting enough sleep.

Inadequate Sleep

The amount of sleep needed each night varies among people. Each person needs a particular amount of sleep in order to be fully alert throughout the day. Research has shown that when healthy adults are allowed to sleep unrestricted, the average time slept is 8 to 8.5 hours. Some people need more than that to avoid problem sleepiness; others need less.

If a person does not get enough sleep, even on one night, a “sleep debt” begins to build and increases until enough sleep is 2 obtained. Problem sleepiness occurs as the debt accumulates. Many people do not get enough sleep during the work week and then sleep longer on the weekends or days off to reduce their sleep debt. If too much sleep has been lost, sleeping in on the weekend may not completely reverse the effects of not getting enough sleep during the week.

If a lack of sleep continues it is recommended that you contact your doctor and talk to them about whether a sleep aid might be right for you. Often times prescription sleep remedies can have worse side effects than not getting any sleep at all.  For prolonged insomnia it is best to try a natural sleep aid that will work with your body and not make you feel like a zombie the next morning.

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Sometimes just taking a sleep aid may not be enough to get you the best night’s sleep possible. Often times the key to a better sleep might be as simple as making some minor changes to the area you sleep in. Take a careful look around your room and see what might be disrupting your sleep.

Do you have the right bed?

Is your bed large enough? Do you have enough room to stretch and turn comfortably in bed, or are you cramped? Sharing the bed with another person makes this even more important. Both your partner and yourself should have plenty of room to stretch out. Consider getting a larger bed if you don’t have enough space.

Your mattress, pillows and bedding. Are you waking up with a cramp in your back or a sore neck? You may want to experiment with different levels of mattress firmness and pillows that provide more support. If your mattress is too hard, you can add a foam topper for additional softness. Experiment with different types of pillows – feather, synthetic, and special pillows for side, back or stomach sleepers. Consider your bedding. Scratchy sheets might be making you uncomfortable in the middle of the night, or your comforter might not be keeping you warm enough. Consider soft, breathable cotton sheets. Flannel sheets may be cozy for the winter months.

Is your room setup properly?

Ideally, to maximize sleep, your room should be quiet, dark and at a comfortable temperature and ventilation.

Keep the noise level down. Too much noise, loud outside conversations, televisions blaring and traffic noise can make it difficult to sleep. When the source of outside noise can’t be eliminated, sometimes it can be masked. A fan or white noise machine can help block outside noise. Some people enjoy recordings of soothing sounds such as waves, waterfalls or rain. Earplugs may also help, although you want to make sure they don’t block out important noises like an alarm clock if you use one.

Morning light can send your body clock the wrong signal that it is time to wake up. Perhaps there is a streetlamp shining right in your window at night.  Heavy shades can help block light from windows, or you can try an eye mask to cover your eyes.

Room temperature and ventilation. Who can sleep in a hot stuffy room? Or for that matter, a cold drafty one? If you can, experiment with the room temperature. Most people sleep best in a slightly cooler room.  Make sure that you have adequate ventilation as well - a fan can help keep the air moving. You also might want to check your windows and doors to make sure that drafts are not interfering with sleep.

Reserve your bed for sleeping. Do you sometimes balance your checkbook propped up on your pillows? Or jot down some notes for tomorrow’s meeting? It might feel relaxing to do tasks like these on a comfortable bed. However, if you associate your bed with events like work or errands, it will only make it harder to wind down at night.  Use your bed only for sleep and sex.

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