More tips to get a good nights sleep

Here are more tips to get a good nights sleep:

  1. Read a book or a magazine – I appreicate this is very old school.  The reason is studies have shown that brain activity during sleep is better regulated after reading a physical book compared with reading a screen.
  2. Have a hot shower or bath at night.  When you get in all your blood comes to the surface of your body, so when you step out, your core temperature starts to drop.  This stimulates sleep.
  3. Go to bed at the same time every nights – it’s possible to “programme” the body to get used to falling asleep at a certain time every night.
  4. Yoga or light exercise can help relax muscles and release any tension.
  5. Complementary therapies –  these promote relaxing, reduce stress and anxiety and are therefore ideal for a good night’s sleep.
  6. Breathing exercises or medication – taking deep breaths helps the body switch off from the flight or fight more to rest-and-digest mode.

References

https://www.pnas.org/content/112/4/1232

Related Posts

  • The Impact of Sitting All Day – Part 2

    In part 1, I looked at the impact of sitting on your muscles, but what happens in the rest of your body? Leg Disorders We are all familiar with the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) if we take long flights.  This is because sitting for long periods of time slows blood circulation, which causes fluid to pool in legs.  This creates problems ranging from swollen ankles, varicose beings to dangerous blood clots. Soft Bones Osteoporosis is a disease marked by reduced bone strength leading to an increased risk of fractures, or broken bones. Bone strength has two main features: bone mass (amount of bone) and bone quality.  Osteoporosis is often called a “silent disease” because it usually progresses without any symptoms until a fracture occurs or one or more vertebrae (bones in the spine) collapse.   Weight-bearing activities such as walking and running stimulate hip and lower-body bones to grow thicker, denser and stronger.  Medical researchers partially attribute the recent surge in cases of osteoporosis to lack of activity. Garrett, Brasure et al, 2004, Physical Inactivity Direct Cost To A Health Plan, American Journal of Preventative Medicine; Vol 27 No 4, Pages 304–309 See http://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797%2804%2900191-6/abstract?cc=y Weight Gain As the body slows down while in a resting and seated positions, the metabolism naturally slows down.  Calories are burned at a far lower rate, when you sit, you burn only about one calorie a minute!.  For some people this can lead to weight gain becoming an issues.  Being overweight is a known risk factor for many common chronic conditions including

    • diabetes
    • gallstones
    • hypertension
    • heart disease
    • stroke
    Field, Coakley et al, 2001 Impact of Overweight on the Risk of Developing Common Chronic Diseases During a 10 Year Period, JAMA Internal Medicine; Vol 161 No13, Pages 1581-1586.  See http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=648604    
  • Introduction to Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness

    Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) also called muscle fever, is the pain and stiffness everyone is familiar with after strenuous exercises.  It is noticeable worse 24 to 72 hours after exercise and it can occur anywhere in the body. However it is more memorable when it affects the lower body i.e. the legs, due to it being so inhibiting. For a long time the cause of DOMS was thought to be the build up of lactic acid and toxic metabolic waste in the muscles.  However this theory has now been thoroughly rejected.  While the cause of DOMS is not well understood, the current consensus is that DOMS is a result of inflammation triggered by microscopic tears in connective tissues that sensitise nociceptors and heighten pain. The pain of DOMS and the sever soreness may decrease capacity to perform in subsequent workouts.     In addition to physical symptoms for some people it can decrease motivation to exercise.   So is the pain worth the gain?   The short answer is no.  DOMS doesn't mean you will build more muscle although it may enhance it a little. References Brad J Schoenfeld, 2010, The mechanisms of muscle hypertrophy & their application to resistance training, Journal of Strengthening & Conditioning Research, vol 24, (10)  

  • Headaches Treatment & Prevention – Part 2

    After introducing headaches, I then explored the downside of orthodox treatments and how massage can help.  Now I want to share with you how other complementary therapies may help. Nutrition We all know that if you suffer from headaches you need to avoid becoming dehydrated. But what can be equally important is to control your blood sugar balanced by avoiding sugars and refined carbohydrates (i.e. anything sweet, fluffy or white!) . Certain food substances – such as histamine, tyramine and phenylethylamine – can trigger headaches or migraines. These foods include cheese, citrius fuits, red wine, chocolate & coffee. There is a time lag between eating these foods and an attack, as the problem arises when the food reaches the liver. Some research has been done on the benefits of Omega (3, 6 & 9) essential fatty acids will help control pain & inflammation for migraine sufferers. [Harel Z, Gascon G, Riggs S et al. Supplementation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the management of recurrent migraines in adolescents. J Adolesc Health 2002 Aug;31(2):154-61. 2002.] Bowen Technique The Bowen Technique is a hands on therapy that is applied using very gentle pressure. The practitioner uses thumbs and fingers on precise points of the body to perform Bowen's unique sets of rolling-type moves which stimulate the muscles and soft tissue of the body. In association with the Migranie Action Assocation some research was carried out into the effectiveness of receiving Bowen Technique treatment to allieviate migraines. All study participants had been diagnosed as migraine sufferers by their GP. 31 out of the 39 study particpants experienced a positive result of either

    • Reducation in frequency of migranies
    • Reducation in the degree of pain experienced
    • Reduction in both the frequency of migraines and the degree of pain experienced
    For more information on the study see http://www.bowenmigraineresearch.co.uk/